Nigerians in Hollywood Part Five

This is the fifth part of the series, "Nigerians in Hollywood."
To check out the first four parts of the series, please see the links at the end of the page. Thank you.

Sophia Okonedo

Best known for: Hotel Rwanda

Okonedo   Picture: Hello Magazine

Sophia Okonedo (OBE) was born in London, England, in 1968 to a Nigerian father, Henry Okonedo and a Jewish mother, Joan (née Allman). She was just five years old when her parents separated. Her father returned to Nigeria, leaving Sophia’s mother to raise her in the Jewish faith.

Okonedo, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, worked across various media including film, television and theatre. Her first film was the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels (1991).

Since then, she has appeared in a lot of films. Some of them are Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) where she played the part of the Wachati Princess; The Jackal (1997) and Dirty Pretty Things (2002). She also starred alongside South Africa’s Charlize Theron in the movie Æon Flux (2005). 

Okonedo got global recognition in 2004 when she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in the historical film Hotel Rwanda.

The encomiums kept coming. She received a Golden Globe nomination for a lead actress in the miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006) and BAFTA TV Award nominations for the miniseries Criminal Justice (2009) and her portrayal of Winnie Mandela in the TV film Mrs. Mandela (2010).

In 2014 her performance in the theatrical play A Raisin in the Sun earned her a Tony – the theatre equivalent of an Oscar – for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play. The role also earned her a commendation from US President Barack Obama.

Although Okonedo is one of Britain’s most accomplished actors, most of her job offers come from Hollywood.

“I do notice that – over the last year – I've had maybe two scripts from England and tens and tens from America,” she said. “The balance is ridiculous. I'm still struggling (in the UK) in a way that my white counterparts at the same level wouldn't have quite the same struggle.”

Okonedo was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in Queen Elizabeth’s 2010 Birthday Honours.

Jovan Adepo

Best known for: The Leftovers

Adepo   Picture: Wikipedia

Jovan Adepo was born in Oxfordshire, England and raised in Waldorf, Maryland, USA. He is of Nigerian and African-American descent. He is the grandson of the late Fatai Adepo, who was special adviser on prison matters to Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Adepo, who majored in political science and philosophy at Bowie State University, Maryland, wanted to play professional football when he first got to college, but later changed to acting when he could not get enough game time in the school's football team.

Upon graduation he moved to Los Angeles in 2011 and started attending acting workshops to hone his skills. The Disney Channel took note and gave him his first acting job in K.C. Undercover. In 2014 he found himself playing Michael Murphy in the HBO television series, The Leftovers. He also played a part in the short film, The Youth (2015).

Then he got his first role on the big screen playing Cory, the son of characters played by megastar Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in the movie adaptation of August Wilson’s play, Fences. The film hit theatres on December 25, 2016.

Adepo said he was extremely nervous when he had to audition for Denzel, who also directed the movie. But the two-time Oscar winner pulled him aside and advised him, “I cast you for a reason. I feel that my vision for the film and for the direction I want to go, you were the best for job. So rest easy...I just want you to be mindful that you are enough.”

Adepo apparently took the advice because he landed the role – and went on to deliver a great performance.

Richard Ayoade

Best known for: The IT Crowd

Ayoade   Picture: imdb.com

Richard Ayoade was born in Hammersmith, England in 1977 and grew up in Suffolk. His father, Layide Ade Laditi Ayoade, is a Nigerian while his mother Dagny Amalie (née Baassuik) hails from Norway.

The multi-talented Ayoade is an actor, comedian, writer, director and television presenter. He studied law at St Catharine's College, Cambridge (1995–1998), where he won the Martin Steele Prize for play production.

His TV break came when he co-wrote, directed and starred in the cult classic Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace (2004). He has also appeared in films such as The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004), At The Apollo (2008), and Bunny and the Bull (2009).

He won the 2014 BAFTA (the British version of the Oscars) for Best Male Comedy Performance as the social oblivious savant Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd (2006).

He has also directed films such as Submarine (2010) and The Double (2013) – which he co-wrote – as well as several music videos. On TV, Ayoade also presents the factual shows Travel Man and Gadget Man.

