Sophie Okonedo

Sophie Okonedo (born 11 August 1968) is a British actress and narrator. The recipient of a Tony Award, she has been nominated for an Academy Award, three BAFTA TV Awards, an Emmy Award, two Laurence Olivier Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2019 New Year Honours, both for services to drama.

Okonedo made her Broadway debut portraying Ruth Younger in the 2014 revival of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun for which she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She returned to Broadway as Elizabeth Proctor in the 2016 revival of Arthur Miller's The Crucible for which she was nominated for her second Tony Award. She returned to the stage portraying Cleopatra from 2018 to 2019 in the National Theatre production of Antony and Cleopatra for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress.

She began her film career in the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels (1991) before appearing in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995), and Stephen Frears's Dirty Pretty Things (2002). Her breakthrough role was as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004) for which she received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. She continued acting in films such as Æon Flux (2005), Martian Child (2007), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Skin (2008), Christopher Robin (2018), Wild Rose (2018), and Death on the Nile (2022).

For her television work she earned Golden Globe Award nomination for the miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006), three BAFTA TV Award nominations for Mrs. Mandela (2010), Criminal Justice (2010) and Criminal: UK (2021). She was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in Ratched (2020).

Early life and education Okonedo was born on 11 August 1968 in London, the daughter of Joan (née Allman), a Jewish Pilates teacher who was born in the East End of London, and Henry Okonedo (1939–2009), a British Nigerian who worked for the government. Okonedo's maternal grandparents, who spoke Yiddish, were from families of Russian-Jewish and Polish-Jewish origin. Okonedo was raised in her mother's Jewish faith.

Her father left when Okonedo was five years old, returning to Nigeria and starting a new family.

Career She has worked in a variety of media including film, television, theatre and audio drama. She performed in Scream of the Shalka, a webcast based on the BBC television series Doctor Who as Alison Cheney, a companion of the Doctor. As well as providing the character's voice, Okonedo's likeness was used for the animation of the character. In 2010, Okonedo portrayed Liz Ten (Queen Elizabeth X) in the BBC TV series Doctor Who episodes "The Beast Below" and again briefly in "The Pandorica Opens".

Okonedo played the role of Jenny in Danny Brocklehurst's BAFTA TV Award nominated episode of Paul Abbott's series Clocking Off. She also played the role of Tulip Jones in the film Stormbreaker (2006) and Nancy in the television adaptation of Oliver Twist (2007). She is also known for playing the role of the Wachati Princess in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995). In October 2017, Michael Caton-Jones stated that, in 1998, he had chosen Okonedo to star in B. Monkey. However, the film's producer, Harvey Weinstein, banned this because the actress did not meet his personal sexual preference.

She was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004) and nominated for a Golden Globe Award for a Lead Actress in a Miniseries for her work in Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006). She played alongside Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning as May Boatwright, a woman who struggles with depression, in the film The Secret Life of Bees (2008); starred as Sandra Laing in Skin (2009) opposite to Sam Neill and Alice Krige; and portrayed Winnie Mandela in the BBC drama Mrs. Mandela broadcast in January 2010.

In 2014 she appeared on Broadway as Ruth Younger in the revival of A Raisin in the Sun. She won the Tony Award, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for this role, beating out co-star and fellow nominee Anika Noni Rose. In 2016, Okonedo returned to Broadway in Ivo van Hove's production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible at the Walter Kerr Theatre as Elizabeth Proctor opposite Bill Camp, Tavi Gevinson, Jason Butler Harner, Ciarán Hinds, Jim Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Thomas Jay Ryan and Ben Whishaw. Also in 2016, Okonedo appeared as Queen Margaret in the second season of the BBC's The Hollow Crown, an adaptation of the Shakespearean plays Henry VI, Part I, II, III and Richard III. She performed in the role of Stevie in the 2017 West End revival of the existentialist play The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, by Edward Albee. Directed by Ian Rickson and also starring Damian Lewis as Martin, the production's first preview was on 24 March 2017, opening night on 5 April 2017, and final performance on 24 June 2017, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

In May 2013, Okonedo played the role of Hunter in a BBC radio production of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, adapted by Dirk Maggs. She portrayed Siuan Sanche in the television series The Wheel of Time from 2021 to 2025. In 2024 she was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress for playing the title role in Medea at the @sohoplace.

Personal life Okonedo has one daughter, from a relationship she had with Irish film editor Eoin Martin, and lives in Muswell Hill, London. On her heritage, Okonedo has said, "I feel as proud to be Jewish as I feel to be Black" and calls her daughter an "Irish, Nigerian Jew". As of 2023, Okonedo is married to Jamie Chalmers, a builder, and is the stepmother of his two children.

Honours Okonedo was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours

In December 2024, Okonedo received the Richard Harris Award at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 Young Soul Rebels Tracy Miss Queencake (unknown) Short film 1995 Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls The Wachati Princess The Accidental Conspiracy Baked Bean Woman Short film 1997 The Jackal Jamaican Girl 1999 This Year's Love Denise Mad Cows Rosy 2000 Peaches Pippa 2001 Once Seen (unknown) Short film 2002 Dirty Pretty Things Juliette 2003 Cross My Heart Marsee 2004 Hotel Rwanda Tatiana Rusesabagina 2005 Æon Flux Sithandra 2006 Stormbreaker Mrs. Jones Scenes of a Sexual Nature Anna 2007 Martian Child Sophie 2008 The Secret Life of Bees May Boatwright Skin Sandra Laing 2013 After Earth Faia Raige 2014 War Book Philippa 2018 Christopher Robin Kanga (voice) Wild Rose Susannah 2019 Hellboy Lady Hatton 2021 Charlotte Ottilie Moore (voice) Laika (unknown) Short film 2022 Death on the Nile Salome Otterbourne Catherine Called Birdy Ethelfritha Rose Splinter of Devon Raymond & Ray Kiera 2023 Heart of Stone Nomad Janet Planet Regina 2024 10 Lives Grace (voice) 2026 Mouse Helen Bell Clarissa Clarissa Dallaway 2027 The Great Beyond Post-production

