Born: 06-04-1978
Birthplace: Lincoln (Lincolnshire)
Country: England
Lenght: 4 ft 9in (1.45m)
Weight: 6.st 8lb (42kg)
Website: http://www.babeswithblades.co.uk/
British actress/martial artist Cecily grew up in Guernsey (in a little cottage on the cliffs). Her parents were both gymnasts who meet each other at the gymnastics club. Her father is owner of an gym, resulting in the beginning of her gymnastics career when she was six years old.
She also starts with ballet and dances on national and international ballet tours at the English National Ballet. She appeared in ballet shows at famous venues as The New York Metropolitan Opera House, The Kennedy Centre Washington, The Royal Festival Hall and The London Coliseum.
She studied at the theatre school, because her dream was to become actress as child. She also studied at the ''Central School of Speech and Drama'', to become a complete actress.
Her female sensei Gerda Geddes (tai-chi name: Pytt) teached her tai chi at the ''London Contemporary Dance School'' in 1992. She started with Pencak Silat (a traditional fighting system from Malaysia and Indonesia) in 1995. Silat is a comprehensive and complete fighting system (the word "silat" means "to have the attributes of lightning"). She is trained by sensei Ariffin Mahiddin in the Malaysian pensak silat style Seni Silat Haqq Melayu. Her British sensei Steven Benitez trains her in the Indonesian pensak silat style Wallisongo.
Her teacher Ariffin Mahiddin teaches the very rare royal sword form ''Silat Melayu'' to her. She is the only female sword master in the world who is trained in this special sword form. She trains the sword form everyday as preparation for a specific tournament, where she won the sword and empty hand forms. She Became 2 times European Champion ''Pencak Silat'' and won golden medals in both forms ''armed and unarmed''.
She qualifies herself as certified pencak silat instructor in less then four years. She gives lessons at the Seni Silat Haqq School and becomes in charge of the Uk classes, after her teacher suddenly returned back to Malaysia in 1999. She gives lessons in the Indonesian style Wali Songo Silat and became instructor in that style in 2005. She also teaches Silat Scathach forms, what is based on principles and techniques of both pencak silat styles. She's recognised as the foremost performer and instructor in Europe. She is the most senior female teacher outside Malaysia and Indonesia, after 11 years of teaching experience.
Her favorite combat style is sword fighting and she likes low kicks, elbows and Harimau (tiger style) techniques. She uses rattan sticks and live blades for sword forms during training. Her dangerous weapons are speed and agility and her favorite technique is an counter attack. Her power to weight ratio is very high and that makes her very fast. Some of her skills are: ''back flips'', ''aerial cartwheels'', ''back, front and side somersaults'', ''360% butterfly twist'', ''lay-out (or flash) kick'', ''full twisting open-back somersault and hand springs''.
She also starts with ballet and dances on national and international ballet tours at the English National Ballet. She appeared in ballet shows at famous venues as The New York Metropolitan Opera House, The Kennedy Centre Washington, The Royal Festival Hall and The London Coliseum.
She studied at the theatre school, because her dream was to become actress as child. She also studied at the ''Central School of Speech and Drama'', to become a complete actress.
Her female sensei Gerda Geddes (tai-chi name: Pytt) teached her tai chi at the ''London Contemporary Dance School'' in 1992. She started with Pencak Silat (a traditional fighting system from Malaysia and Indonesia) in 1995. Silat is a comprehensive and complete fighting system (the word "silat" means "to have the attributes of lightning"). She is trained by sensei Ariffin Mahiddin in the Malaysian pensak silat style Seni Silat Haqq Melayu. Her British sensei Steven Benitez trains her in the Indonesian pensak silat style Wallisongo.
Her teacher Ariffin Mahiddin teaches the very rare royal sword form ''Silat Melayu'' to her. She is the only female sword master in the world who is trained in this special sword form. She trains the sword form everyday as preparation for a specific tournament, where she won the sword and empty hand forms. She Became 2 times European Champion ''Pencak Silat'' and won golden medals in both forms ''armed and unarmed''.
