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Aisha Dee
Aisha Dee
from Wikipedia

Aisha Dee (born 13 September 1993)[1] is an Australian actress and singer. She is best known for her main roles as Desi Biggins on the children's television series The Saddle Club (2008–09) and Kat Edison on the Freeform comedy-drama television series The Bold Type (2017–21). She plays the main role in the 2023 Australian drama miniseries Safe Home.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Aisha Dee was born on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, to a white Australian mother and African American father.[2][3]

She was raised in a one-bedroom apartment in Surfers Paradise and attended King's Christian College throughout her upbringing.[4] Dee was exposed to the performing arts early in life through her opera singer mother and her jazz musician father.[5] She credits watching Sesame Street reruns in her Gold Coast apartment in her younger years as the inspiration for pursuing a career in acting.[6]

Career

[edit]

In 2008, Dee had her first major television role as Desi Biggins on the Australian-Canadian children's series The Saddle Club.[7] In 2010, Dee was a recurring character in the Australian-British show Dead Gorgeous as Christine.[8] From 2011 to 2013, she starred as Mackenzie Miller in the Fox sitcom I Hate My Teenage Daughter.[9] She also co-starred as Elizabeth "Beth" Kingston on the ABC Family drama series Chasing Life, from 2014 to 2015.[8]

Dee starred as Jules Koja in the Syfy horror anthology series Channel Zero: No-End House, which aired in 2017. On 22 August 2016, it was announced that Dee was cast as Kat Edison in the Freeform comedy-drama series The Bold Type, which premiered on 20 June 2017.[10][11] On 4 October 2017, Freeform renewed the series for two additional seasons of 10 episodes each. The second season premiered on 12 June 2018[12] and ended on 7 August 2018.[13]

Dee played the lead role in the 2023 Australian TV drama miniseries, Safe Home.[14]

In 2023, Dee became the first brand ambassador for Lancôme from Australia and New Zealand.[15]

On 18 February 2025, Dee was named in two Stan Australia projects in film One More Shot and series Watching You.[16]

Dee plays Chanelle in the 2025 Netflix limited series Apple Cider Vinegar.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

Dee is queer.[1] She enjoys line dancing.[1]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref
2015 TheCavKid Maura Short film
2020 The Nowhere Inn Kayla
2022 Sissy Cecilia / Sissy
Look Both Ways Cara
Collide Lily [18]
2025 One More Shot Jenny

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2008–2009 The Saddle Club Desiree "Desi" Biggins Recurring role; 24 episodes
2009 Skyrunners Katherine "Katie" Wallace Television film
2010 Dead Gorgeous Christine Main role; 13 episodes
2011–2013 I Hate My Teenage Daughter Mackenzie Main role; 13 episodes
2011 Terra Nova Tasha Guest role; 2 episodes
2014–2015 Chasing Life Elizabeth "Beth" Kingston Main role; 34 episodes
2015 Baby Daddy Olivia Episode: "House of Cards"
Comedy Bang! Bang! Teen friend Episode: "Thomas Middleditch Wears an Enigmatic Sweatshirt and Sweatpants and Pockets"
2016–2017 Sweet/Vicious Kennedy Main role; 10 episodes
2017–2021 The Bold Type Kat Edison Main role; 52 episodes
2017 Channel Zero: No-End House Jules Koja Main role; 6 episodes
2019 Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas Jess Television film
2020 Celebrity Family Feud Herself Episode: "The Bold Type vs. RuPaul's Drag Race"
2023 Accused Aaliyah Harris Episode: "Esme's Story"
Safe Home Phoebe Main role; 4 episodes
2025 Apple Cider Vinegar Chanelle Miniseries: 6 episodes
Watching You Lina TV series: 6 episodes

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2017 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star The Bold Type Nominated
2018 Nominated
2022 AACTA Awards Best Actress Sissy Nominated
2023 Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Safe Home Won [19]
2024 AACTA Awards Best Lead Actress Nominated [20]
Logie Awards Best Lead Actress in a Drama Nominated [21]
2025 Best Supporting Actress Apple Cider Vinegar Pending [22]

