Bukky Bakray
British actress
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Bukky Bakray (born 2002) is a British actress. She is known for her debut role in the film Rocks (2019). At 18, she became the youngest BAFTA Rising Star Award recipient as well as one of the youngest Best Actress in a Leading Role nominees. She appeared on the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.[1]
Bukky Bakray | |
|---|---|
Bakray at the British Independent Film Awards 2021 | |
| Born | 2002 (age 23–24) Hackney, London, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Known for | Rocks (2019), You Don't Know Me (2022) |
| Awards | BAFTA Rising Star Award (2021) |
Early life and education
Bakray was born around 2002[2] in Hackney, east London to Christian Nigerian parents. She grew up on an estate in Lower Clapton, near where Rocks was filmed.[3][4] She has three brothers and a sister who lives in South Africa. She attended Clapton Girls' Academy and Cardinal Pole Catholic School.[5][6][7][8]
Bakray joined the RADA Youth Company and enrolled in the Originate Actor Training programme at Theatre Peckham.[9][10]
Career
Bakray was discovered at school when she was 15 by director Sarah Gavron, who cast Bakray in the titular role of her film Rocks.[11][12] Bakray became the youngest EE Rising Star Award winner and one of the youngest nominees for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
In 2021, Bakray made her television debut as Bless in the BBC One series You Don't Know Me.[13] She also wrote an essay for the collection Black Joy. This was followed in 2023 by roles as Kim in the Apple TV+ series Liaison and Dione in the Netflix horror film The Strays with Ashley Madekwe. Also in 2023, Bakray starred in Sleepova at the Bush Theatre.[14]
Bakray has an upcoming role in the film Self-Charm directed by Ella Greenwood.[15]
Acting credits
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Rocks | Olushola "Rocks" Omotoso | Debut role |
| 2021 | The Gospel According to Gail | Mia | Short film |
| 2023 | The Strays | Abigial "Abby" / Dione Clark | |
| 2027 | Children of Blood and Bone † | Binta | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | You Don't Know Me | Blessing/Bless | |
| 2023 | Liaison | Kim | |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Living Newspaper Edition 4 | Ensemble | Royal Court Theatre, London[16] |
| 2023 | Sleepova | Funmi | Bush Theatre, London |
Bibliography
- Essay in Black Joy, edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire (2021)[17]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | London Critics' Circle Film Awards | British/Irish Actress of the Year | Rocks | Nominated | |
| Young British/Irish Performer | Won | [18][19] | |||
| British Independent Film Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| Most Promising Newcomer | Nominated | [20] | |||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Nominated | [21] | ||
| Rising Star Award | Herself | Won | [22] | ||
| 2023 | The Stage Debut Awards | Best Performer in a Play | Sleepova | Nominated | [23] |