Deborah Ayorinde

Last updated

Deborah Ayorinde
Born
Deborah Olayinka Ayorinde

(1987-08-13) 13 August 1987 (age 37)
Enfield, London, England
Alma mater Howard University
OccupationActor
Years active2010–present

Deborah Olayinka Ayorinde (born 13 August 1987) is a British-Nigerian [1] actress raised in the United States. She is known for her role in the Amazon Prime horror series Them . [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Ayorinde was born in London, England [3] to Nigerian parents. [4] [5] [6] [7] She spent her childhood in London before relocating to San Jose, California when she was 8. [8]

In May 2009, she graduated with honors from Howard University's John H. Johnson School of Communications with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production. During her time at Howard, she won the coveted Paul Robeson Best Actress award for her performance in a short film she wrote and directed. The film also won the award for Best Cinematography. [9]

Acting career

Ayorinde's resume includes her work on Netflix's popular Marvel series Luke Cage , and as Simone (the “other woman”) in the American comedy film, Girls Trip . She starred opposite Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monáe in Harriet , a biopic of African American abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman, and she also starred in a season of HBO's True Detective .

In 2019, it was announced that she had joined the cast of Amazon Prime's Them for which Ayorinde received rave reviews for her portrayal of the character, Livia "Lucky" Emory. She received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her performance.

In the same year, it was also announced that she had been added to the cast of Fatherhood . [10] In June 2021, Fatherhood debuted at Number 1 on Netflix in both the United States and the United Kingdom. [11]

She gained further popularity through her work on the ITV series Riches which debuted in 2022 to much acclaim. It resonated with audiences due the storyline being centered around the black British experience.

In 2024, it was announced she would appear as the lead female in a play Wedding Band: A Love Hate Story in Black and White in Lyric Theatre in London. [12]

Filmography

Film and TV Movies

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014She BelievesPearlShort
2015 Bad Asses on the Bayou TarynVideo
2016 Barbershop: The Next Cut Marquita
Bad Dad RehabReginaTV movie
2017 Where Is Kyra? DMV Attendant
The Wizard of Lies Salon ReceptionistTV movie
Girls Trip Simone
2019 Harriet Rachel Ross
2020Always and ForeverSommer
2021 Fatherhood Liz
2023Chasing the NightFatimahShort
2024Sense and SensibilityElinor DashwoodHallmark

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010 Meet the Browns ChloeEpisode: "Meet the Consequences"
2011 Necessary Roughness RochelleEpisode: "Spinning Out"
2012 The Game JenniferEpisode: "Grand Opening, Grand Closing"
2014 Survivor's Remorse HeatherEpisode: "How to Build a Brand"
Constantine Officer SullivanEpisode: "Rage of Caliban"
2015 Sleepy Hollow MichelleEpisode: "Awakening"
Complications KateEpisode: "Relapse"
2016 Game of Silence Young Nurse Amy ReeseEpisode: "Blood Brothers" & "Ghosts of Quitman"
Luke Cage Candace MillerRecurring cast: Season 1
2017 The Affair JessaEpisode: "Episode #3.8"
2019 True Detective Becca HaysRecurring cast: Season 3
The Village DanaRecurring cast
2021 Them Livia 'Lucky' EmoryMain cast
Truth Be Told RoseRecurring cast: season 2
2022 Riches Nina RichardsMain cast
2024 Them Detective Dawn ReevesMain cast

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2022
 Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series Them Nominated [13]

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References

  1. ↑ Ayorinde, Deborah Olayinka [@DeborahAyorinde] (21 July 2021). "I'm… Nigerian first…Londoner second…YAY Arean third (IYKYK)" (Tweet). Retrieved 21 July 2021– via Twitter.
  2. ↑ "'Them': Deborah Ayorinde & Ashley Thomas To Star In Amazon Anthology Series From Lena Waithe". Deadline. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Deborah Ayorinde". Issue. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "British-Nigerian Actress Deborah Ayorinde Will Star in Lena Waithe's Horror Series 'Them'". Okay Africa. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "5 Things To Know And Cherish About 'Girls Trip' Star Deborah Ayorinde". Essence. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  6. ↑ mybiohub (28 October 2016). "Deborah Ayorinde Biography - Age, Wiki". MyBioHub. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Deborah Ayorinde - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  8. ↑ "Starring On Them Helped Deborah Ayorinde Confront Her Trauma". Bustle. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Deborah Ayorinde". Issue. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Lil Rel Howery, Paul Reiser, & Deborah Ayorinde Join Sony's Kevin Hart-Led 'Fatherhood' Film". Deadline. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "The Most Popular Movies On Netflix Right Now Besides 'Fatherhood'". Huffington Post. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "Wedding Band: A Love Hate Story in Black and White".
  13. ↑ "Film Independent Spirit Awards". Filmindependent.org. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
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