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Folake Olowofoyeku

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Folake Olowofoyeku
Born (1983-10-26) 26 October 1983 (age 41)
Nigeria
Other namesThe Folake
Occupation(s)Actress, musician
Years active2002–present
Parents
RelativesToby Foyeh (brother)
Websitethefolake.com

Folake Olowofoyeku Listenⓘ (born 26 October 1983)[1][2] is a Nigerian actress and musician.[3] She currently stars in the Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom[4] Bob Hearts Abishola.[2][5]

Early life and education

Olowofoyeku was born in Nigeria to Nigerian politician Babatunji Olowofoyeku and Felicia Olowofoyeku. She is the youngest of 20 children.[citation needed][1] She grew up in Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria,[6] and also spent time in London. One of her older brothers is the musician and guitarist Toby Foyeh.

Olowofoyeku attended Igbinedion Education Centre, a Montessori boarding school in Benin City. She then transferred to Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Ikeja, Lagos and then attended Oxbridge Tutorial College.[7]

In 2001 at the age of 18 years old, Olowofoyeku emigrated to the United States, where she came to live with her sister.[2]

Although initially studying economics in anticipation of becoming an attorney, Olowofoyeku received a B.A.[8] in theater from City College of New York.[9] During her time at City College she played NCAA Division III college basketball for the CCNY Beavers.[1]

Career

After graduating from college, Olowofoyeku got her to start working at an off-Broadway theater in New York City.[10]

Olowofoyeku appeared in guest starring roles on television shows that include 30 Rock, How to Get Away with Murder, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Modern Family, Westworld, and White Collar.

Olowofoyeku starred in the 2017 film, Death Race 2050, as Minerva Jefferson.[10] The film is a sequel to the 1975 cult film, Death Race 2000, and was shot in Lima, Peru.[3]

Also in 2017, Olowofoyeku appeared opposite Gaby Hoffmann in the last season of the TV series Transparent, as her love interest, Lyfe.[11]

In September 2019, Olowofoyeku co-stars opposite American comedian Billy Gardell in the 2019 Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom, Bob Hearts Abishola, which Lorre created with British-Nigerian comedian Gina Yashere – who writes for the show and plays Olowofoyeku's character's best friend, Kemi.[12] Bob Hearts Abishola is the first American sitcom to feature a Nigerian family.[13][14] Olowofoyeku plays Abishola, a Nigerian cardiac nurse who meets a compression sock businessman named Bob in Detroit.[15] The show features a budding romance between the two, who find they have more in common than differences.[16] Olowofoyeku has said that the show is also groundbreaking because it features cast members, including Abishola, speaking in the Yoruba language.[17]

Music

Olowofoyeku plays Afro-beat electronic music under the moniker The Folake. She plays guitar and , piano, and has worked as a sound engineer.[6] Olowofoyeku has a diploma in audio engineering from the Institute of Audio Research.

In 2013, Olowofoyeku appeared in two David Bowie videos as his bass guitar player: "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" and "The Next Day".[18][19][20] Both videos were directed by Floria Sigismondi, with Tilda Swinton portraying Bowie's wife in "The Stars" while "Next Day" featured actors Gary Oldman and Marion Cotillard. Olowofoyeku said that director Sigismondi and Bowie worked with the band so they could learn their parts musically in rehearsal, as well as portray themselves in the videos.[18]

Personal life

Olowofoyeku was named after the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Folake Solanke.[6] Olowofoyeku has spoken about the importance of names in Yoruba culture. Her first name means to use non-monetary wealth to pamper, and her surname means a rich man uses a chieftaincy title to top off their wealth.[18]

Olowofoyeku, who currently resides in Los Angeles, speaks fluent Yoruba.[2][13] She is a big fan of science fiction and the work of Octavia Butler, and counts Butler's 1980 book, Wild Seed, as a favorite.[2]

Filmography

Film/Movie

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Protesters Felice Falafafull Video
2006 When They Could Fly Bella Short
2008 10,000 A.D.: The Legend of a Black Pearl Plaebian 3 Video
Staged Archive Judge Short
In Search of Myster Ey Waitress
2009 The Child Within Omo
2011 The Beaver Nurse
2012 Hellbenders Serena Venter
2014 Gideon's Cross Mona Madugu (Nigerian Boss) (voice) Short
Kepler X-47 Alien Sentinel Short
2016 Female Fight Squad Winter
2017 Death Race 2050 Minerva Jefferson Video
2018 Central & Broadway Leon Short
The Bride - Short
Armed Frida

