Nikki Amuka-Bird

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Nikki Amuka-Bird
Nikki Amuka-Bird-0203.jpg
Amuka-Bird in 2022
Born
Delta State, Nigeria
Alma mater London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1999–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2003;div. 2010)​

Nikki Amuka-Bird is a British actress of the stage, television, and film. She is known for her appearances on TV series such as Small Island (2009), NW (2016), and I, Jack Wright (2025), and appeared in the 2019 film The Personal History of David Copperfield .

Contents

Early life and education

Nikki Amuka-Bird was born in Delta State, Nigeria, where her father still lived as of 2018. She left there as a young child with her mother and was brought up in England, Lagos and in Antigua. [1]

Attending boarding school at Hurtwood House in England, [2] Amuka-Bird originally hoped to be a dancer. That ambition was thwarted by injury, after she hurt her back, so she enrolled at drama school. [3]

She attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). She started her stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). [4] [5] [6]

Career

External image
Searchtool.svg Amuka-Bird at the Virgin TV BAFTA Television Awards in 2017

Amuka-Bird's theatrical credits include Welcome to Thebes (National Theatre); Twelfth Night (Bristol Old Vic, for which she won an Ian Charleson Award nomination in 2004 for playing Viola); [3] World Music (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, and Donmar Warehouse); Top Girls (Oxford Stage Company); A Midsummer Night's Dream , The Tempest and The Servant of Two Masters (RSC); Doubt: A Parable (Tricycle Theatre).[ citation needed ]

Her film credits include The Omen (2006 remake), Cargo , Almost Heaven as well as the screen adaptation of Alexander McCall Smith's novel The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency . [7] On television, Amuka-Bird appeared in Spooks , The Line of Beauty , The Last Enemy , Robin Hood , an episode of Torchwood , and a recurring role in the reimagined BBC apocalyptic series Survivors .[ citation needed ] In 2010 she appeared as Detective Superintendent Gaynor Jenkins in the BBC's Silent Witness .[ citation needed ]

She appeared in Small Island , the BBC adaptation of Andrea Levy's award-winning novel, broadcast in December 2009. [8] She starred in the TV production of Zadie Smith's novel NW , [9] broadcast on BBC Two on 14 November 2016 [10] [11] and Amuka-Bird received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress.[ why? ] [12]

On Christmas Day 2017, she was heard as the voice of the Glass Woman in the Doctor Who Christmas Special "Twice Upon a Time" broadcast on BBC One.[ citation needed ]

She played the role of Rav Mulclair, Head of Judd Mission Control, in HBO's Avenue 5 from 2020 to 2022.[ citation needed ] She had a few film roles in 2019 for The Personal History of David Copperfield as Miss Steerforth and 2021 for Old as Patricia, a psychologist with epilepsy.[ citation needed ]

In 2025 she played a lead role as Sally Wright I, Jack Wright . [13]

Personal life

Amuka-Bird was married to actor Geoffrey Streatfeild from 2003 to 2010. [14]

Filmography

Key
†Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Film

YearShowRoleNotesRef.
2000 Forgive and Forget NickyTelevision film [15]
Safe as HousesCaroleTelevision film [16]
2005Almost HeavenRosie [17]
2006 Cargo Subira [18]
Shoot the Messenger HeatherTelevision film [19]
The Omen Dr. Becker [20]
Born Equal ItsheTelevision film [21]
2008 The Disappeared Shelley Cartwright [22]
2011 Coriolanus TV Pundit [23]
2013The House and EverythingTashShort film
2014 The Face of an Angel Roxanne [24]
2015 Jupiter Ascending Diomika Tsing [25]
2016 The Complete Walk: A Midsummer Night's Dream Hippolyta Short film [26]
Denial Libby Holbrook [27]
NW Natalie BlakeTelevision film [10]
2017 The Children Act Amadia Kalu QC [11]
2018The NHS: To Provide All PeopleA&E ConsultantTelevision film [28]
A Private War Rita Williams [29]
2019 The Laundromat Miranda [30]
The Personal History of David Copperfield Mrs. Steerforth [31]
VertEmeliaShort film [32]
2021 Old Patricia Carmichael [33]
2022 The Outfit Violet LaFontaine [34]
Persuasion Lady Russell [35]
2023 Knock at the Cabin Sabrina [36]
Jericho Ridge Tabby Temple [37]
2024 Rumours Cardosa Dewindt [38]
E for EileenEileen GrayShort film [39]
Here Helen Harris [40]
Marriage UnpluggedSuzannaShort film [41]
2025The Breakdown of a Toxic Relationship as told by Fluffmeister, a Poodle of Questionable HeritageMummyShort film [42]
TBA Clarissa †SallyPost-production [43]

