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Nathaniel Dass
British actor, singer and musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nathaniel Dass is a British actor, singer and musician. Dass played the main role of Nathaniel/Nate in the CBBC musical dramedy television series Almost Never, which ran for three seasons between 2019 and 2021. Since 2023, Dass has portrayed Dillon Ray in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, for which he was nominated for "Best Partnership" at the 2024 Inside Soap Awards.
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Dass is from Birmingham.[1] He attended King Edward VI Five Ways School, where he gained 10 GCSE subjects at grade A* and A in 2018.[1] In 2016, Dass appeared as a singer in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar.[1] In 2018, it was announced that Dass had been cast as the lead role of Nathaniel/Nate in CBBC's new musical dramedy television series Almost Never.[2] The show revolves around teenagers trying to make it in the music industry after appearing fictional music competition series.[3] Nate was characterised by the BBC as being the lead singer of the show's fictional boyband The Wonderland and being a "a natural leader" who is enthusiastic about music and "has a way of bringing out the best in those around him", though they added that Nate has the "usual teenage insecurities" and worries about his band's success and his own abilities.[2][4] Dass performed in several songs that were performed on the show.[5] In 2019, Dass appeared on CBBC's morning children's magazine entertainment programme Saturday Mash-Up!.[6] The first two series of Almost Never originally aired in 2019.[7][8] In April 2019, Dass gave his condolences following the death of his Almost Never co-star, Mya-Lecia Naylor.[9] In 2021, Dass appeared on Blue Peter.[1] That same year, he starred in the third series of Almost Never.[10]
In April 2023, it was announced that Dass had been cast as 15-year-old Dillon Ray on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.[11] He was introduced as the nephew of established character Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi), who takes him in when he is kicked out from his mother's home.[11] Virdi explained that she had screen tested with several actors whilst casting Dillon and she felt that Dass had the "right energy", and has revealed that they get on well, calling him "funny, kind, really handsome and such a sweetheart".[12] Hollyoaks executive producer Lucy Allan had previously announced Dillon's introduction in January 2023, describing him as a "very different character" that would be impacting the Maalik family and the Hollyoaks teenage group.[13] Dillon was characterised as having a "trendy fashion sense" and being more sensitive than he lets on.[11] Speaking about joining the soap, Dass revealed, "I'm so happy to have been welcomed into the Hollyoaks family. Everyone here is amazing and I've had the best time so far, especially with my new family, the Maaliks. I'm super excited for people to see what's in store for my character Dillon."[11] Dass' debut as Dillon aired on 20 April of that year.[11]
Dillon's storylines have included becoming friends with other teenagers in the village, coming out to his mother, being involved in long-running conversion therapy storyline with Lucas Hay (Oscar Curtis), and beginning a romantic relationship with Lucas.[14][11][15][16][17] Lucas and Dillon's relationship gained a fan following.[18][19] Curtis praised his working relationship with Dass, explaining, "Our off-screen chemistry reflects on-screen as we get on so well, I honestly couldn't do [my job] without him".[20] For their roles as Dillon and Lucas, Dass and Curtis were longlisted for "Best Partnership" at the 2024 Inside Soap Awards.[21][22] In 2025, Curtis and Dass were shortlisted for the British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership.[23][24] That same year, Dillon was central to an exploitation storyline.[25] Dass was initially very nervous when he heard about the storyline and called it the "heaviest material" he had filmed on the soap, but he also felt "privileged" and excited as an actor.[25] Dass learned a lot about sexual exploitation and found the storyline difficult to film at times, but he added, "there are people out there that this happens to. That's the amazing part about being here at Hollyoaks – that we get to show people in these vulnerable situations and shine a light on it."[25] Dass enjoyed working with his colleague Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne) in the storyline and believed that she had helped develop as an actor.[25] Hollyoaks and Channel 4 also launched an online marketplace that same year that sold t-shirts worn by characters in the soap, with Dass being one of three cast members whose t-shirts he wore as Dillon were available to purchase.[26]
As of 2023, Dass continues to sing and write music and is in a band, No Romance, with fellow Almost Never cast member Oakley Orchard.[12][27] Dass appeared on Saturday Mash-Up! again with his Hollyoaks co-star Haiesha Mistry.[28] In July 2024, it was confirmed that Dass was dating his Hollyoaks co-star Ruby O'Donnell.[29] In May 2025, the couple celebrated their one-year anniversary on social media, which received comments of support from their Hollyoaks colleagues and others.[30]
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Filmography
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Awards and nominations
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