Zahra Ahmadi

Zahra Ahmadi (; born 1982) is a British actress. She is best known for playing the original Shabnam Masood in EastEnders (2007-2009) and DS Esther Williams in Beyond Paradise (2023–present).

Career She is of Persian descent. She is known for her role as Shabnam Masood in the British television series EastEnders from 2007–2008. In 2008, she appeared on an EastEnders-themed episode of The Weakest Link where she was voted off in the seventh round.

She played Sabia in Britz following which she played Nasreen in King of Hearts at the Hampstead Theatre. She appears in the IFC series The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret and also appeared in the 2010 film Tamara Drewe. In 2013 she appeared in a small role in Doctor Who episode "Nightmare in Silver", and in 2014 she portrayed the role of Gita in the feature-length Christmas special of Black Mirror entitled "White Christmas".

From 2013 to 2017, she played Sinem in all three series of the BBC Two sitcom Count Arthur Strong.

In 2016, she appeared in 5 episodes of Berlin Station. In 2018, she played Sameera in Bliss, a Sky One comedy drama about a cheating travel writer who tries to balance his two chaotic family lives. Also in 2018, she played Daisy Anderson in season 7, episode 5 of Death in Paradise before taking on the role of DS Esther Williams in the 2023 spin-off series, Beyond Paradise.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2010 Tamara Drewe Nadia Patel 2013 Closed Circuit Woman on Cellphone 2018 A Bad Penny Card Woman 2022 Scale Eden (voice) French animated short film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2006–2007 Trial & Retribution DC Imedla Folks 2 episodes: "Sins of the Father: Parts 1 & 2" 2007 Britz Sabia Iqbal 2-part serial: "Part One: Sohail's Story" and "Part Two: Nasima's Story" 2007–2008 EastEnders Shabnam Masood 64 episodes 2009 Doctors Keera Chaudhury Episode: "The Wall" 2010 Bellamy's People Various 6 episodes 2010–2016 The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Mehtap 6 episodes 2012 The Thick of It Nurse Episode: "#4.4" 2013 The Mimic Police Woman Episode: "#1.3" Love Matters Priya Episode: "A Nice Arrangement" Doctor Who Missy Episode: "Nightmare in Silver" The Job Lot Karen Ellwell Episode: "#1.4" 2013–2017 Count Arthur Strong Sinem Main role, 20 episodes 2014 Black Mirror Gita Episode: "White Christmas" Babylon Yasmina Mini-series, Episode: "London" 2016 Josh Gemma Episode: "Bed & Breakfast" Berlin Station Clare Itani Recurring role (season 1); 5 episodes 2016–2017 Porridge Dr. Tessa Marsden 3 episodes: "Porridge", "The Minder" and "The Listener" 2016–2018 Tracey Ullman's Show Various 7 episodes 2017 Love Youn Be Hota Hay ? Mini-series 2017–2018 Tracey Breaks the News ? 4 episodes 2018 Death in Paradise Daisy Anderson Episode: "Murder on the Day of the Dead" Innocent DS Mari-Luz Garcia Mini-series, 4 episodes Bliss Sameera Episode: "#1.1" Sky Comedy Shorts Diana Episode: "Kris Marshall's Whodunnit" Informer Naeemah Jones Episode: "Ruby Tuesday" 2020 Marcella Sadie Episode: "#3.4" 2020–2021 The Beast Must Die Saima 3 episodes: "#1.1", "#1.3" and "#1.5" 2022 The Bay Shazia Riaz Series 3; 5 episodes Dodger Fatima Episode: "Mummy" Kate & Koji Melanie Episode: "Lockdown Legends" Riches Parul Episode: "Wrong and Strong" 2023–present Beyond Paradise DS Esther Williams Main role, 27 episodes2026 Betrayal Mehreen Askari-Evans