Television

YearShowRoleNotesRef.
1999 The Bill Doreen WestEpisode: "Taxed" [44]
Grafters MarthaRecurring role; 4 episodes [45]
Holby City TracyEpisode: "Search for the Hero" [46]
2000 Doctors NurseEpisode: "Killing Me Softly" [47]
2002 NCS: Manhunt Janice OnwaughaEpisode: "Out of Time: Part 1" [48]
2003 Canterbury Tales Constance MusaEpisode: "The Man of Law's Tale" [49]
Holby City Josie WallisEpisode: "When That Shark Bites" [50]
2003–2004 Bad Girls Paula MilesRecurring role; 8 episodes [51]
2004 Murder Prevention Gemma AndrewsEpisode: "Judgement Day" [52]
2005 Silent Witness Simone CampbellEpisode: "Choices" [53]
Afterlife Sandra PetchEpisode: "Sleeping with the Dead" [54]
Casualty@Holby City Moji MuzendaRecurring role; 3 episodes [55]
2006 The Line of Beauty Rosemary CharlesMiniseries; 2 episodes [56]
Spooks Michelle LopezEpisode: "World Trade" [57]
Robin Hood The Abbess of RuffordEpisode: "The Taxman Cometh" [58]
2007 Five Days PC Simone FarnesSeries regular; 5 episodes [59]
The Whistleblowers Helen ErrolEpisode: "Starters" [60]
2008 Torchwood BethEpisode: "Sleeper" [61]
The Last Enemy Susan RossMiniseries; 1 episode [62]
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Alice BusangEpisode: "Pilot" [63]
2008–2010 Survivors Samantha WillisRecurring role; 5 episodes [64]
2009 Small Island Celia LangleyMiniseries [65]
2010 Silent Witness Gaynor JenkinsEpisode: "Voids" [66]
2011–2013 Luther Erin GrayRecurring role; 8 episodes [67]
2012 Sinbad ProfessorEpisode: "For Whom the Egg Shatters" [68]
2014 House of Fools FionaEpisode: "The Probation Affair" [69]
Death in Paradise Anna JacksonEpisode: "The Man with the Golden Gun" [70]
Lovesick AnnaEpisode: "Anna" [71]
2015 Inside No. 9 JoanneEpisode: "Cold Comfort" [72]
2016 Quarry Ruth SolomonSeries regular; 8 episodes [73]
2017 Doctor Who Helen ClayEpisode: "Twice Upon a Time" [74]
2018 Hard Sun Grace MorriganMiniseries; 6 episodes [75]
2019 Gold Digger MarshaMiniseries; 6 episodes [76]
2020–2022 Avenue 5 Rav MulclairSeries regular; 17 episodes [77]
2023 Citadel GraceRecurring role; 3 episodes [78]
2025 I, Jack Wright Sally WrightSeries regular; 6 episodes [79]
Play for Today Maggie BrayEpisode: "A Knock at the Door" [80]
2026 Betrayal Simone GrantSeries regular; 4 episodes [81]

