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Sope Dirisu

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Sope Dirisu
Dirisu in 2015
Born (1991-01-09) 9 January 1991 (age 33)
Edgware, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active2012–present

Sope Dirisu (Yoruba: Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù, Yoruba pronunciation: [ʃɔ̄k͡pɛ́ dìɾísù]; born 9 January 1991) is a British Nigerian actor.[1][2][3][4] He made his film debut in 2016 with Sand Castle, Criminal, and The Huntsman: Winter's War.[4] Since 2020, he has starred as Elliot Finch in the Sky Atlantic series Gangs of London.

Early life

Dirisu was born in 1991 in Edgware, London,[citation needed] to Nigerian parents.[4] He was educated at Bedford Modern School, where he excelled at drama, and joined the National Youth Theatre in 2006.[4][5][6] He later studied Economics at the University of Birmingham. While studying there he played quarterback for the University of Birmingham Lions American Football team.[4][7]

Career

In 2012, Dirisu successfully auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages Programme.[4] His first stage role was as Pericles in Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre.[4] After the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dirisu returned to the National Youth Theatre where he trained in the REP company programme for eight months.[1][2] He has subsequently acted in a number of television series including The Mill, Utopia, Humans, The Casual Vacancy, Siblings and Undercover.[2][1][8][9]

Dirisu appeared in three 2016 films, Criminal, The Huntsman: Winter's War, and Sand Castle.[4] In 2016, he also appeared in "Nosedive", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.

Dirisu received a Commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards for his 2017 performance as Coriolanus in Coriolanus at the Royal Shakespeare Company.[10]

He was nominated as Best Actor for the 2020 British Independent Film Awards for his role as Bol in the film His House.[11]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Criminal Fire Officer
2016 The Huntsman: Winter's War Tull
2017 Sand Castle Sgt. Cole
2020 His House Bol
2021 Mothering Sunday Donald
2021 Silent Night James
2021 Tides Tucker Also released as The Colony
2022 Mr. Malcolm's List Mr. Malcolm Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Utopia Roy Episode: "Episode 4"
2014 The Mill Peter 6 episodes
2015 The Casual Vacancy Young Doctor 3 episodes
2015 Humans Fred 8 episodes
2016 Black Mirror Man in Prison Episode: "Nosedive"
2016 Undercover Michael Antwi 4 episodes
2016 Siblings Zeff Episode: "Golden Aunt"
2017 The Halcyon Sonny Sullivan 8 episodes
2020 Gangs of London Elliot Finch 9 episodes
2021 His Dark Materials Sergi (voice) Episode: "The City of Magpies"

Stage

6 October - 3 December 2016, as Cassius Clay in One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers, at Donmar Warehouse in London, alongside David Ajala as Jim Brown, Arinzé Kene as Sam Cooke, Francois Battiste as Malcolm X.

Other theatre includes The Whipping Man, Tory Boyz, Romeo and Juliet, Prince of Denmark, Red Riding Hood, Our Days of Rage, Fallujah, Pericles (RSC).

Dirisu received a Commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards for his 2017 performance as Coriolanus in Coriolanus at the Royal Shakespeare Company.[10]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2021 British Independent Film Award Best Performance by an Actor His House Nominated [12]
British Academy Film Award Rising Star Award Nominated [13]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Mill". Channel 4.
  2. ^ a b c Thomas Hescott (16 February 2016). "My first audition: Sope Dirisu". The Stage.
  3. ^ "Sope Dirisu".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Thespian". Interview Magazine.
  5. ^ "Show business success for OBMs". Bedford Modern.
  6. ^ "OBMs Crowdfund for new film". Bedford Modern.
  7. ^ "Spotlight".
  8. ^ "BBC One - The Casual Vacancy, Episode 1 - Credits". BBC.
  9. ^ "My Favourite Things with actor Sope Dirisu". Western Morning News.
  10. ^ a b "And the winners are... Find out who triumphed at the Ian Charleson Awards". The Sunday Times. 27 May 2018.
  11. ^ Wade, Joseph (18 February 2021). "2020 British Independent Film Awards – Winners List". Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Winners and Nominations". BIFA. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  13. ^ Ritman, Alex. "BAFTA Nominations: 'Nomadland,' 'Rocks' Lead Charge in Most Diverse List in Awards' History". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 March 2021.