She qualifies herself as certified pencak silat instructor in less then four years. She gives lessons at the Seni Silat Haqq School and becomes in charge of the Uk classes, after her teacher suddenly returned back to Malaysia in 1999. She gives lessons in the Indonesian style Wali Songo Silat and became instructor in that style in 2005. She also teaches Silat Scathach forms, what is based on principles and techniques of both pencak silat styles. She's recognised as the foremost performer and instructor in Europe. She is the most senior female teacher outside Malaysia and Indonesia, after 11 years of teaching experience.
Her favorite combat style is sword fighting and she likes low kicks, elbows and Harimau (tiger style) techniques. She uses rattan sticks and live blades for sword forms during training. Her dangerous weapons are speed and agility and her favorite technique is an counter attack. Her power to weight ratio is very high and that makes her very fast. Some of her skills are: ''back flips'', ''aerial cartwheels'', ''back, front and side somersaults'', ''360% butterfly twist'', ''lay-out (or flash) kick'', ''full twisting open-back somersault and hand springs''.
Action Movie Career
She made her action movie debut as waitress next to martial arts heroine Rachel Grant in "The Purifiers" (2004). An large city is been taken over by several street gangs who have established their own territories. The street gangs defend their turf and kill everybody who cross their path. Moses (played by Kevin McKidd) is an powerful figure in the city's underworld and he arranged a meeting with all gang bosses of the city. He makes an proposal that they all join forces, with the demand that the operations are led by him. There is a good guy gang named The Purifiers who strive to keep their neighborhood safe and free of crime. Moses asks them to work together and he expects full cooperation from them. They refuse his offer and decide to clean the streets of Moses and his gang.
She plays an short role as Vixen next to Adam Chapman who plays the role of crimelord Kincaid in "Left for Dead" (2005). Kincaid runs his criminal empire with iron fist in the city Hope. Ben Williams (played by Glenn Salvage) is a former hitman of Kincaid, who tries to leave the criminal organisation. He's attacked by some henchmen who left him behind for dead as punishment. He gets help of kickboxer Danny Kelso (played by Andy Prior) whose hands are smashed by Kincaid's men. Both men try to stop the criminal empire which holds their city in an iron grasp.
She plays a human fighter who competes at a tournament which is organised by aliens in "Intergalactic Combat" (2007). Some aliens appear at the UN headquaters with the invitation to join the Galactic Federation. Planet earth gets one year in order to send a team of its best fighters, to represent humankind in an unarmed combat tournament. The fate of the Earth depends on the results of the tournament.
She plays Dominatrix next to Brendan Carr who plays the lead role as Ryan in "Ten Dead Men" (2008). He was a stone cold killer long time ago but is changed now, only his brutal past is follows him. An old face from the past arrives at the doorstep and tells him that he must repay an old blood debt from years ago. His life falls apart around him, because the debt is too high. He takes bloody revenge against the ten men who are responsible for this situation.
She plays alongside Joelle Simpson, Merrilees Fay Harris, Helen Steinway Bailey and martial arts expert Zara Phythian in "Warrioress" (2011). She plays female warrior Boudiccu who's life is dedicated to the training of the warrior arts of her tribe. She trains for the tournament that will decide who will be the chosen Warrior of her generation. She wins the tournament and believes in the prophecy and the honor of her tribe. She travels with a female warrior from an rival village to a sacred circle formed of old stone. This tradition is once in every generation and both women must fight to death. The female warriors decide to work together, when they notice that they can't beat each other during the fight. They join forces in order to destroy the Falonex Emperor and his empire. He sends an army of men on their path and they form an unstoppable war machine.
Director Mark Atkins saw the trailer of ''Warrioress" and phoned Cecily with the question if she was interested to play in his movie ''Dragon Crusaders'' (2011). She plays female warrior Aerona who lives on a small Island that has suffered many invasions. An part of the island people know how they must defend themself against invaders. An group of fugitive Knights Templar are cursed into hideous monsters, after they have attacked a pirate ship. The knights templar must first defeat the wizard-dragon in order to destroy the curse. Aerona has the task to protect Morwenna (played by Merrilees Fay Harris) against the Knights Templar and the Sorcerer when the curse is broken.
