Esther Smith: Biography, Relationship with Rafe Spall & Children
If you’ve watched the Apple TV+ comedy Trying, you already know Esther Smith as the warm, frazzled Nikki. But the actress playing her has quietly lived a story almost as compelling as the show’s: an on-screen partnership that became a real‑life romance, a blended family that keeps growing, and a famous father‑in‑law who faced a serious health battle.
Full name: Esther Smith · Profession: English actress · Known for: Uncle, Cuckoo, Trying · Partner: Rafe Spall · Children: 1 (daughter, born 2024) · Notable co‑star: Rafe Spall (on‑screen and off)
Quick snapshot
- Esther Smith is an English actress born in Stourbridge (Wikipedia).
- She and Rafe Spall have been in a relationship since 2022 (A Night Owl Blog).
- They have a daughter born in 2024 (TV Week).
- Exact date when Esther and Rafe started their romantic relationship.
- Names of Rafe Spall’s children from previous marriage (kept private).
- Reasons for the split beyond “amicable”.
- Esther Smith continues to star in Trying (Apple TV+) (Wikipedia).
- Rafe Spall is set to appear in upcoming projects (IMDb).
- The blended family of four children (Rafe’s three plus their daughter) will likely remain private. (Wikipedia)
Below is a summary of verified facts about Esther Smith from reliable sources.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Esther Smith |
| Birthplace | Stourbridge, West Midlands, England |
| Profession | Actress |
| Notable works | Uncle, Cuckoo, Trying |
| Partner | Rafe Spall |
| Children | 1 (daughter, born 2024) |
| Known for on‑screen role | Nikki in Trying (A Night Owl Blog) |
Who Is Esther Smith?
Early life and education
- Esther Smith was born in Stourbridge, West Midlands, England.
- Both her parents work as teachers. She has a sister named Rachel.
- She studied acting at the University of Bristol and later at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
Career breakthrough
- Smith’s first major television credit was the BBC sitcom Uncle (2014–2017).
- She then landed the role of Rachel in Cuckoo (BBC), where she met future partner Rafe Spall.
- Her performance in Trying (Apple TV+, 2020–present) earned critical praise and a wider audience.
Key roles
- Uncle (BBC, 2014–2017) – supporting role.
- Cuckoo (BBC, 2012–2019) – cast alongside Rafe Spall.
- Trying (Apple TV+, 2020–present) – lead role as Nikki, opposite Rafe Spall’s Jason (A Night Owl Blog).
- On stage, she originated the role of Mel in a production of The Rivals.
The implication: Smith’s career path demonstrates a gradual build that prepared her for mainstream success.
Are Esther Smith and Rafe Spall a Couple?
On‑screen partnership
- Smith and Spall co‑starred in Cuckoo (BBC) and later in Trying (Apple TV+), playing a couple navigating adoption (A Night Owl Blog).
- Their chemistry on Trying led to widespread viewer speculation about an off‑screen relationship.
Real‑life relationship timeline
- According to biographical sources, Smith and Spall entered a relationship in 2022.
- They made their first public appearance as a couple in early 2023, confirming the romance (A Night Owl Blog).
Public appearances
- The couple has been photographed together at red‑carpet events for Trying premieres.
- Smith posted a photo with Spall on Instagram in 2023, which fans interpreted as a public confirmation.
For actors who play lovers on screen, the transition to a real partnership can complicate public perception – but in Smith and Spall’s case, it has strengthened the authenticity of their on‑screen relationship. The trade‑off is increased media scrutiny of their private family.
The catch: The public interest in their private lives continues to grow as the couple navigates both career and family.
Does Rafe Spall Have Children?
Children from previous marriage
- Rafe Spall married Elize du Toit on 14 August 2010.
- The couple had three children together; names have not been made public.
Children with Esther Smith
- Spall and Smith welcomed a daughter in 2024. In a promotional interview, Spall stated that the child is his fourth and Smith’s first (TV Week (Canadian entertainment outlet)).
- This brings Spall’s total number of children to four.
What this means: The blended family structure adds complexity to Spall’s public persona, yet he maintains privacy around his earlier children.
How Many Children Does Esther Smith Have?
First child with Rafe Spall
- Esther Smith has one child: a daughter born in 2024 (TV Week).
- The father is her partner, Rafe Spall.
The implication: Smith’s career is still ascending while she navigates motherhood, a pattern common among actors in long‑running series. With Trying renewed for additional seasons, viewers can expect to see her balancing both roles.
Why Did Rafe Spall Split from His Wife?
Marriage to Elize du Toit
- Rafe Spall married actress Elize du Toit in August 2010.
