Shaheen Jafargholi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shaheen Jafargholi
Jafargholi in 2016
Born	(1997-01-23) 23 January 1997 (age 28) Swansea, Wales
Education	Mark Jermin Stage School
Occupation	Actor singer
Years active	2004–present
Television	Britain's Got Talent EastEnders Casualty
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Island Beady Eye Grinnin'

Shaheen Jafargholi (Persian: شاهین جعفرقلی) is a Welsh actor and singer. He was born on January 23, 1997. In 2009, he became well-known after finishing seventh on the TV show Britain's Got Talent. After that, he played important roles in popular TV series. He was Shakil Kazemi in EastEnders from 2016 to 2018. Then, he played Marty Kirkby in Casualty from 2018 to 2023. Shaheen also appeared in the horror comedy Wreck in 2023. In 2024, he was Celyn in the miniseries Lost Boys and Fairies.

Shaheen's Early Life

Shaheen Jafargholi was born in Singleton Hospital in Swansea, Wales. His birthday is January 23, 1997. His mother, Karen Thomas, is Welsh. His father is from Iran.

Shaheen's Acting and Singing Career

Starting as a Young Actor

Shaheen began acting when he was young. In 2009, he played Troy in the children's TV show Grandpa in My Pocket. He also appeared in an episode of Torchwood called "Greeks Bearing Gifts". In this episode, he played a character named Danny. Shaheen also had a role in the medical drama Casualty. He played Christy Skinner, a patient with a strange condition.

Shaheen also performed on stage. He toured as a young Michael Jackson in the show Thriller – Live. He also acted in plays like Macbeth, The King and I, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He played the Genie in a show of Aladdin. Shaheen also appeared in TV adverts for companies like Delta Air Lines and Debenhams.

Becoming Famous on Britain's Got Talent

In 2009, Shaheen took part in Britain's Got Talent. This was the third series of the show. During his first audition, he started singing "Valerie". However, judge Simon Cowell stopped him. Simon felt the song was not right for Shaheen's voice.

Simon Cowell then asked Shaheen to sing another song. After a short pause, Shaheen decided to sing "Who's Lovin' You" by Smokey Robinson. This song was famously sung by The Jackson 5. His performance was amazing. The audience and judges loved it and gave him a standing ovation.

Some people thought Shaheen had too much experience for the show. They believed Britain's Got Talent should only be for new performers. However, the show's spokesperson said it was open to everyone. They said Shaheen's past work did not matter for his role on the show.

After his success, Shaheen got to host a one-hour show on his local radio station, 102.1 Bay Radio. He chose his favorite songs and shared his experiences.

For the semi-final, Shaheen sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going". This song is from the musical Dreamgirls. He reached the final on May 30, 2009. In the final, he sang "Who's Lovin' You" again. He received another standing ovation. Shaheen finished in 6th place in the competition.

After Britain's Got Talent

Shaheen continued to perform after the show. In September 2009, he sang "I'll Be There" at the MOBO Awards. This was part of a tribute to Michael Jackson. A month later, he went to Chicago. He performed "Who's Lovin' You" on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He also sang at the BBC Children in Need Gala in Cardiff.

Michael Jackson Memorial Performance

One of Shaheen's most famous performances was at the memorial service for Michael Jackson. This event was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It was shown on TV all over the world. Shaheen sang "Who's Lovin' You" as a musical tribute.

Michael Jackson had actually invited Shaheen to perform with him. This was for Jackson's "This Is It" concerts in London. Sadly, these concerts never happened. Before Shaheen's performance, Smokey Robinson, who wrote the song, gave a speech. Many people were very impressed by Shaheen's singing.

Adult Acting Roles

In 2014, Shaheen played the Genie in the pantomime Aladdin. In May 2016, he joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He played the character Shakil Kazemi. His character was written out of the show two years later in May 2018.

On August 1, 2018, it was announced that Shaheen had joined Casualty. He played the nurse Marty Kirkby. He was on the show for five years. His last appearance was on March 18, 2023.

Shaheen's TV Shows and Movies

Shaheen's Music Releases

Studio Albums

Singles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Shaheen Jafargholi para niños