Sophie Okonedo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sophie Okonedo CBE
Okonedo in 2015
Born	(1968-08-11) 11 August 1968 (age 57) London, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress narrator
Years active	1991–present

Sophie Okonedo (born 11 August 1968) is a famous British actress and narrator. She has won a Tony Award for her acting on stage. She has also been nominated for many other major awards, including an Academy Award for her work in movies.

For her great contributions to acting, she was given special honors by the United Kingdom. In 2010, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2019, she was given an even higher honor, Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Early Life and School

Sophie Okonedo was born in London, England. Her mother, Joan, was a Jewish Pilates teacher. Her father, Henry, was a British Nigerian who worked for the government. Sophie was raised in her mother's Jewish faith.

Her father moved back to Nigeria when she was five years old. Sophie was raised by her mother in London. She later studied at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to become an actress.

Acting Career

Sophie Okonedo has had a successful career in movies, television, and theatre. She is known for playing a wide variety of characters.

Famous Movie Roles

Okonedo's first big movie role was in the drama Young Soul Rebels (1991). She later appeared in the comedy Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995).

Her career took a major step forward with the film Hotel Rwanda (2004). She played Tatiana Rusesabagina, the wife of the main character. For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This nomination made her famous around the world.

She has since acted in many other films, including:

• Æon Flux (2005)
• The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
• Christopher Robin (2018), where she was the voice of Kanga
• Death on the Nile (2022)

Success on Television

Okonedo has also appeared in many popular TV shows. She played Liz Ten (Queen Elizabeth X) in two episodes of the science-fiction show Doctor Who in 2010. She also voiced a character in a Doctor Who animated series called Scream of the Shalka.

She received a Golden Globe Award nomination for the miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006). She has also been nominated for three BAFTA TV Awards for her roles in Mrs. Mandela (2010), Criminal Justice (2010), and Criminal: UK (2021).

From 2021 to 2025, she played the powerful character Siuan Sanche in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time.

Award-Winning Stage Career

Okonedo is a highly respected stage actress. In 2014, she performed on Broadway in New York City for the first time. She was in a play called A Raisin in the Sun. For her performance, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.

She returned to Broadway in 2016 in The Crucible. She played the role of Elizabeth Proctor and was nominated for another Tony Award.

In London, she played the famous Egyptian queen Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at the Royal National Theatre. This role earned her a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, a top British theatre award.

Personal Life

Okonedo has a daughter from a past relationship. She is proud of her family's background. She has said, "I feel as proud to be Jewish as I feel to be Black."

As of 2023, Okonedo is married to a builder named Jamie Chalmers. She is also a stepmother to his two children.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Here are some of the major awards Sophie Okonedo has won or been nominated for.

Film and Television Awards

Theatre Awards

See also

In Spanish: Sophie Okonedo para niños