Discography

[edit]

The Saddle Club discography

[edit]
Albums
  • Best Friends (2009)
  • Grand Gallop – Meilleures Amies (2009) – Released in France only
Singles
  • "These Girls" (2009)

Dee Dee & the Beagles

[edit]
Albums
  • Dee Dee & the Beagles EP (2015)

Aisha Dee

[edit]
Albums
  • Ice in My Rosé EP (2020)
  • Suitcase EP (2023)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Aisha Dee (born 13 September 1993) is an Australian actress and singer of biracial heritage, raised in . She began her acting career in 2008 with the role of Desi Biggins in the third season of the children's television series . Dee gained wider recognition for portraying Beth Kingston in the ABC Family drama (2014–2015) and Kat Edison in the Freeform series (2017–2021). Her film work includes the horror comedy (2022), for which she received an AACTA Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in Film, and the lead role in the 2023 Australian miniseries Safe Home, earning her another nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Drama.

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Aisha Dee was born on September 13, 1993, in , , to an African American father and a white Australian mother who worked as an opera singer. She was raised primarily by her single mother in a one-bedroom unit in Surfers Paradise, with limited involvement from her father, reflecting a biracial structure that exposed her to diverse cultural influences from an early age. Dee grew up in a predominantly and conservative neighborhood on the Gold Coast, which she has described as "incredibly ," contributing to a of cultural isolation during her childhood. As one of the few children of color in her community and , she encountered racial challenges, including over her natural hair texture and being the only dark-skinned child in her entire environment. These experiences highlighted the limited diversity in her surroundings during the and early , a period when the Gold Coast's demographic was overwhelmingly Anglo-Australian. Her mother's career in provided an artistic household influence, with Dee recalling frequent visits to the together, fostering an early appreciation for performance and creativity amid modest family circumstances. The extended family, including her mother's 12 siblings and their children whom she regarded as siblings, offered additional support networks that shaped her sense of familial closeness.

Professional career

Music beginnings

Aisha Dee entered the music industry through her role on the Australian children's series The Saddle Club, where she provided vocals for the season 3 soundtrack starting in 2008. As part of the cast, she recorded tracks tied to episodes, including "Home" featured in the closing credits of "Cut to the Quick" (episode 3x10) in 2009, and a duet "A Question of Style" with co-star Marny Kennedy from "Pedigree" (episode 3x20). Additional contributions encompassed group performances such as "Everybody Come On," involving Dee alongside cast members Ariel Kaplan, Victoria Campbell, Lauren Dixon, and Kennedy. These efforts marked her initial recording experience, with releases like "Best Friends" appearing in 2009. Following , Dee formed the band Dee Dee & the Beagles, which released a self-titled EP in comprising four tracks, including "." The group represented her early independent musical pursuits outside television soundtracks, though specific performance dates and reception metrics remain undocumented in available records. No commercial chart data or sales figures for the EP have been reported. Dee's pre-2015 solo output was limited, with no standalone releases identified prior to her band's EP; subsequent solo endeavors, such as the 2020 Ice in My Rosé EP, occurred after the band's dissolution.

Acting debut and Australian work

Aisha Dee made her acting debut in 2008 at age 15, portraying Desiree "Desi" Biggins, a wealthy teenage rider, in the third and final season of the Australian-Canadian children's series The Saddle Club. The production, centered on girls at a equestrian academy in fictional Pine Hollow, featured Dee in 23 episodes broadcast from March 2008 to December 2009, contributing to the show's appeal as a popular program for young audiences in Australia. As a biracial actress of African American and white Australian descent entering the industry, Dee navigated a landscape with limited opportunities for non-Anglo-Celtic performers; studies from the early indicated that culturally diverse actors comprised only about 27% of characters in Australian TV drama, despite broader demographic shifts. Her casting in represented an early achievement amid underrepresentation, as non-white actors often faced barriers to lead roles in mainstream Australian productions during that era. Dee continued her Australian television work pre-2010 primarily through , with no other major credited roles documented before 2010, though she supplemented her early career with modeling appearances. Her performance as Desi helped establish her as a recognizable face among young viewers, laying the groundwork for subsequent local opportunities despite the competitive and homogeneity-dominated market.

