Fans of have been left stunned after uncovering a risqué role from Joyce Highland’s actress, Renee Bailey.
Since her debut in 2024, the character of Joyce, portrayed as a diligent and intelligent midwife, has become a beloved figure on the series.
She has been at the heart of numerous pivotal plotlines, including the revelation of her dark past during the 13th season and a recent storyline involving racial abuse from a patient.
Beyond Call The Midwife, Renee Bailey has showcased her acting prowess in various other productions. In 2022, she featured in ‘s Rebel Cheer Squad, playing the character Laila across eight episodes.
Earlier in her career, in 2014, she appeared in Channel 4’s mini-series How to Be a Person, which explores the trials and tribulations of teenage life.
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She plays Joyce on the BBC show (Image: BBC)
However, it’s her provocative role in the 2022 Three drama Mood that has sparked a flurry of chatter among fans. This six-part series, created by and starring Nicole Lecky, follows the journey of aspiring singer Sasha (Nicole Lecky), reports Mirror.
The narrative takes a dark twist when she encounters influencer Carly (Lara Peake), who introduces her to the world of sex work. The show was an immediate hit, earning a BAFTA Award for Best Mini-Series in 2023.
The series didn’t shy away from explicit content, featuring scenes of orgies and drug use. Love Island star Anna Vakili also made a cameo as an influencer at a high-profile event.
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Renee played sex worker Paris (Image: BBC)
Renee Bailey, known for her role as Joyce in Call The Midwife, takes on a vastly different character in Mood, playing Paris, an influencer and sex worker who befriends Carly. In one scene, Paris and Sasha are hired for a night with an older man, but the encounter takes an imaginative turn as Sasha pictures herself and Paris in a music video.
The pair are dressed in bondage-inspired outfits, performing a Cardi B-esque track called Charge It, which also showcases Renee’s rapping abilities.
However, fans have expressed their surprise at Renee’s appearance in Mood. “No way is that Joyce from Call The Midwife,” one person commented online, alongside a photo of Renee from the show.
Fans have been left flored (Image: BBC)
Another user confirmed, “It is! ” A third fan chimed in, “I loved that show.”
In a past interview from 2024, Renee discussed her approach to playing Joyce in Call the Midwife: “Joyce is a force. She is driven and knows what she wants. She’s come to England from Trinidad and was training in Birmingham before London.”
Renee aimed to add depth to her character, saying, “Ive tried to bring in a little more softness as well as qualities that I love in Black women generally. I don’t want her to just be this stereotypical idea of what a strong black woman looks like. She has a lot of tenderness.”
Call The Midwife airs on Sunday on One.