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Amina Asante Episode: "Night"
2010 30 Rock Jamaican Nurse #2 Episode: "Anna Howard Shaw Day"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Princess Timiro Episode: "Loyalty: Part 1 & 2"
White Collar Teller Episode: "By the Book" & "Unfinished Business"
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Adisa Episode: "Scorched Earth"
2014 Modern Family Ayoola Episode: "Marco Polo"
2016 How to Get Away with Murder Desk Nurse Episode: "There's My Baby"
Westworld Surveillance Tech Episode: "Dissonance Theory"
2017 Colony Redhat Episode: "Panopticon"
The Gifted Scar Episode: "rX"
Transparent Lyfe Recurring Cast: Season 4
2019 The Filth Charlotte Episode: "Filthy Bro Day"
2019- Bob Hearts Abishola Abishola Wheeler Main Cast

Video Games

Year Title Role Notes
2018 World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth (voice)
2019 Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series - Episodes I, II, and III Priestess (voice)

Music Videos

Year Title Artist Notes
2013 The Stars (Are Out Tonight) David Bowie Bassist
The Next Day

Theater

  • 2004: Trojan Women by Euripides at Classical Theatre of Harlem (2 April 2004)[21]
  • 2009: Punk Roc/Love Song (Horse Trade Theater Group) at Kraine Theater (30 September – 3 October 2009)[22]

Discography

  • 2012: The.Folake! (self-released)[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bob Hearts Abishola Cast: Folake Olowofoyeku". Bob Hearts Abishola. CBS. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bentley, Jean (23 September 2019). "Meet 'Bob Hearts Abishola' Star Folake Olowofoyeku". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ a b "Folake Olowofoyeku". Naluda. 23 January 2017.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley; Fienberg, Daniel; Lorre, Chuck (20 September 2019). "'TV's Top 5': NBC Streaming Plans Revealed; Plus Chuck Lorre on His Comedy Empire" (Audio interview, starts at 30:52). The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ Earl Nurse. "How the Nigerian star of 'Bob Hearts Abishola' is changing the rules of American network television". CNN. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Italie, Leanne (21 September 2019). "Folake Olowofoyeku hearts life in the television comedy lane". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press.
  7. ^ Saduwa, Patience (19 December 2016). ""I was excited on my first day on set"". The Nation.
  8. ^ Folake Olowofoyeku - Bob Hearts Abishola Cast Member, retrieved 24 July 2020
  9. ^ Barron, Rob (February 2017). "From Campus Stages to the 'Big Time'". Alumnus. City College of New York Alumni.
  10. ^ a b Frieman, Richie (6 January 2017). "Folake Olowofoyeku". PensEyeView.
  11. ^ DiLoreto, Michaela R. (7 October 2017). "Crossing Boundaries, Tackling Borders, and Challenging the Past: Season Four of 'Transparent' Does It All". The Harvard Crimson.
  12. ^ Framke, Caroline (23 September 2019). "TV Review: 'Bob Hearts Abishola' From Chuck Lorre". Variety.
  13. ^ a b Udodiong, Inemesit (17 May 2019). "Folake Olowofoyeku: Nigerian actress plays lead role in new CBS show - here's why this is such a big deal". Pulse Nigeria.
  14. ^ Dowling, Amber (7 June 2019). "From economics student to actor, Folake Olowofoyeku may be this season's break-out star" (Includes video interview). The Loop.
  15. ^ Jones-Cooper, Brittany; Gardell, Billy; Olowofoyeku, Folake (9 September 2019). "Folake Olowofoyeku & Billy Gardell Speak On The CBS Series, "Bob ♥ Abishola"" (Video interview). BUILD Series.
  16. ^ Lorre, Chuck; Higgins, Al; Yashere, Gina; Gardell, Billy; Olowofoyeku, Folake; Frazier, Kevin (12 September 2019). "Bob Hearts Abishola - Creating a Sitcom About Immigrants" (Video interview). Paley Center for Media.
  17. ^ Ray, Rachel; Gardell, Bill; Olowofoyeku, Folake (30 September 2019). "Bob Hearts Abishola Star Folake Olowofoyeku On Growing Up As The Youngest of 20 Children" (Video interview). Rachael Ray.
  18. ^ a b c Hewitt, Zoey; Olowofoyeku, Folake (7 December 2016). "Folake Olowofoyeku Interview" (Video interview). AfterBuzz TV.
  19. ^ Bowie, David (26 February 2013). "David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight) (Official Video)".
  20. ^ Bowie, David (8 May 2013). "David Bowie - The Next Day (Explicit)".
  21. ^ Willis, John A.; Hodges, Ben, eds. (2006). Theatre World. Vol. 60, 2003-2014. New York: Applause. p. 179. ISBN 978-1-557-83651-9. OCLC 657148290.
  22. ^ Hodges, Ben; Denny, Scott, eds. (2010). Theatre World. Vol. 66, 2009-2010. Montclair, NJ: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-423-49271-9. OCLC 609541647.
  23. ^ Olowofoyeku, Folake (2012). "♫ The.Folake! - The.Folake!". CD Baby.
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