Transition to international roles

At age 17, Dee relocated from to in pursuit of greater acting opportunities, as she had been advised by industry professionals there that her biracial heritage—stemming from an African-American father and white Australian mother—limited suitable roles domestically. This move aligned with her securing a recurring role as Mackenzie "Kenzie" Miller, a stereotypical "mean girl" character, in the sitcom , which aired from November 2011 to March 2012 and was canceled after one season due to low ratings. The role marked her breakthrough into American television, requiring her to navigate the competitive U.S. market's audition circuits and adapt to higher production demands compared to Australian projects. Building on this foothold, Dee transitioned to film with a supporting role as Keziah, a fierce warrior allied against demonic forces, in the supernatural action movie (2014), directed by and starring as the titular monster. Filmed primarily in , , but released internationally by Lionsgate, the $65 million production earned mixed reviews for its visual effects and lore but underperformed at the , grossing $93 million worldwide against expectations for franchise potential. These early U.S. credits involved persistent auditioning amid rejections common for non-citizen actors, including visa logistics for work authorization, though Dee has emphasized the motivational push from Australia's narrower pools for diverse performers as a key causal factor in her persistence.

Major television roles and industry impact

Aisha Dee played Beth Kingston, the steadfast best friend of protagonist April Carver, in the ABC Family drama , which aired from June 10, 2014, to February 23, 2015, across two seasons totaling 34 episodes. In the series, Kingston serves as April's primary emotional anchor after her diagnosis, confiding in her early and supporting her through treatments, family tensions, and romantic entanglements while managing her own relational dynamics. The show garnered a 7.8/10 user rating on from over 6,300 votes, reflecting audience engagement with its blend of and themes, though critics issued mixed reviews, including a Metacritic season 1 score of 60/100 indicating average reception. Dee achieved greater prominence as Kat Edison in Freeform's from 2017 to 2021, starring in 52 episodes as the ambitious director at fictional Scarlet, whose arc centered on professional ascent intertwined with personal identity exploration. Edison, depicted as a Black woman discovering her orientation, navigates key developments such as her romance with Muslim photographer Adena El-Amin—culminating in an for while protecting her partner—and subsequent bisexual relationships, including a polarizing season 4 storyline with activist Eva that critics argued mishandled Black vulnerability for drama. The character's confident handling of , trans , and space preservation contributed to praise for rare on-screen portrayals of empowered women of color, though the series faced no major acting awards for Dee amid broader critiques of narrative depth. These roles markedly boosted Dee's international profile, transitioning her from Australian supporting parts to U.S. leads and amplifying visibility for biracial actresses in genre-blending dramas, with 's focus on intersectional themes drawing audience subsets interested in diverse narratives despite production diversity shortcomings Dee publicly addressed. The series' streaming availability on sustained viewership post-broadcast, correlating with Dee's career pivot to higher-profile projects, though quantifiable metrics like Nielsen data for Freeform shows remained modest compared to network averages, underscoring niche appeal over mass ratings dominance.

