Sophie Okonedo

EARLY LIFE

Born on 11 August 1968 in London, England, to Joan Allman, a Jewish Pilates teacher from London's East End, and Henry Okonedo, a British Nigerian government worker. Maternal grandparents emigrated from Poland and Russia and spoke Yiddish. Raised in her mother's Jewish faith. Father left when she was five, returning to Nigeria. Mother raised her in the Chalkhill Estate, Wembley Park district, London Borough of Brent. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

CAREER

British actress and narrator. Film debut in Young Soul Rebels (1991). Breakthrough role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda (2004), earning Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Other films include Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995), Dirty Pretty Things (2002), Æon Flux (2005), The Secret Life of Bees (2008), Skin (2008), Christopher Robin (2018, voice of Kanga), Death on the Nile (2022). Television includes Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006, Golden Globe nomination), Mrs. Mandela (2010), Criminal Justice (2010), The Wheel of Time (2021-2025). Theatre: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in A Raisin in the Sun (2014), nominations for The Crucible (2016), Antony and Cleopatra (2018).

PERSONAL LIFE

Has one daughter from previous relationship with Irish film editor Eoin Martin. Lives in Muswell Hill, London. As of 2023, married to builder Jamie Chalmers and stepmother to his two children. Describes herself as proud to be both Jewish and Black.