Theatre credits

YearTitleRoleVenueNotesRef.
1999 50 Revolutions Tetley Whitehall Theatre, London & UK Tour [55]
2000 The Servant of Two Masters Clarice Young Vic, London [82]
2001 The Tempest Miranda The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon & UK Tour [83]
Top Girls Kitty / Shona Haymarket Theatre, Leicester & UK Tour [84]
2002 A Midsummer Night's Dream Helena Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon & UK Tour [85]
2003 World Music Florence Crucible Theatre, Sheffield [86]
2004 Donmar Warehouse, London [87]
Twelfth Night Viola Bristol Old Vic, Bristol [88]
2007 Doubt Mrs Muller Tricycle Theatre, London [89]
2010 The Gods Weep Beth Hampstead Theatre, London [90]
Welcome to Thebes Eurydice Olivier Theatre, London [91]
The Children's Monologues N/a The Old Vic, LondonCharity performance in aid of Dramatic Need [92]
2012 The Trial of Ubu The Interpreter Hampstead Theatre, London [93]
Love and Information Ensemble Royal Court Theatre, London [94]
2014 God Bless the Child Ms Evitt Royal Court Theatre, London [95]
Birdland Jenny Royal Court Theatre, London [96]
2017 The Lady from the Sea Ellida Wangel Donmar Warehouse, London [97]