Recent projects and returns to Australia

In 2023, Dee starred as Phoebe Rook, a legal worker aiding victims of family violence, in the Australian miniseries Safe Home, which aired on SBS and later Hulu. The six-episode drama, created by Stevie Cruz-Martin, explores domestic abuse through interconnected client stories and earned Dee the Australian Television Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress in 2024. Critics praised her nuanced performance in a series that highlighted Australia's domestic violence epidemic, with The Guardian noting its gripping narrative and Dee's central role. This project marked Dee's return to Australian television after over a decade abroad, following the conclusion of her U.S.-based series The Bold Type in 2021. Dee continued her domestic focus in 2025 with multiple Australian productions, signaling a sustained amid post-pandemic industry shifts. In the Stan Original film , released October 12, she played Jenny in a time-loop set on 1999, co-starring and ; the film received a 70% approval rating on from 10 reviews. Concurrently, she led as , a entangled in a voyeuristic scandal, in the Stan psychological series Watching You, which premiered October 3 with a double-episode debut. Reviews highlighted Dee's standout portrayal in a surveillance-themed plot, though critiqued the series' overall execution as derivative. Her 2025 Netflix limited series , premiering February 6, represented a blend of international and Australian elements, with Dee portraying Chanelle McAuliffe, friend to wellness influencer () and based on real events involving . The six-episode drama, created by Samantha Strauss and co-starring , earned a 7.2/10 rating from over 16,000 users and delved into influencer fraud at Instagram's inception. Dee's involvement in these projects, including Safe Home and the 2025 Stan titles, reflects motivations tied to local opportunities and a "home" sensibility after U.S. experiences, as she noted in promotional contexts for . This trajectory shows a pivot toward Australian thrillers and dramedies, contrasting earlier U.S. ensemble roles, supported by her Logie win and streaming platform investments in domestic talent.

Personal life

Relationships and identity

In a June 2020 interview, Dee publicly identified as bisexual, describing the label as an act of confidence that allowed her to connect with the LGBTQ+ community, influenced by her portrayal of the bisexual character Kat Edison on . Her role as Kat, who explored her queer identity on screen starting in 2017, paralleled Dee's own journey toward openness about her sexuality, with Dee crediting the character for building her bravery in embracing it publicly during the show's run from 2017 to 2020. By August 2024, Dee referred to herself as a "Black, queer woman" in discussions of her daily . Dee has kept details of her romantic history private, with limited public confirmations. In 2025, she announced her relationship with American actor Devin Way via , posting a "hard launch" photo and caption emphasizing their partnership as being "very much in our heterosexual bag." As of October 2025, Dee remains unmarried, with no reports of prior long-term partnerships or engagements in verifiable media sources.

Health issues

Dee was diagnosed with (PCOS) at approximately age 22 following surgery that revealed a large . She reported experiencing beginning with her first menstrual period in , which persisted and intensified over time. Dee has also disclosed a diagnosis of , describing a decade of chronic symptoms including severe cramps, nausea, and pain likened to " and fire" throughout her body, accompanied by instances of medical dismissal. Multiple surgeries addressed these conditions, resulting in prominent abdominal scars comparable to those from a C-section, which she underwent around 2016 and viewed negatively for years due to embarrassment. In 2025 interviews promoting her role in Watching You, Dee stated she would no longer conceal these scars in future acting projects, citing a shift toward acceptance after prolonged and surgical interventions. She emphasized the physical toll, including recovery periods involving braces and limited mobility, but highlighted personal resilience in publicly addressing the conditions' realities.

Political and social views

Aisha Dee has publicly advocated for increased diversity in the entertainment industry, particularly emphasizing representation behind the camera, informed by her experiences with as a child in a predominantly white neighborhood in Gold Coast, , where she regularly faced derogatory remarks targeting her biracial heritage. In a detailed statement on July 15, 2020, Dee recounted ongoing challenges in Hollywood, including the absence of skilled and makeup artists on sets like The Bold Type—which required three seasons to hire appropriate personnel—and the scarcity of writers of color, arguing that such deficiencies perpetuate inauthentic storytelling and marginalize non-white talent. She urged producers to prioritize hiring diverse teams to avoid tokenistic portrayals, a call echoed in broader industry discussions on inclusion following high-profile reckonings with systemic barriers. Dee has framed her Black and queer identity as inherently political, stating in an August 2025 interview that "every morning I’ve ever woken up, I am a , queer woman walking around in the world," rendering daily existence a form of without opt-out. She described embracing joy and queerness as deliberate "political acts" amid industry pressures for performative , contrasting this with her earlier imposter syndrome while portraying a confident queer character on before fully herself. This perspective aligns with her efforts to foster authentic community, such as organizing " Christmas" events for creatives in starting in December 2023, which prioritize unscripted expression over commodified narratives. Dee has critiqued media storylines that incorporate conservative viewpoints at the expense of marginalized characters, specifically highlighting her character's relationship with a privileged conservative as a regressive choice driven by writers' fears of alienating viewers, which she linked to the room's lack of diverse perspectives. Such positions reflect sentiments common in Hollywood's predominantly left-leaning environment, where vocal advocacy for progressive causes can align with career advancement opportunities, though empirical reveals selective application amid the sector's institutional biases toward narratives downplaying ideological conflicts.

