Phina Oruche facts for kids

Phina Oruche (born August 31, 1969) is a talented Nigerian actress, radio host, and former model. She is best known for her role as Liberty Baker in the TV show Footballers' Wives on ITV. For this role, she won a Screen Nations Award for Favourite TV Star.

Early Life and Beginnings

Phina Oruche was born in Liverpool, England. Her parents were from Nigeria and belonged to the Igbo people.

Starting as a Model

Oruche began her career as a fashion model. She worked in London before moving to New York City. For five years, she represented the clothing brand Gap in the United States. She also appeared on the covers of several American magazines. She had a special connection with Essence magazine, often appearing in its pages and on a cover.

British film director Tony Kaye discovered her for television. He featured her in many of his TV commercials. This experience made her want to become a professional actress.

Acting Career

Phina Oruche started her acting journey in the US. She studied at the Actors Studio in Los Angeles. She is most famous for playing Liberty Baker in Footballers' Wives, which earned her a Screen Nations award.

TV Shows and Movies

Oruche has appeared in many American and British television shows. These include The Bill, Nip/Tuck, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Diagnosis Murder, NYPD Blue, and The Unit. Her movie roles include The Forsaken (2001) and Happy Ever Afters (2009).

In January 2008, she made a short appearance in the British comedy show Little Miss Jocelyn. On March 29, 2010, it was announced that she would play Gabby Sharpe in the teen soap opera Hollyoaks. Gabby was the mother of a new family joining the show.

She returned to television on November 1, 2012, in the BBC1 drama Doctors. After this, she took five years off to focus on raising her son. In July 2020, Oruche appeared as Aunt Venn in the BBC1 drama “Anthony.” At the same time, she starred as Marvellous in BBC’s “Taken Down.”

Other Appearances and Activities

In 2012, Phina Oruche was a celebrity reader for bedtime stories. She read a story each day for children during the week of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Oruche also worked as a special reporter for North West Tonight. She reported on the 30-year anniversary of the Toxteth riots.

In Dublin, Oruche hosted a show three days a week on Ireland AM for TV3. In London, she was a regular guest on the morning discussion program The Wright Stuff. She was also "Babe in the Booth" for a week in April 2008, while she was pregnant.

Radio and Community Work

Oruche lives in her hometown of Liverpool. There, she has hosted and produced the Saturday-night radio show Upfront on BBC Radio Merseyside. She has also produced and hosted six Upfront Live shows for BBC Merseyside. These shows took place at The Brink, a non-alcoholic bar in Liverpool that she supports. Local singers like Kof, Chelcee Grimes, Mic Lowry, Chi Temu, and Jamie Broad have performed on her show.

Identity Crisis Show

Phina Oruche created a one-woman show called Identity Crisis. This show is based on her own life story. It first appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2016. Later, it was performed at the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool in 2017. It then had its first London run at the Kennington Ovalhouse. Identity Crisis also played in Soho Playhouse in New York City.

Writing and Film

Oruche has hosted events like the Merseyside Black History Month Achievers Awards. She also hosted a MOBO music panel, featuring local artists like Eddie Amoo and Kof.

She is a published writer. Her children’s book series, “Jacopo Jacopo Football Star” and “Jacopo Jacopo on Lockdown,” are available on Amazon. These books are about a 10-year-old mixed-heritage boy from Liverpool who wants to become a premier league football player. Both books were published in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown. Oruche also had a weekly column in the Liverpool Echo. Her autobiography, Liberating Character, was published in April 2012.

She also has a film company called Ibo Girl Productions. Through this company, she directs, edits, and produces short digital films and videos.