References

  1. ↑ Gray, Susan (5 January 2018). "Interview | Nikki Amuka-Bird: 'Mum was on the frontline of diversity, banging on doors'". The Guardian .
  2. ↑ "Hall of Fame - Alumni". Hurtwood House. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 Bishop, Caroline (30 June 2010). "Nikki Amuka-Bird". OfficialLondonTheatre.com.[ dead link ]
  4. ↑ Neill, Heather (10 October 2017). "Nikki Amuka-Bird interview: 'There's huge enthusiasm among actors of colour'". theartsdesk.com.
  5. ↑ Wiltsher, Mary-Jane (1 November 2017). "'It's About The Constant Pull for Freedom': Nikki Amuka-Bird Translates Ibsen For A Modern Audience". Phoenix.
  6. ↑ Greenstreet, Rosanna (3 May 2025). "Nikki Amuka-Bird: 'I'd have drag queens from RuPaul's Drag Race play me in the film of my life'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency – Nikki Amuka Bird plays Alice Busang". BBC Press Office. 13 March 2008.
  8. ↑ Flatcher, Alex (23 October 2008). "BBC One to adapt Levy's 'Small Island'". Digital Spy.
  9. ↑ Onwuemezi, Natasha (10 June 2016). "Amuka-Bird and Fox to star in NW adaptation". The Bookseller.
  10. 1 2 Meltzer, Tom (14 November 2016). "NW star Nikki Amuka-Bird: 'Zadie is purposefully challenging the viewer'". The Guardian.
  11. 1 2 Lobb, Adrian (21 November 2016). "NW Star Nikki Amuka-Bird Interview: 'Bursting through the glass ceiling can cause damage'". The Big Issue. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016.
  12. ↑ Hogan, Michael (21 January 2023). "On my radar: Nikki Amuka-Bird's cultural highlights". The Guardian.
  13. ↑ "Further cast confirmed in Chris Lang drama I, Jack Wright for Alibi". UKTV . Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  14. ↑ Jones, Ellen E. (3 October 2017). "Nikki Amuka-Bird on plays, passion and working with Kwame Kwei-Armah". London Evening Standard . Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  15. ↑ "Forgive and Forget - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Safe As Houses". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  17. ↑ "Almost Heaven - Full Cast & Crew". TV Guide . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  18. ↑ Saney, Daniel (28 August 2006). "Cargo". Digital Spy . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  19. ↑ Latif, Leila (8 June 2022). "Shoot the Messenger revisited". British Film Institute . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  20. ↑ Brooks, Xan (2 June 2006). "The Omen". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  21. ↑ Cockrell, Eddie (3 July 2007). "Born Equal". Variety . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  22. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (19 June 2009). "The Disappeared". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  23. ↑ "British Star Nikki Amuka-Bird In Film Adaptation of Shakespeare's "Coriolanus" Trailer". Blavity . 15 August 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  24. ↑ Dillard, Clayton (12 June 2015). "Review: The Face of an Angel". Slant Magazine . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  25. ↑ Cameron-Wilson, James (13 July 2020). "Jupiter Ascending". Film Review . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  26. ↑ "Shakespeare's Globe The Complete Walk: A Midsummer Night's Dream". BBC . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  27. ↑ Hope, Vick (21 October 2025). "Bookshelfie x Nikki Amuka-Bird". Women's Prize for Fiction . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  28. ↑ "The NHS: To Provide All People". BBC . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  29. ↑ di Giovanni, Janine (4 December 2018). "A Private War". Harper's Magazine . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  30. ↑ Uhlich, Keith (15 September 2019). "Review: The Laundromat Flimsily Addresses the Panama Papers Scandal". Slant Magazine . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  31. ↑ Willmore, Alison (26 August 2020). "Dev Patel Does Dickens Well in The Personal History of David Copperfield". Vulture . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  32. ↑ Billington, Alex (10 April 2010). "Watch: Intriguing Short Film 'Vert' with Nick Frost & Nikki Amuka-Bird". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  33. ↑ Ritman, Alex (2 March 2022). "'Old' Star Nikki Amuka-Bird Boards Survival Thriller 'Jericho Ridge'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  34. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (9 April 2021). "Simon Russell Beale & Nikki Amuka-Bird Join Mark Rylance Crime-Drama 'The Outfit'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  35. ↑ Mitchell, Tamika (21 May 2021). "Nikki Amuka-Bird, Ben Bailey SMith, Izuka Hoyle & Nia Towle Join Netflix & MRC's 'Persuasion'". The British Blacklist. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  36. ↑ Squires, John (19 April 2022). "'Knock at the Cabin' – Filming Underway on Shyamalan's Fifteenth Feature". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  37. ↑ Felperin, Leslie (23 April 2024). "Jericho Ridge review – shades of Rio Bravo in tense siege thriller with old-timey charm". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  38. ↑ Fear, David (10 October 2024). "'Rumours' Imagines World Leaders in Love, Lust, and Lost in the Woods. We Think It's Fictional". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  39. ↑ "E FOR EILEEN". Mubi . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  40. ↑ Lewis, George (4 March 2025). "Tom Hanks' "deeply flawed" 2024 flop Here has been quietly added to Prime Video". Digital Spy . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  41. ↑ "Marriage Unplugged". Nüesch Sisters. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  42. ↑ "The Breakdown of a Toxic Relationship as Told by Fluffmeister, a Poodle of Questionable Heritage". Prague Film Awards. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  43. ↑ Grobar, Matt (6 February 2026). "Neon Acquires 'Mrs. Dalloway' Reimagining 'Clarissa' Starring Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, India Amarteifio, Ayo Edebiri & Toheeb Jimoh". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  44. ↑ "The Bill S18 E14 Taxed". U . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  45. ↑ "Grafters". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  46. ↑ "Holby City – Season 2, Episode 1". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  47. ↑ "Killing Me Softly". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  48. ↑ "NCS Manhunt – Season 1, Episode 5 Out of Time". