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Nikki Amuka-Bird
Nikki Amuka-Bird-0203.jpg
Amuka-Bird in 2022
Born (1976-02-27) 27 February 1976 (age 48)
Delta State, Nigeria
Alma mater London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupation Actress
Years active 1999–present
Spouse(s)
Geoffrey Streatfeild
(m. 2003; div. 2010)

Nikki Amuka-Bird (born 27 February 1976) is a British actress of the stage, television, and film.

Early life

Amuka-Bird was born in Delta State, Nigeria, where her father still lives. She left there as a young child with her mother and was brought up in England, Lagos and in Antigua. Attending boarding school at Hurtwood House in England, Amuka-Bird originally hoped to be a dancer.

She attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). She started her stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

Acting career

Amuka-Bird's theatrical credits include Welcome to Thebes (National Theatre); Twelfth Night (Bristol Old Vic, for which she won an Ian Charleson Award nomination in 2004 for playing Viola); World Music (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and Donmar Warehouse); Top Girls (Oxford Stage Company); A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest and The Servant of Two Masters (RSC); Doubt: A Parable (Tricycle Theatre).

Her film credits include The Omen (2006 remake), Cargo, Almost Heaven as well as the screen adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's novel The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. On television, Amuka-Bird has appeared in Spooks, The Line of Beauty, The Last Enemy, Robin Hood, an episode of Torchwood, and a recurring role in the reimagined BBC apocalyptic series Survivors. In 2010 she appeared as Detective Superintendent Gaynor Jenkins in the BBC's Silent Witness.

She appeared in Small Island, the BBC adaptation of Andrea Levy's award-winning novel, broadcast in December 2009. In June 2016 it was announced that she and Phoebe Fox would star in the production of Zadie Smith's novel NW. It was broadcast on BBC Two on 14 November 2016 and Amuka-Bird received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress.

On Christmas Day 2017, she was heard as the voice of the Glass Woman in the Doctor Who Christmas Special "Twice Upon a Time" broadcast on BBC One.

She is currently playing the role of Rav Mulclair, Head of Judd Mission Control, in HBO's Avenue 5. She had a few film roles in 2019 for The Personal History of David Copperfield as Miss Steerforth and 2021 for Old as Patricia, a psychologist with epilepsy.

Personal life

Amuka-Bird was married to actor Geoffrey Streatfeild from 2003 to 2010.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Forgive and Forget Nicky
2005 Almost Heaven [de] Rosie
2006 Cargo Subira
The Omen Dr. Becker
2008 The Disappeared Shelley Cartwright
2011 Coriolanus TV Pundit
2014 The Face of an Angel Roxanne
2015 Jupiter Ascending Diomika Tsing
2016 Denial Libby Holbrook
2017 The Children Act Amadia Kalu QC
2018 A Private War Rita Williams
2019 The Laundromat Miranda
The Personal History of David Copperfield Mrs. Steerforth
2021 Old Patricia Carmichael
2022 The Outfit Violet
Persuasion Lady Russell
2023 Knock at the Cabin Sabrina
Jericho Ridge Post-production
2024 Rumours Post-production
Here Helen Harris Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999–2005 Holby City Various 3 episodes
1999 The Bill Doreen West 1 episode
1999 Grafters Martha Miniseries
2000 Safe as Houses Carole Television movie
2000 Doctors Nurse 1 episode
2003 The Canterbury Tales Constance Musa 1 episode
2003–2004 Bad Girls Paula Miles 8 episodes
2004 Murder Prevention Gemma 1 episode
2005 Afterlife Sandra Petch 1 episode
2005 Casualty Moji Muzenda 1 episode
2005 Casualty @ Holby City Moji Muzenda 3 episodes
2005; 2010 Silent Witness Simone Campbell / Det Supt Gaynor Jenkins 4 episodes
2006 The True Voice of ... Television movie
2006 The Line of Beauty Rosemary Charles 2 episodes
2006 Spooks Michelle Lopez 1 episode
2006 Robin Hood Abbess 1 episode
2006 Born Equal Itshe Television movie
2007 Five Days PC Simone Farnes Miniseries
2007 The Whistleblowers Helen Errol 1 episode
2008 Torchwood Beth Halloran / Sleeper Agent 1 episode
2008 The Last Enemy Susan Ross Miniseries
2008 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Alice Busang 1 episode
2008–2010 Survivors Samantha Willis MP 5 episodes
2009 Small Island Celia Miniseries
2011–2013 Luther Det. Sgt / Det. Chief Inspector Erin Gray 8 episodes
2012 Sinbad The Professor 1 episode
2014 House of Fools Fiona 1 episode
2014 Death in Paradise Anna Jackson 1 episode
2014 Lovesick Anna 1 episode
2015 Inside No. 9 Joanne Episode: "Cold Comfort"
2016 NW Natalie Television movie
2017 Doctor Who The Testimony (voice) / Helen Clay 1 episode "Twice Upon a Time
2018 Hard Sun Grace Morrigan Main cast, 6 episodes
2019 Gold Digger Marsha Miniseries
2020–2022 Avenue 5 Rav Mulcair Main cast
2023–present Citadel Grace 3 Episodes

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Nikki Amuka-Bird para niños

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