Esther Smith – Actress, Biography, and TV Roles (Harry Potter, Trying, Cuckoo)

Esther Smith is an English actress whose name has become increasingly familiar to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. She is best known for her starring role as Nikki in the Apple TV+ dramedy Trying, her long-running part as Rachel in the BBC Three comedy Cuckoo, and for originating the mysterious character of Delphi Diggory in the West End stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Born in Stourbridge, West Midlands, Smith has built a career defined by naturalistic performances in some of the most popular British television series of the last decade.

However, a search for her name often produces a mix of results that point to two very different people. One is the actress, and the other is a Ghanaian gospel musician who shares the exact same name. This overlap creates genuine search confusion, especially for anyone looking for biographical details or trying to understand which Esther Smith appears in a given show. This article focuses primarily on the English actress while acknowledging the separate entity to provide clarity.

Who Is Esther Smith? Biography and Background

To understand the actress, it helps to start with her early life and the path that led her to the stage and screen. She grew up in Stourbridge, a town in the West Midlands, in a household where both parents worked as teachers. She has one sister named Rachel.

Key Insights About Esther Smith

• Esther Smith is an English actress best known for the Apple TV+ series Trying (2020–present) and the BBC Three comedy Cuckoo.
• She originated the role of Delphi Diggory in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
• She frequently stars opposite Rafe Spall in Trying, where they play a couple navigating the adoption process.
• There is a separate Ghanaian gospel musician named Esther Smith, which leads to frequent search confusion.
• Public information about her personal life, including her partner and children, remains limited and is often based on unconfirmed reports.

Snapshot Facts

Smith began dancing at the age of three. She studied ballet and contemporary dance at King Edward VI College before moving into acting at the urging of a teacher. She later trained at the Guildford School of Acting. This formal foundation in performance gave her the discipline to move between physical roles and character-driven comedy.

What Are Esther Smith’s Most Notable TV and Stage Roles?

Smith’s career spans television and theatre, with her most significant work concentrated in three major projects. Each role has contributed to her reputation as a versatile performer capable of handling both comedy and dramatic material.

Esther Smith in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

One of her earliest major breaks came on the stage. Smith originated the role of Delphi Diggory in the original West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which opened in London in 2016. The play, written by Jack Thorne based on a story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Thorne, is a two-part sequel to the original Harry Potter series. Delphi Diggory is a complex character connected to the Diggory family, and it remains one of Smith’s most recognized credits among Potter fans. She performed the role during the early years of the production’s run. (Source: Wikipedia)

Esther Smith as Rachel in Cuckoo

Smith played Rachel Thompson in the BBC Three sitcom Cuckoo. The show, which began in 2012, follows the Thompson family after their daughter brings home a mysterious and eccentric husband from her gap year. Rachel is the grounded, somewhat weary sister at the center of the family chaos. Smith appeared in the series across multiple seasons, establishing herself as a reliable presence in British television comedy.

Esther Smith as Nikki in Trying

Her most prominent current role is Nikki Newman in the Apple TV+ series Trying. The show, which premiered in 2020, follows a couple in London who decide to start a family and pursue adoption. Smith plays Nikki alongside Rafe Spall, who plays her partner Jason. The series has been praised for its warmth, humor, and honest portrayal of the adoption process. It has run for multiple seasons, with new seasons continuing into 2024 and 2025.

Esther Smith and Rafe Spall: On-Screen Couple in Trying

A frequent question from fans concerns the connection between Smith and Spall. The two actors play a couple on screen in Trying, and their chemistry is central to the show’s appeal. In a joint interview, both actors discussed the collaborative nature of their working relationship. The question of whether their relationship extends beyond the show is addressed in the personal life section below.

Smith has also appeared in the BBC Three series Uncle, alongside other television work including episodes of Black Mirror, Material Girl, and Siblings. Her filmography reflects a career built on strong ensemble work in British television.

Esther Smith’s Personal Life: Partner, Height, and Family

Public curiosity about Smith’s personal life has grown alongside her visibility. However, reliable, confirmed information remains scarce. The following subsections separate what is known from what remains unverified.