For Submarine, he was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer as well as the London Film Critics’ Circle Award for British Breakthrough Filmmaker.

The Double earned him a Black Reel Award nomination for Best Foreign Film as well the London Film Festivals Award for Best Film.

While most of his work is in Britain, Ayoade starred in the American comedy film The Watch (2012) alongside Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn.

The versatile artist who has written two books -- Ayoade on Ayoade: A Cinematic Odyssey and A Cinematic Odyssey -- is married to actress Lydia Fox.

POSTHUMOUS MENTION:

Bolaji Badejo (August 23, 1953 - December 22, 1992)

Best known for: Alien

Badejo   Picture: Wikia.com

Bolaji Badejo was born in Lagos in 1953 to Victor and Elizabeth Badejo (née Bamidele).

His father, Victor Badejo, was the first indigenous director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

Bolaji grew up in Lagos then studied graphic arts in London when the family relocated to England. His only acting role was in Alien (1979) the blockbuster science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott.

Scott was searching frantically for the ideal person to play the title creature in the film, when he stumbled on Badejo in a London bar. Badejo, who stood at 6’10” with a skinny frame, perfectly matched the fearful insect-like creature the director was trying to portray in the film.

Although he had never acted before, Badejo warmed up to the role. He took tai chi classes and rigorously rehearsed the Alien’s gliding movement and mantis-like posture till he perfected it. With the help of physical trainers, he built up muscles in certain areas of his body to be able to move around in the massive and uncomfortable costume.

“We'd had this vision of a praying mantis," associate producer Ivor Powell told CNN in October 2016. "We needed somebody incredibly tall with very long legs, so when they crouched down it gave the impression of an insect.”

Badejo put up such an awesome performance that during filming cast members such as Sigourney Weaver and Veronica Cartwright were actually terrified of his character.

"We knew we were dealing with an iconic baddie," says Powell.

CNN says Badejo is “one of cinema’s most feared villains” following his captivating performance in the space horror classic.

The film, which had a budget of $11 million, would go on to make $100 million at the box office. It also won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Badejo returned to Nigeria in 1980 and worked with his uncle, the renowned sculptor Omotayo Aiyegbusi, for sometime. In 1983 he opened his own art gallery in Lagos and never returned to take part in the money-spinning Alien sequels.

“The fact that I played the part of Alien, for me, that's good enough,” he said.

Badejo died of sickle cell anaemia on December 22, 1992 at the age of 39. He left behind two children.

To see the first four installments of this interesting series, please click any of the following links:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

Nigerians in Hollywood Part Four

Now we enter the fourth round of the series on Nigerians in Hollywood.

Carmen Ejogo

Best known for: Selma

Carmen Ejogo   Picture: www.zimbio.com

Carmen Elizabeth Ejogo, actress and singer, was born in 1973 in Kensington, London. Her father, Charles Ejogo is a Nigerian while her mother, Elizabeth is Scottish.

She attended Godolphin and Latymer School, and independent school for girls in Hammersmith, West London. Carmen began her career early in life. She started acting in 1986, appearing in films such as Absolute Beginners (1986), Metro (1997), I Want You (1998) and The Avengers (1998). She also hosted the Saturday Disney Show as a teenager from 1993 to 1995.

Years later, she was also the presenter of her own show, The Carmen Ejogo Video Show on BSB’s Power Channel.

In the US her TV credits include roles in Law & Order, CHAOS, Zero Hour and Kidnapped. She played the role of Sally Hemings, the slave lover of US President Thomas Jefferson in the historical drama Sally Hemings: An American Scandal.

Recently Carmen has appeared in highly rated movies such as Alex Cross (2012), the musical film Sparkle (2012), and action horror film The Purge: Anarchy (2014).

She played the role of human rights activist Coretta Scott King in two films – Boycott (2001) and Selma (2014). Her breathtaking performance in Selma earned her a nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture as well as the Independent Spirit Award for the Best Supporting Female Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress.