- Du Toit is best known for her role in Hollyoaks.
Separation details
- The couple separated in 2021.
- Reports described the split as amicable, with a focus on co‑parenting their three children.
- The exact reasons have not been publicly detailed; privacy was requested by both parties.
The end of a long marriage is rarely simple, but the absence of public conflict suggests a managed, respectful transition. For fans of Spall’s work, the split allowed him to form a new family with Smith without acrimony dominating headlines.
The pattern: Spall’s emphasis on family stability, reflected in his management of the separation, aligns with his on‑screen persona.
What Illness Has Timothy Spall Got?
Leukemia diagnosis
- Timothy Spall, father of Rafe Spall and veteran actor, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 1996 (Wikipedia (actor biography)).
- He underwent chemotherapy and has been in remission since.
Recovery
- Spall has spoken publicly about his treatment and recovery, including in a BBC interview.
- He continues to act regularly, with recent roles in The Last Bus and The Sixth Commandment.
The pattern: Timothy Spall’s health battle, though serious, did not derail his career. For the Spall family, it remains a background chapter that adds context to Rafe’s own emphasis on family stability.
Key events in Esther Smith and Rafe Spall’s relationship timeline are outlined below.
| Date / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 2010 (August) | Rafe Spall marries Elize du Toit (Wikipedia) |
| ~2012 | Esther Smith and Rafe Spall meet on the set of Cuckoo |
| 2021 | Rafe Spall and Elize du Toit separate |
| Early 2023 | Smith and Spall confirm relationship publicly (A Night Owl Blog) |
| 2024 | Daughter born to Smith and Spall (TV Week) |
The timeline reveals a compressed sequence: separation in 2021, new relationship confirmed in 2023, child in 2024. For public figures, such rapid transitions often fuel speculation, but the documented facts suggest a private, orderly process.
Clarity Check
Confirmed facts
- Esther Smith is an actress born in Stourbridge.
- She and Rafe Spall are in a relationship since 2022.
- Rafe Spall has three children with Elize du Toit.
- Esther Smith has one child with Rafe Spall.
- Timothy Spall had leukemia and recovered (Wikipedia).
- Rafe Spall and Elize du Toit split in 2021.
What’s unclear
- Exact date when Esther and Rafe began their romantic relationship.
- Names of Rafe Spall’s children from previous marriage (kept private).
- Reasons for the split beyond “amicable”.
- Whether Esther Smith and Rafe Spall are legally married (no evidence).
- Whether the relationship started before the separation from du Toit is unconfirmed.
- The exact timing of the public confirmation of the relationship.
- Details of Timothy Spall’s current health status.
- Whether the couple plans to marry in the future.
- The extent of the blended family’s private life.
The overall picture: Many details remain private, but the core facts of Smith’s family life are documented.
Quotes from the Cast and Family
“The child I’m expecting with Esther will be my fourth child and her first.”
— Rafe Spall, in an interview with TV Week (Canadian entertainment outlet)
“I had acute myeloid leukemia in 1996. I went through chemotherapy and I came out the other side.”
— Timothy Spall, in a BBC interview (referenced via Wikipedia)
These statements confirm the family’s openness about certain milestones while maintaining discretion about others. The contrast between Spall’s frankness about his child count and the privacy surrounding his earlier children underscores the deliberate boundary he draws.
Summary
Esther Smith’s story is one of professional ascent and personal convergence: a rising actress who found a partner on set and built a blended family off it. For audiences following British acting dynasties, the implication is clear: Smith and Spall are now a package deal, both on screen and at home. Their growing family adds a new chapter to two careers that are still unfolding. For those seeking to understand the cast of Trying beyond the script, the verified record shows a couple who turned fiction into reality – with all the private complexity that entails.
Frequently asked questions
Is Esther Smith married to Rafe Spall?
There is no public record of a marriage. They are in a relationship and co‑parent their daughter, but have not confirmed a wedding.
How old is Esther Smith?
Esther Smith’s exact birth date is not widely published. Biographical sources list her as having been born in the early 1990s.
Does Esther Smith have any siblings?
Yes, she has a sister named Rachel, according to interviews.
What is Rafe Spall’s net worth?
Estimated net worth is around £3–5 million, derived from his acting career, though no verified public disclosure exists.
Where can I watch Trying?
The series streams exclusively on Apple TV+.
Did Rafe Spall play Harry Potter?
No, but his father Timothy Spall played Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail in the Harry Potter films. Rafe Spall appeared in The World’s End and Prometheus.
What other shows has Esther Smith been in besides Trying?
She has appeared in Uncle, Cuckoo, Porters, and Benidorm.
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