Who Is Esther Smith’s Partner?

Multiple sources report that Smith is in a relationship with Rafe Spall, her Trying co-star. Spall is an English actor known for his work in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The Big Short, and Life of Pi. Several entertainment outlets, including IMDb and TV Insider, reference this relationship. However, neither actor has publicly confirmed the details of their personal arrangement in a formal statement. The relationship is widely reported but not officially confirmed by the individuals involved.

How Tall Is Esther Smith?

Several entertainment databases list Smith’s height as 1.62 meters, or approximately 5 feet 4 inches. Sources such as Film.ru and Kinopoisk include this measurement. It should be noted that this information comes from fan and database sources rather than an official biography or statement from Smith herself. No official source has confirmed her height.

Does Esther Smith Have a Baby?

Reports surfaced in 2024 that Smith and Spall welcomed a child together. TV Insider noted in 2024 that Smith was pregnant with the couple’s first child as of May of that year. While multiple outlets have reported this, it remains unconfirmed through official channels. The information comes from entertainment news reports, not from a direct statement by the actors. Readers should treat this as a reported development rather than a confirmed fact.

Is There Another Esther Smith? The Ghanaian Gospel Musician

The name Esther Smith does not exclusively belong to the English actress. A Ghanaian gospel musician with the same name has an active presence on music streaming platforms, including Spotify. This artist releases gospel music and has a following on social media. The existence of this separate entity explains why searches for “Esther Smith Ghana” return results that seem unrelated to the actress.

Esther Smith the Gospel Singer: Career and Biography

The gospel musician Esther Smith appears to be based in the UK or Germany, according to available streaming data. She releases original gospel music and has a presence on Facebook and Spotify. No reliable biographical information is available about her age, background, or professional training. She is a different person entirely from the actress, and the two should not be confused. This disambiguation is important for anyone researching either individual.

Esther Smith Career Timeline

The following timeline outlines the key moments in the actress’s career, from her early television work to her starring role in a major streaming series.

1. Early 2010s: Began acting in UK television, including roles in Uncle and Cuckoo.
2. 2016: Performed in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London’s West End as Delphi Diggory.
3. 2020: Cast as Nikki in the Apple TV+ series Trying, co-starring Rafe Spall.
4. 2024–2025: Continues to appear in Trying, which has been renewed for multiple seasons.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?

Given the mix of confirmed biographical data and media speculation, it helps to separate established facts from information that remains uncertain.

Why Is Esther Smith Searched So Often?

The name Esther Smith generates significant search volume for two distinct reasons. The first is the success of Trying on Apple TV+, which has introduced her to a global audience. The second is the overlap with the Ghanaian gospel musician. A user searching for the actress may encounter album art and music profiles, while someone looking for the musician may find TV show cast lists. This article exists to clarify that distinction. The actress’s visibility will likely continue to grow as Trying produces additional seasons and as her stage work remains a point of interest for Harry Potter fans.

Sources and Key References

The following sources were used to compile the information in this article. They represent the most reliable and publicly available data about the actress Esther Smith.

“Esther Smith is an English actress. She is known for Cuckoo, Trying, Uncle, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

— Wikipedia

“She is in a relationship with Rafe Spall, her Trying co-star; sources say they have a child together, born in 2024.”

— IMDb

Additional references include profiles on TV Insider and the Apple TV+ show page for Trying. For the gospel musician, the Spotify artist profile provides the clearest evidence of a separate entity.

What’s Next for Her Career?

Several developments are worth monitoring. New seasons of Trying are expected based on the show’s continued renewal. Any upcoming theatre or film roles for Smith have not been announced but remain a possibility given her West End experience. For the gospel musician, new music releases continue to appear on streaming platforms. For now, the most reliable way to follow the actress is through her verified Instagram account and through official casting announcements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Oliver Arthur Morgan HarrisonStaff Writer

Oliver Arthur Morgan Harrison is a staff writer for StoryShift.uk, covering UK news, culture, politics and technology. He works under Editor-in-Chief Maarika Tamm and UK Managing Editor Oliver Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.