Controversies

Public criticism of The Bold Type

In July 2020, Aisha Dee posted a detailed statement on Instagram criticizing the writing and production of The Bold Type, particularly the handling of her character Kat Edison's season 4 romantic arc involving a relationship with a white conservative woman named Ava. Dee argued that the storyline felt "confusing and out of character," stating, "The Kat I know and love would never make these choices," and linked it to broader representational failures, including the absence of people of color (POC) in key creative roles. She highlighted that it took two seasons to hire the first BIPOC writer, and even after that addition, the sole POC staffer bore disproportionate responsibility for authenticating all diverse character experiences, leaving Dee feeling tokenized as the primary voice for Black and queer perspectives on set. The post drew widespread media attention, with outlets like Variety and Deadline framing it as a valid indictment of Hollywood's persistent diversity gaps, even in self-proclaimed progressive productions. Show producers responded by pledging reforms, including commitments to increase BIPOC hires in writers' rooms and production teams, though Dee emphasized her critique stemmed from care for the series rather than rejection of it. Fan reactions split empirically: some echoed Dee's view that the arc undermined Kat's established progressive identity, describing it as a "sucker punch" to loyal viewers invested in authentic queer BIPOC representation, while others defended the plot's intent to depict realistic ideological tensions and personal growth through opposites-attract dynamics, arguing it avoided formulaic storytelling. Critics in progressive media largely aligned with Dee, questioning whether the all-white writers' room (predominantly seasons 1-2) could credibly navigate such arcs without veering into unintended stereotypes, though fewer sources challenged the narrative as ideologically biased against conservative elements. No immediate professional repercussions for Dee were reported; she completed season 4 and departed the series as planned ahead of its 2021 conclusion, subsequently securing roles in projects like (2020) without evident industry blacklisting. The incident underscored tensions in media self-critique, where shows touting themes faced scrutiny for performative rather than substantive inclusion, revealing how limited diverse input can lead to arcs perceived as inauthentic despite stated intentions of realism.

Filmography

Film

Dee made her feature film debut in the 2020 mockumentary The Nowhere Inn, directed by Bill Benz, playing Kayla, a member of the fictional band surrounding singer SZA's alter ego. The film satirizes the music industry and celebrity culture, receiving mixed reviews for its experimental style but praise for its performances. In 2022, Dee appeared in three Australian productions. She starred as Cecilia (who adopts the online persona ) in the horror-comedy Sissy, co-directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes, which premiered at and explores themes of and revenge; the film earned positive reception for its social commentary and grossed modestly in limited release. She played Cara in Netflix's Look Both Ways, directed by Natalie Morales, a romantic drama depicting parallel life outcomes based on a pivotal choice, which received lukewarm reviews for its predictable narrative. Additionally, Dee portrayed Lily in Collide, a drama directed by Michael Henry, focusing on interpersonal conflicts in a remote setting. Dee continued with supporting roles in 2025 releases. In Start Without Me, directed by , she played Laila alongside and in a road trip story examining personal redemption and family ties during . Later that year, she appeared as Jenny in the time-loop comedy One More Shot, directed by Nicholas Clifford and starring , where her character is central to the protagonist's romantic entanglements on 1999; the film premiered in October and garnered a 70% approval rating on for its derivative but entertaining premise.

