Esien was born on 7 May 1974 in
Hackney,
London, to Nigerian parents. She attended
Raine's Foundation School, and initially studied
law before giving up to study drama, graduating from
Guildhall School of Music and Drama. and went on to win a New Talent Award in the Women in Film and Television Awards 2006. In 2006, she wrote and starred in her own comedy sketch show called
Little Miss Jocelyn, a second series of which aired in January 2008. This show marks the first time in the history of television – in either the US or the UK – that a black woman has been given her own solo comedy sketch show. In 2007, Esien featured in
Girls Aloud and
Sugababes'
Comic Relief video for "
Walk This Way", where she puts a parking ticket on Ewen Macintosh, a reference to the character Jiffy from the show
Little Miss Jocelyn. On 11 June 2009, it was stated that
Little Miss Jocelyn would not be brought back for a third series. From 2009 to 2012, Esien starred in all three series of
Beauty of Britain, a comedy-drama on
BBC Radio 4 written by
Christopher Douglas and Nicola Sanderson, portraying a Nigerian-born agency careworker, Beauty Olonga, newly-arrived in the UK and coming to grips with the country while working in the decrepit British care system. In November 2009, Esien played the part of waitress Cindie Smith in the ITV series
Collision. She appeared in the second series of
The Sarah Jane Adventures as
Clyde Langer's mother,
Carla. In 2010, Esien reprised the role in two further episodes of the show, titled
The Empty Planet and aired on 1 and 2 November 2010, as well as in the fifth series story,
The Curse of Clyde Langer, which aired on 10 and 11 October 2011. Esien appeared in the 2010 film
StreetDance 3D and wrote an episode of the American reality TV show
Jon & Kate Plus 8. On 22 September 2010, Esien returned to
BBC Three for
One Non-Blonde: Down Under, an eight-part comedy stunt show with new character creations. She plays characters such as a
hermaphrodite rapper and a
socialite, touring
New Zealand. She also appeared alongside famous British comedians in BBC One's
Ronnie Corbett Christmas special,
The One Ronnie. In 2011, Esien appeared as Tasha in British comedy
Anuvahood. and also in the
BBC Three coming-of-age comedy series
Some Girls. She has also made numerous stage appearances. In January and February 2013, she appeared in ''
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show'' by the American playwright
Don Evans, and thereafter toured with the play nationally. In 2013, Esien appeared in
Gangsta Granny as Kelly. She also appeared in the BBC comedy
Big School as Daphne, the personal assistant and secretary to headmistress Ms Baron (
Frances de la Tour) from 2013 to 2014. Esien's other television appearances include: •
Autumn Leaves, a BBC comedy-drama •
Some Girls •
Uncle Max • ''
After You've Gone'' •
Holby City •
The Lenny Henry Show •
Ed Stone is Dead •
Comedy Nation •
Douglas •
In The Name of Love (television film). Esien appeared in a cameo role as a PCSO in the long running BBC sitcom "Not Going Out" on 15 April 2022. ==Filmography==