Adepero Oduye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adepero Oduye
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Oduye at the New York Film Festival, October 8, 2013
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| Education | Cornell University |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
Adepero Oduye (pronounced AD-ə-PERR-oh oh-DOO-yay) is an American actress, director, singer, and writer. She is well-known for her roles in movies like Pariah (2011), 12 Years a Slave (2013), The Big Short (2015), and Widows (2018).
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Life and Career Highlights
Adepero Oduye was born in Brooklyn, New York. She is one of seven children born to parents from Nigeria. She studied at Cornell University. Even though she planned to become a doctor, she decided to follow her dream of acting after college.
Early Acting Roles
Oduye got her big break in 2011. She starred in the movie Pariah. This independent film was loved by critics and won many awards. For her role, Oduye received several awards and was nominated for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards. Even famous actress Meryl Streep praised Oduye's performance in Pariah. The next year, Oduye joined a cast of well-known actors in the TV movie Steel Magnolias. She played the character Annelle Dupuy-Desoto.
Major Film and TV Appearances
In 2013, Oduye acted alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor in the historical drama 12 Years a Slave. This movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2014. She also appeared in a short film called The Door, directed by Ava DuVernay.
In 2014, Oduye directed her first short film, Breaking In. This film was about a young Black man's first experience with being stopped by the police. It was based on something her brother went through. The film won several awards at different film festivals.
Oduye has also performed in many plays. She made her debut on Broadway in The Trip To Bountiful. She acted opposite the legendary actress Cicely Tyson.
In 2015, Oduye co-starred with Steve Carell in the comedy-drama The Big Short. This movie won an Academy Award for its screenplay. In 2017, she appeared in the thriller The Dinner with Richard Gere. In 2018, she was in the movies Geostorm and Widows. In 2019, she played the activist Nomsa Brath in the TV miniseries When They See Us, also directed by Ava DuVernay.
Filmography
Movies
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Water | Woman | Short film |
| 2004 | Fall | Short film | |
| On the Outs | Adepero | ||
| 2006 | Thee and a Half Thoughts | Bodega Woman | Short film |
| Half Nelson | Crack Smoker | ||
| The Tested | Mom | Short film | |
| 2007 | Pariah | Alike | Short film |
| 2009 | Sub Rosa | Ayesha | Short film |
| If I Leap | Zipporah | Short film | |
| 2010 | This Is Poetry | Wife | Short film |
| Tags | Shayla Johns | Short film | |
| 2011 | Men in Love | Leo's Ex | Short film |
| Pariah | Alike | Won Black Reel Award for Best Breakthrough Performance | |
| 2013 | The Door | L | Short film |
| 12 Years a Slave | Eliza | Won African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble | |
| 2015 | My Name Is David | His Date | |
| Artemis Fall | Commander Aiden Collins | Short film | |
| Outliving Emily | Meg (Segment 5) | ||
| The Big Short | Kathy Tao | ||
| 2017 | Geostorm | Adisa | |
| The Dinner | Nina | ||
| 2018 | Galveston | Loraine | |
| Wanderland | ANAIS – The Master of the Wind | ||
| Widows | Breechelle | ||
| Viper Club | Keisha | ||
| 2020 | Tazmanian Devil | Elizabeth Ayodele | |
| 2020 | Imitation | Nkem | Short film |
| 2021 | Out/Side of Time | Daughter 32 | Short film |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Law & Order | Traci Sands | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Jackie | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Wifey | Kadijah | Television film |
| 2009 | The Unusuals | Regina Plank | 1 episode |
| 2010 | Louie | Tarese | 1 episode |
| 2012 | Steel Magnolias | Annelle Dupuy Desoto | Television film |
| 2017-2019 | The Feels | Ife | 5 episodes |
| 2018 | Random Acts of Flyness | Aunt Denise | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | When They See Us | Nomsa Brath | Miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Monsterland | Amy Cooke | Episode: "Newark, New Jersey" |
| 2021 | The Falcon and the Winter Soldier | Sarah Wilson | Miniseries, 5 episodes |
| 2022 | Five Days at Memorial | Karen Wynn | Miniseries |
| 2024 | Eric | Cecile | Miniseries |
See also
In Spanish: Adepero Oduye para niños