She plays alongside Joelle Simpson, Merrilees Fay Harris, Helen Steinway Bailey and martial arts expert Zara Phythian in "Warrioress" (2011). She plays female warrior Boudiccu who's life is dedicated to the training of the warrior arts of her tribe. She trains for the tournament that will decide who will be the chosen Warrior of her generation. She wins the tournament and believes in the prophecy and the honor of her tribe. She travels with a female warrior from an rival village to a sacred circle formed of old stone. This tradition is once in every generation and both women must fight to death. The female warriors decide to work together, when they notice that they can't beat each other during the fight. They join forces in order to destroy the Falonex Emperor and his empire. He sends an army of men on their path and they form an unstoppable war machine.
Director Mark Atkins saw the trailer of ''Warrioress" and phoned Cecily with the question if she was interested to play in his movie ''Dragon Crusaders'' (2011). She plays female warrior Aerona who lives on a small Island that has suffered many invasions. An part of the island people know how they must defend themself against invaders. An group of fugitive Knights Templar are cursed into hideous monsters, after they have attacked a pirate ship. The knights templar must first defeat the wizard-dragon in order to destroy the curse. Aerona has the task to protect Morwenna (played by Merrilees Fay Harris) against the Knights Templar and the Sorcerer when the curse is broken.
Action Documentary
She portrays a ''Gladiator Girl'' next to martial arts heroines Lucy Lawless, Joelle Simpson, Emily Hollins and Amanda Turner in the Discovery Channel action documentary "Gladiatrix" (2001). An gladiatrix is an armed female fighter who the counterpart of the male gladiator is. This women fight against humans or animals for the entertainment of audiences at the arenas of the Roman Empire. People find an unusual grave of a woman from the Roman era in England. The grave contained the grave good of a gladiator and the show discusses gladiators, women warriors and speculates on the possibility of a galdiatrix.
She appears alongside Dana Hee, Zara Phythian and Cynthia Rothrock in the action documentary ''Spirit2Power'' (2014). This show gives an fascinating and insightful look about the spirit of martial arts and fight movements. This documentary features martial arts masters and champions including US olympic gold medallist and award-winning Hollywood stuntwoman Dana Hee. The artists demonstrate the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of martial arts including the physically challenge to improve the life quality.
She appears with Kevin Akehurst, Gordon Alexander, Dean Alexandrou, Ross Boyask, Dan Cade, Brendan Carr, Adam Chapman and others in the action documentary ''10,000 Cigarettes'' (2004). When 2 film makers set out to make the first Independent UK action film... it is them who almost end up committed. 2 1/2 years from start to finish... it was a long ride!
She did stunts in ''Sabrina the Teenage Witch'' (1996), ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' (2005), ''Hit Girls'' (2011), ''Warrioress'' (2011), ''A Lonely Place to Die'' (2011), ''Prometheus'' (2012), ''Snow White and the Huntsman'' (2012 ).
Babes With Blades
She is the creator and director of the female martial arts show ''Babes With Blades''. This 50 minute show is designed to promote the dynamic female physicality through a new vision of martial arts. The different types of powerful female warriors are from the Celtic Goddess of Battle till Prophet The Morrighan with her strong female warrioress, till female iconic heroines as Wonder Woman and Lara Croft. Martial arts forms as silat, wushu, tai chi, double swords and silat melayu royal sword Form are showed by Cecily Fay, Zara Phythian, Helen Bailey, Lizzie Gough Merrilees Fay, Philly Anderson, Joelle Simpson, Marina Lurie, Tanya Hawks Belle. The show gathers many international fans and is performed at venues as The Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glastonbury Festival, The Prince of Dubai’s Palace and all over the world.
Music
She is also singer and writer/composer outside her movie/martial arts activities. She starts her music career in 1997 with hit record producer Jon X. They formed the band The Morrighan and they write the number ''In the Wild'' for ''Tigress productions''. The Morrighan’s had three club hit records in 2000 and their hit ''Follow Me'' was the soundtrack of the blockbuster film ''Kevin & Perry Go Large''. Her band did live performances at events as Glastonbury Festival, Brixton Academy, Fairfield Halls, Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium & Amnesia (the Ibiza superclub), to name a few.
Action Movie Filmography
- Dragon Crusaders (2011)
- Warrioress (2011)
- Ten Dead Men (2008)
- Intergalactic Combat (2007)
- Left for Dead (2005)
- The Purifiers (2004)
Action Documentary
- Spirit2Power (2014)
- 10,000 Cigarettes' (2004)
- Gladiatrix (2001)