As a singer, she produced music videos and sang the lead and duet with her ex-husband, hip-hop artist Tricky for the film Love’s Labour’s Lost. She also sang on five songs of the Sparkle original soundtrack.

Her upcoming films, Alien: Covenant and Sorry to Bother You will hit the screens in 2017.

Dayo Okeniyi

Best known for: Terminator Genisys

Dayo Okeniyi       Picture: www.npr.org

Oladayo Okeniyi was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Okeniyi, the youngest of five siblings, was born in 1988 in Indiana, USA. His father is a Nigerian while his mother is Kenyan. Shortly after he was born, his family moved back to Nigeria but returned to the USA when he was 15. He attended Anderson University, Indiana where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communications and Graphic Design.

After graduation he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, initially working in local theatre and film shorts. Then in 2012 he played the role of Thresh in the science fiction adventure film The Hunger Games. After that, jobs came thick and fast. He appeared in three films that were released in 2013 – The Spectacular Now, Runner Runner, and Cavemen. Then he got the lead role in the horror thriller, American Backwoods: Slew Hampshire.

The next year, he starred in the romantic drama film Endless Love, and then in 2015 he played Danny Simpson in the blockbuster Terminator Genisys, the fifth installment in the Terminator franchise.

This year, he has appeared in the just-released Good Kids, a film about four overachievers who decide to reinvent themselves after graduating from high school. He also stars as Detective Michael Loman in the crime drama series, Shades of Blue where he is famously shot by Jennifer Lopez, who plays the lead character

The 28-year-old star says he has definitely been rejected for roles because he is dark skinned and African. But he is not deterred, admitting that Hollywood has also been good to him.

Nikki Amuka-Bird

Best known for: The Omen

Nikki Amuka-Bird   Picture: www.alchetron.com

Nikki Amuka-Bird, an actress, was born in February 1976 in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region but she grew up in the UK and Antigua.

She started out as a dancer but switched to acting after suffering a back injury. Because of her love for theatre, she attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and later joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). It was during her tour of Japan with the RSC that she met her husband, actor Geoffrey Streatfield. He is a member of the historic Streatfield family.

So far Amuka-Bird has just one Hollywood film to her credit – The Omen, a 2006 supernatural horror film. The film, a remake of the 1976 classic, stars Julia Stiles, Liev Schreiber and Mia Farrow.

However, in the UK where she resides with her husband, the talented actress has appeared in numerous TV roles and has performed onstage with the National Theatre and the Oxford Stage Company.

In 2004 she won an Ian Charleson Award nomination for playing Viola in Twelfth Night. She also played Mrs. Muller in the theatre version of Doubt. In the movie version, the role was played by Viola Davies (How to Get Away With Murder).

On TV she played DC Eric Gray opposite Idris Elba in the BBC1 drama, Luther. She also played a supporting role in Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus.

Amuka-Bird currently stars in the BBC adaptation of Zadie Smith’s novel “NW”. She plays the role of Natalie, a woman whose wealth and ambition sets her apart from the family and friends she grew up with.

Smith, the author of the novel, said she was glad that Amuka-Bird was playing the role of Natalie because she is “a powerful stage actress who I know will bring depth and heart to the role.”

There can be no better endorsement than that.

Itoya Osagiede

Best known for: American Odyssey

Itoya Osagiede   

Picture: www.thebwhagency.co.uk

Itoya Osagiede is a young and upcoming actor with Nigerian parents. He grew up in England and is one of the promising young actors both on stage and on screen.

On stage he starred in the award winning play, Blue/Orange. He played the role of Chris, a patient in a psychiatric hospital who claims to be the son of former Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin.

In 2014 he appeared in the short film Okora: The Prelude. He also played a role in Second Coming, starring Idris Elba. The next year Osagiede featured as a Malian military general in the TV series, American Odyssey. Thereafter he bagged the role of Tarn in the short-lived British epic fantasy mini series Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands.

Osagiede, who started acting at a very young age, says he has always been in love with film and theatre.

”My passion, commitment and motivation keeps pushing me forward and I know I will get to where I need to as long as I keep pushing myself.”

Expect to see more of him in future.