Jonathan Ajayi

Jonathan Ajayi is an English stage, television and film actor from London. He was recognized as a 2021 Screen International Star of Tomorrow. He trained at ArtsEd and LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art).

Early life From West London, London, Ajayi is of Nigerian heritage . He was mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company actor Joseph Marcell, whose wife worked at his sixth form. Ajayi attended ArtsEd and graduated in 2018 from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.

Career Leaving drama school early, Ajayi made his theatre debut at the Young Vic starring in The Brothers Size and played Lieutenant Lekan Baako in 2020 in the BBC One television series Noughts + Crosses. He appeared in the Patty Jenkins film Wonder Woman 1984 and was included on the 2020 longlist for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards. He was named by Screen International as one of their 2021 Stars of Tomorrow.

In 2022, Ajayi was commended at the Ian Charleson Awards for his performance as Laertes in Hamlet at the Young Vic. He had a recurring role as Wes Harper in the second series of British thriller series Vigil. In 2024, he appeared in experimental production Talking People at the Bush Theatre in London.

Ajayi portrays Smee in the science-fiction series Alien: Earth.

Filmography +Key Denotes projects that have not yet been released Film Year Title Role Notes 2017 Hallelujah Obi Short film 2018 Gone (After Lysistrata) Marlon Short film 2020 Wonder Woman 1984 Emerson 2021 The Drifters Koffee 2024 5lbs of Pressure Lucky i and i T Short film Chief of Station Desmond Jackson 2025 The Man in My Basement Ricky Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2020–2022 Noughts + Crosses Lieutenant Lekan Baako Series regular; 7 episodes 2023 Vigil Wes Harper Series regular; 6 episodes 2025 Alien: Earth Smee Series regular; 8 episodes

Theatre credits YearTitleRoleVenue Notes 2015 A Midsummer Night's Dream In New Orleans Lysander Above the Arts, London 2018 The Brothers Size Oshoosi Size Young Vic, London 2019 Strange Fruit Errol Marshal Bush Theatre, London 2019–2020 Three Sisters Igwe Royal National Theatre, London 2021 Hamlet Laertes Young Vic, London 2024 Talking People: Volume 2 Tolu Bush Theatre, London