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  49. ↑ "Canterbury Tales". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  50. ↑ "Holby City – Season 5, Episode 22 When The Shark Bites". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  51. ↑ "PO Paula Miles - Bad Girls". TV Maze. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  52. ↑ "Murder Prevention Judgement Day (1)". Plex . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  53. ↑ "Choices, Part 1". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  54. ↑ "Sleeping with the Dead - Afterlife 1x05". TV Maze. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  55. 1 2 Clark, Nick (9 October 2017). "Nikki Amuka-Bird: 'I've been longing to do Ibsen. It is a rite of passage'". The Stage . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  56. ↑ "Drama - The Line of Beauty". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  57. ↑ "Spooks - Series 5, Episode 4 Credits". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  58. ↑ "The Taxman Cometh". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  59. ↑ "BBC and HBO tackle crucial Five Days in a gripping investigation". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  60. ↑ "Starters - The Whistleblowers 1x05". TV Maze. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  61. ↑ "Sleeper Torchwood". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  62. ↑ "Episode 3". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  63. ↑ Stewart, Ryan (26 March 2009). "Review: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Season One". Slant Magazine . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  64. ↑ "BBC One Programmes - Survivors - Samantha Willis". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  65. ↑ "Small Island: David Oyelowo plays Gilbert". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  66. ↑ "Voids, Part 1". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  67. ↑ Cremona, Patrick (1 February 2023). "Luther star says "word on the street" is that the movie is "so good"". Radio Times . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  68. ↑ "Sinbad – Season 1, Episode 10". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  69. ↑ "The Probation Affair". BBC . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  70. ↑ "Death in Paradise – Season 3, Episode 7". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  71. ↑ Sancto, Roxanne (17 November 2016). "Why You Should Be Watching Lovesick, Netflix's Raunchy, Gawkily Funny Britcom". Paste . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  72. ↑ "Series 2, Episode 4 - Cold Comfort". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  73. ↑ Jeffery, Morgan (21 June 2013). "'Luther' star Nikki Amuka-Bird joins US TV pilot 'Quarry'". Digital Spy . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  74. ↑ Mulkern, Patrick (25 December 2017). "Doctor Who: Twice upon a Time ★★★". Radio Times . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  75. ↑ Dowell, Ben (10 February 2018). "Meet the cast of BBC1's Hard Sun". Radio Times . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  76. ↑ Sutton, Megan (5 November 2019). "Gold Digger's depiction of relationship age gaps on TV is important and long overdue". Good Housekeeping . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  77. ↑ Petski, Denise (25 February 2019). "'Avenue 5': Niki Amuka-Bird To Star In Armando Iannucci's HBO Comedy Pilot". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  78. ↑ Petski, Denise (31 March 2021). "'Citadel': Osy Ikhile & 'Midnight Sky's' Caoilinn Springall Join Amazon's Russo Brothers Global Event Series; 7 Set To Recur". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  79. ↑ Hibbs, James (23 April 2025). "I, Jack Wright review: Knotty family drama is solid fun but overly busy". Radio Times . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  80. ↑ Lawson, Mark (13 November 2025). "Sex, cash and intruders? The groundbreaking drama series Play for Today is back". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  81. ↑ Briggs, Charlotte (4 February 2026). "Meet the cast of ITV's adrenaline-fuelled MI5 drama Betrayal". Virgin Media . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  82. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (22 December 2000). "A Servant to Two Masters". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  83. ↑ Shuttleworth, Ian (18 January 2001). "THE TEMPEST". Financial Times . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  84. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (3 October 2001). "Top Girls". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  85. ↑ Taylor, Markland (30 June 2002). "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Variety . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  86. ↑ Ramsden, Timothy (3 June 2003). "WORLD MUSIC. To 7 June". ReviewsGate. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  87. ↑ Wolf, Matt (7 March 2004). "World Music". Variety . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  88. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (28 October 2004). "Twelfth Night". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  89. ↑ Coveney, Michael (27 November 2007). "Doubt". WhatsOnStage.com . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  90. ↑ Benedict, David (22 March 2010). "The Gods Weep". Variety . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  91. ↑ Billington, Michael (23 June 2010). "Welcome to Thebes". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  92. ↑ Bosanquet, Theo (5 November 2010). "Boyle Directs Stellar Cast in Old Vic Monologues". WhatsOnStage.com . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  93. ↑ Billington, Michael (25 January 2012). "The Trial of Ubu – review". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  94. ↑ Billington, Michael (15 September 2012). "Love and Information – review". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  95. ↑ Billington, Michael (20 November 2014). "God Bless the Child review – classroom revolution in lively satire". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  96. ↑ Benedict, David (15 April 2014). "London Theater Review: 'Birdland'". Variety . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  97. ↑ Billington, Michael (19 October 2017). "The Lady from the Sea review – Nikki Amuka-Bird is superb in Caribbean Ibsen". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 February 2026.
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