Television

Aisha Dee began her television career with the role of Desi Biggins in season 3 of the Australian children's series , which aired on ABC from December 2008 to April 2009. She portrayed the recurring character Beth Kingston, April Carver's best friend, in 38 episodes of the ABC Family drama across two seasons from June 2014 to February 2015. Dee starred as Jules Koja in the six-episode miniseries Channel Zero: The No-End House, which premiered on August 23, 2017. She played Kat Edison, a manager exploring her and political ambitions, as a main cast member in all 52 episodes of on Freeform from June 2017 to June 2021, including seasons 4 (16 episodes, January to May 2020) and 5 (6 episodes, May to July 2021). In 2023, Dee appeared in the anthology series Accused on , featuring in one episode of season 1. She also starred in the Australian miniseries Safe Home, released in 2023. Dee leads the 2025 Stan psychological thriller miniseries Watching You as Lina, a entangled in after an affair, which premiered on October 3, 2025. Additionally, she appears as Chanelle in the 2025 miniseries .

Discography

As part of The Saddle Club

Aisha Dee joined the cast of in its third season, which aired from March 2008 to June 2009, portraying Desiree "Desi" Biggins and contributing vocals to the series' soundtrack recordings. Her musical involvement focused on performing original pop songs tailored for the children's audience, often featured in episode closing credits or integrated into plotlines involving the characters' band-like activities at Pine Hollow stables. These tracks emphasized themes of friendship, adventure, and empowerment, produced by the show's music team under ABC and oversight. Dee recorded a solo performance of "Home," an introspective ballad reflecting themes of belonging, for the closing credits of season 3, episode 10 ("Cut to the Quick"), with audio released in 2009. She also collaborated on the duet "A Question of Style" with co-star Marny Kennedy (playing Carole Hanson), a lively track highlighting personal expression and style choices, featured in the closing credits of season 3, episode 20 ("Pedigree") and similarly released in 2009. Additional group contributions included her vocals on cast ensemble pieces such as "Everybody Come On," an energetic invitation to participation recorded with Ariel Kaplan, Victoria Campbell, Lauren Dixon, and Kennedy in 2009, underscoring the collective spirit of the Saddle Club members. In the context of the series' band dynamics, Dee's role as positioned her as a newer member integrating into the established trio's musical outings, often providing harmonious support in choruses and bridging verses to advance storylines about and horsemanship. The recordings, lacking formal production credits attributing composition to Dee, were collectively credited to cast under the show's production, with no documented chart performance on major Australian music lists during 2008–2010. These efforts marked her initial foray into group vocal work, distinct from later independent projects.

With Dee Dee & the Beagles

Dee Dee & the Beagles was a short-lived musical project led by Aisha Dee, formed after her involvement in . The band released a self-titled EP on June 10, 2015, independently under Aisha Dee Dale, featuring four tracks: "Bad to Me," "Wigs," "Take Good Care of My Baby," and "Bad to Me (Acoustic Version)." The EP, clocking in at approximately 8 minutes and 47 seconds, drew on pop influences with covers of hits alongside original material but achieved no notable commercial performance or chart placement. The group disbanded soon after the release, with Dee transitioning away from band efforts.

Solo work

Aisha Dee began releasing music independently in the 2020s, following her earlier group endeavors. Her debut solo EP, Ice in My Rosé, was issued on January 16, 2020, comprising four tracks: "Ice in My Rosé," "Little Spoon," "Canvas," and "Blue." The EP's title track garnered over 36,000 plays on YouTube Music by 2025. In 2023, Dee released the EP , featuring tracks such as "BABIE GORGEOUS" and "DESIGNER PUSSY." Her most recent solo output as of October 2025 is the single " BAG," distributed digitally on September 25, 2025, with a runtime of approximately two minutes.
ReleaseTypeDateTracks
Ice in My RoséEPJanuary 16, 20204 ("Ice in My Rosé," "Little Spoon," "Canvas," "Blue")
SUITCASEEP2023Includes "BABIE GORGEOUS," "DESIGNER PUSSY"
"JET LAG BAG"SingleSeptember 25, 20251

Awards and nominations

[Awards and nominations - no content]

References

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