Déja J Bowens

Bowens attended Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, graduating in 2021.^[1] Her stage work has included playing Mamie in Marys Seacole by Jackie Sibblies Drury at the Donmar Warehouse in London in 2022^[2][3]

Bowens made her television debut playing the lead role of singer-songwriter Vita Champion in the 2023 Candice Carty-Williams television series Champion for BBC One. Prior to the series, Bowens had only previously publicly sang as part of her church choir.^[4] She told The Evening Standard she was not fully prepared for how much music she would have to perform on the show,^[5] but Hollie Richardson in The Guardian described it as “an exciting screen debut” for Bowens,^[6] and Anita Singh in The Daily Telegraph notably singled out Bowens for praise from a “talented cast”.^[7] Morgan Cormack writing for The Radio Times said “You wouldn't think Champion was the TV debut for leading actress Déja J Bowens” adding “she artfully manages to capture the audience's sympathy while also pulling off the performance of someone who has had to embody years of conflicting feelings”.^[8] The song My Girl, sung in show by Bowen's character Vita with Ray BLK’s character Honey, written by Ray BLK, was released as a single on 30 June 2023.^[9] Bowers won the Acting Performance at the Royal Television Society Midlands Television Awards in 2024.^[10]