Dressed in a pair figure-hugging denim shorts and casting a knowing look over one shoulder as she posed for the camera, actress Nadia Parkes looked destined for the role of kidnapped Chloe Ayling.
The Instagram snap taken five years ago shows the uncanny resemblance between the Warwickshire born actress, 28, and Chloe – whose kidnapping will be recreated in a new BBC six-part series which airs this week.
Kidnapped, follows Chloe’s 2017 ordeal in Milan, where she was snatched after travelling for a photoshoot, and promises to tell the true story for the first time – and its release looks set to be a milestone career moment for Nadia too.
With a small role in Dr Who and the lead in Netflix‘s fantasy drama The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself under her belt, Nadia has been flying under the radar to a certain extent, but her portrayal of Chloe looks set to propel her fully into the limelight.
And she certainly has all the makings of a breakout star ready to hit the big time – from a musician boyfriend to a famous ex who is now daying Hollywood A-lister Zendaya and famous pals including Sophie Turner, whose hen do she attended in 2019.
Nadia Parkes is set to star as kidnapped model Chloe Ayling in a new BBC six-part series about her harrowing real-life abduction. In an Instagram snap taken five years ago, she looks born to play Chloe due to their uncanny resemblance
Nadia said of her casting in Kidnapped: ‘This is a timely and important story about how we perceive trauma in the media’
London-based Nadia grew up in Leamington Spa and attended The King’s High School for Girls in Warwick (pictured in 2019)
And she’s spoken about her desire to try theatre acting and how Sophia Loren is her biggest inspiration because of her talent and ‘Italian zest for life’.
London-based Nadia is the daughter of a Scottish Italian mother and has one older sister Michaella Parkes, 31, a writer. Both her parents work as opticians.
She grew up in Leamington Spa and attended The King’s High School for Girls in Warwick before studying acting at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
The actress got her big break starring as Rosa de Vargas on STARZ’s historical drama series, The Spanish Princess before she’d even left LAMDA.
She left school early to start filming the project in May 2018, featuring as one as Catherine of Aragon’s ladies in waiting, but it wasn’t a route to overnight success.
Speaking on model Grace McGovern’s podcast What They Don’t Tell You About in November 2019, she said: ‘I did this amazing series. I was in drama school when I got the job. I left early to do it.
‘Everyone was like, “Oh my gosh, this is incredible”. I sat there going, “Oh my god, this has all happened for me so quickly, and I didn’t even have to kind of deal with all the worry and the rejection. No, it’s not going to be long until I get my next job”.
‘Ten months later, I hadn’t worked, and I’d started working at a special needs school to help out with some kids there. I was feeling so low.’
Her persistence paid off, however, and Nadia went on to star as Livia in limited Sky Atlantic series Domina.
In 2020, she made an appearance as Claire Clairmont in Doctor Who episode The Haunting of Villa Diodati.
In 2022, Nadia secured the main role of Annalise, a witch with violent magical powers, in The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself, before featuring in one episode of Tokyo Vice as Claudine.
Nadia has since seemingly moved on with musician James Smith, who frequently features on her Instagram (pictured together this month)
The actress is the daughter of two Opticians and has one older sister Michaella Parkes, 31 (pictured together in 2023)
Nadia seen with her father
Pictured (L) with her sister Michaella (R) last month
The actress got her big break starring as Rosa de Vargas on STARZ’s historical drama series, The Spanish Princess having reportedly secured the role straight after graduating LAMDA (pictured in the series alongside Stephanie Levi-John)
In 2020, she made an appearance as Claire Clairmont in Doctor Who episode The Haunting of Villa Diodati (L-R Maxim Baldry, Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, Lili Miller and Nadia)
In 2022, Nadia secured the main role of Annalise in The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself (pictured on set), before featuring in one episode of Tokyo Vice as Claudine.
She is now taking on the role of model Chloe in the BBC series, Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story, which is set to be released August 14 (pictured on set last year)
In July 2020, Nadia was revealed to be dating A-list actor Tom Holland when he went Instagram official with his new love.
The Spider Man actor confirmed he was dating the brunette beauty when he shared an arty snap of the actress donning a face mask in front of a moody sky.
MailOnline exclusively revealed that the actor has been dating Nadia for over three months in May 2020.
An insider said: ‘It was early days for Tom and Nadia when the lockdown was announced in London.
‘They made the decision to isolate together and things have been going great between them.
‘Tom has told friends and family they’re in an official relationship and living together so soon into their romance has only made them stronger.’
Neither Nadia nor Tom commented on the rumours at the time.
Nadia was reported to have moved in with Tom where he lived with brother Harry and his pal Harrison Osterfield at the time.
It’s believed Tom was introduced to Nadia by Sophie Turner and her ex husband Joe Jonas after they celebrated their engagement together
The actor went on to date his Spiderman co-star Zendaya.
Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spiderman: Homecoming in 2017, but predominantly keep their relationship out of the public eye.
In July 2021, the pair were spotted kissing in their car and have been dating ever since.
Nadia has since seemingly moved on with musician James Smith, who frequently features on her Instagram.
In July 2020, Nadia was revealed to be dating A-list actor Tom Holland when he went Instagram official with his new love
Tom went on to date his Spiderman co-star Zendaya. They met on the set of Spiderman: Homecoming in 2017 and are believed to have began dating in 2021 (pictured in 2021)
Actress Nadia is said to have a close circle of famous friends that includes Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner.
Nadia attended Sophie’s hen do in June 2019 ahead of her wedding to Joe Jonas, 30, along with Maisie Williams and a host of other female pals.
The actress made sure her hen party went off with a bang when she took her pals to Benidorm, Spain, among other destinations ahead of her second ‘official’ wedding to Joe.
The girls started off at a Jonas Brothers concert in London, before heading to Benidorm, then Berlin, Germany and then to Prague in the Czech Republic.
The group seemed to be making to most of their surroundings, according to another E! insider who said they were partying around the clock.
Actress Nadia is said to have a close circle of famous friends that includes Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner (pictured together in 2019)
Nadia (second left) attended Sophie’s hen do in June 2019 ahead of her wedding to Joe Jonas, 30, along with Maisie Williams (left) and a host of other female pals
Sophie (centre) made sure her hen party went off with a bang when she took her pals to Benidorm, Spain, among other destinations ahead of her second ‘official’ wedding to Joe
‘They are partying at night and sun tanning during the day. Everything is very coordinated with matching outfits and colourful wigs.
‘They are going all out to make it fun for Sophie. The girls have been hitting up nightclubs and dancing up a storm both in the clubs and at their hotel near the coast.’
They continued: ‘They spent one day recovering by the rooftop pool at the Soho House in Berlin. They all lounged in matching robes and enjoyed drinks at sunset.’
