Sophie Okonedo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sophie Okonedo CBE
Okonedo in 2015
Born	(1968-08-11) 11 August 1968 (age 56) London, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress narrator
Years active	1991–present

Sophie Okonedo (born 11 August 1968) is a talented British actress and narrator. She has won a special Tony Award for her acting on stage. She has also been nominated for many other big awards, like an Academy Award, three BAFTA TV Awards, and an Emmy Award.

Sophie Okonedo was recognized for her amazing work in drama. She was given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010. Later, in 2019, she became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). These are special honors from the UK.

She studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She has performed in many plays, movies, and TV shows. Her first big role on Broadway was in the play A Raisin in the Sun in 2014. For this role, she won a Tony Award! She also played important parts in other famous plays like The Crucible and Antony and Cleopatra.

Sophie Okonedo started her film career in 1991 with Young Soul Rebels. She became widely known for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in the movie Hotel Rwanda (2004). This role earned her a nomination for an Academy Award. She has also appeared in popular films like Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Secret Life of Bees, and Christopher Robin.

On television, she has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her work in Tsunami: The Aftermath. She also received BAFTA TV Award nominations for shows like Mrs. Mandela and Criminal: UK. You might also know her from Doctor Who, where she played Liz Ten, or from the TV series Ratched.

Sophie's Early Life and Training

Sophie Okonedo was born in London, England, on 11 August 1968. Her mother, Joan, was a Jewish Pilates teacher. Her father, Henry, was British Nigerian and worked for the government. Sophie's grandparents came from Poland and Russia and spoke Yiddish. Sophie was raised following her mother's Jewish faith.

She grew up in the Chalkhill Estate area of Wembley Park in London. After finishing school, she went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This is a very famous school for actors in London.

Sophie's Acting Career

Sophie Okonedo has worked in many different types of acting. She has done films, television shows, theatre plays, and even audio dramas.

Film Roles

Sophie has been in many movies. Her role in Hotel Rwanda (2004) was very important. She played Tatiana Rusesabagina, a real person who helped save many lives during a difficult time. This role earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination.

She also played May Boatwright in The Secret Life of Bees (2008). In this film, she acted alongside famous stars like Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning. Another notable role was playing Sandra Laing in the movie Skin (2008). Sandra Laing was a real person from South Africa who faced challenges because of her family's different appearances.

You might also remember her as the Wachati Princess in the comedy film Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995). More recently, she appeared in Christopher Robin (2018) as the voice of Kanga, and in the mystery film Death on the Nile (2022).

Television Roles

Sophie has also had a busy career in television. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in the miniseries Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006). She played Winnie Mandela in the BBC drama Mrs. Mandela (2010), which earned her a BAFTA TV Award nomination.

Doctor Who fans might recognize her as Liz Ten, a queen from the future, in two episodes. She also appeared in the miniseries The Hollow Crown (2016), playing Queen Margaret in plays based on Shakespeare's history. In 2020, she was nominated for an Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in the TV series Ratched. She also plays Siuan Sanche in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time.

Theatre Roles

Sophie loves performing on stage. She made her big debut on Broadway in 2014. She played Ruth Younger in a new version of the play A Raisin in the Sun. For this role, she won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, which is a very high honor in theatre.

In 2016, she returned to Broadway to play Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible. She was nominated for another Tony Award for this role. From 2018 to 2019, she played the famous Queen Cleopatra in the National Theatre's production of Antony and Cleopatra. She was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for this performance. In 2023, she played the main role in the play Medea, for which she was also nominated for an Olivier Award.

Sophie's Personal Life

Sophie Okonedo has one daughter named Aoife. She lives in Muswell Hill, London. Sophie has said that she is proud of her mixed heritage. She feels proud to be both Jewish and Black. She describes her daughter as an "Irish, Nigerian Jew." As of 2023, Sophie is married to Jamie Chalmers, who is a builder. She is also a stepmother to his two children.

Awards and Honors

Sophie Okonedo has received many awards and honors for her acting.

• She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010.
• She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2019. Both honors were for her great contributions to drama.
• In December 2024, she received the Richard Harris Award at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

Major Awards and Nominations

Sophie has been recognized by many important award ceremonies:

• Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Hotel Rwanda (2005).
• Tony Awards: Won Best Featured Actress in a Play for A Raisin in the Sun (2014). Nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Play for The Crucible (2016).
• Golden Globe Awards: Nominated for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for Tsunami: The Aftermath (2007).
• BAFTA TV Awards: Nominated for Best Leading Actress for Mrs. Mandela (2010) and Best Supporting Actress for Criminal Justice (2010) and Criminal: UK (2021).
• Primetime Emmy Awards: Nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Ratched (2020).
• Laurence Olivier Awards: Nominated for Best Actress for Antony and Cleopatra (2019) and Medea (2024).

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

See also

In Spanish: Sophie Okonedo para niños