Television Acting Year Title Role Notes 1991 Spatz Kim Episode: "Talent Contest" Casualty Gina Russell Episode: "Judgement Day" 1992 Screen Two Melanie Episode: "Maria's Child" 1993 Age of Treason Niobe Television film 1994 The Bill Adele Percy Episode: "Darkness Before Dawn" 1995 The Governor Moira Levitt 6 episodes Go Now Paula Television film 1996 Murder Most Horrid Rachel Episode: "Dead on Time" Deep Secrets Honey Television film 1996–1997 Staying Alive Kelly Booth 12 episodes 2000 In Defence Bernie Kramer 4 episodes Never Never Jo Weller 2-part drama 2001 Table 12 Karen Episode: "Opera Lover" Sweet Revenge Ellen 2-part drama 2002 Clocking Off Jenny Wood 5 episodes Dead Casual Donna Television film VBirds Bling (voice) 6 episodes 2003 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Eve Bowen Episode: “In the Presence of the Enemy” Spooks Amanda Roke Episode: "Blood & Money" (uncredited role) Alibi Marcey Burgess Television film Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka Alison Cheney (voice) Miniseries; 6 episodes 2004 Whose Baby? Karen Jenkins Television films 2005 Born with Two Mothers Lucretia Bridges 2006 The True Voice of Rape (unknown) Tsunami: The Aftermath Susie Carter Miniseries; 2 episodes 2007 Celebration Sonia Television film Oliver Twist Nancy Miniseries; 5 episodes Jackanory Junior Herself - Storyteller Episode: "The Woman Who Won Things" 2009 Father & Son Connie Turner Miniseries; 4 episodes Criminal Justice Jackie Woolf 5 episodes 2010 Mrs. Mandela Winnie Mandela Television film Doctor Who Liz Ten 2 episodes: "The Beast Below" & "The Pandorica Opens" 2011 Tinga Tinga Tales Cheetah (voice) Episode: "Why Cheetah Has Tears" The Slap Aisha Miniseries; 8 episodes 2012 Sinbad Razia Episode: “Queen of the Water-Thieves” 2013 Mayday Fiona Hill Miniseries; 5 episodes The Escape Artist Margaret 'Maggie' Gardner Miniseries; 3 episodes 2014 Wall Street Bryce Television film 2015 The Slap Aisha Miniseries; 7 episodes (U.S. adaptation of Australian series) 2016 Undercover Maya Cobbina Miniseries; 6 episodes The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses Margaret, Queen Consort of England 3 episodes 2018 Wanderlust Angela Bowden 4 episodes 2019 Chimerica Tessa Kendrick 4 episodes 2019–2020 Flack Caroline 11 episodes 2020 Criminal: UK Julia Bryce Episode: "Julia" Ratched Charlotte Wells 3 episodes His Dark Materials Xaphania (voice) 4 episodes 2021 Modern Love Elizabeth Cannon Episode: “Second Embrace, with Hearts and Eyes Open” Britannia Hemple 8 episodes 2021–2025 The Wheel of Time Siuan Sanche 7 episodes 2022 Inside No. 9 Katrina Episode: "Nine Lives Kat" 2022–2023 Slow Horses Ingrid Tearney 7 episodes 2025 The Scarecrows' Wedding Narrator Television film

Narration In addition to her acting work, Okonedo has provided voice-overs for numerous TV documentaries, including:

Stan Collymore: Confessions of a Premiership Footballer (2004) Blitz: London's Firestorm (2005) Racism: A History (miniseries; 3 episodes; 2007) Dispatches (3 episodes; 2008, 2009 & 2015) Turin Shroud: New Evidence (2009) Extraordinary Women (2 episodes; 2011) Serious Explorers: Livingstone (2011) Welcome to the World (2012) 28UP South Africa (2013) The Stranger on the Bridge (2015) The Destruction of Memory (2016) Ebola: The Doctors' Story (2016) Thailand: Earth's Tropical Paradise (miniseries; 3 episodes; 2017) Concorde: A Supersonic Story (2017) Earth's Natural Wonders (3 episodes; 2018) Grenfell: The First 24 Hours (2018) Dreamflight (5 episodes; 2020) Alien Worlds (4 episodes; 2020) Frontline (1 episode; 2021) Explained (1 episode; 2021) The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2023) Flight of the Swans (2023) Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty (3 episodes; 2024) Civilisations: Rise and Fall (4 episodes; 2025)

Video games Year Title Role (voice) Notes 2020 Dreams Dream Queen

Theatre Year Title Playwright Role Venue 2011 Haunted Child Joe Penhall Julie Royal Court (London, UK) 2014 A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry Ruth Ethel Barrymore Theater, (New York City) 2016 The Crucible Arthur Miller Elizabeth Proctor Walter Kerr Theater (New York City) 2017 The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? Edward Albee Stevie Gray Theatre Royal Haymarket (London, UK) 2018 Antony and Cleopatra William Shakespeare Cleopatra Royal National Theatre (London, UK) 2023 Medea Euripides Medea @sohoplace (London, UK)

Awards and nominations

Theatre Awards

Audio YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2010Audie AwardsAudiobook of the YearNelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktalesrowspan=2 Multi-Voiced Performance