Acting
Nov 2, 1981
Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK
Amaka Okafor
Acting
Biography
Sally Amaka Okafor is a British actress. She is known for her work in theatre, and her roles in the film Greatest Days (2023) as well as the BBC One series The Responder (2022) and the Netflix series Bodies (2023). Okafor was born in Birmingham to a Nigerian reggae artist father and an Indian journalist mother, and moved around the UK growing up. She studied theatre devising at Liverpool John Moores University. She began her career touring community theatre in schools, prisons, and churches, and was a member of the Unicorn Theatre ensemble in London for two years. Originally credited as Sally Amaka Okafor, she made her West End theatre debut playing Sofia in Florian Zeller's The Son, which transferred from Kilburn's Kiln Theatre to the Duke of York's theatre in October 2019. In 2016 she appeared in Peter Pan at the National Theatre, and played Lady Macduff in Macbeth at the same theatre in 2018.She has appeared at the Royal Court Theatre in Hope Has A Happy Meal (2023), Grimly Handsome (2017), It's All Made Up, The Space Between, and I See You. She has played Miranda in Unicorn Theatre's The Tempest, Guildenstern in Almeida Theatre's Hamlet, Amal in National Theatre of Scotland's Glasgow Girls, and an official in Hamlet at the Barbican Centre. Her other theatre credits include Nora: A Doll's House (2020), Bird, and After The End (2022). Okafor's television work has included playing DI Deborah Barnes, a former colleague of the central character, Chris Carson, in the BBC's The Responder.She also appears in BBC drama The Split (2020). Okafor appears as DS Hasan in Netflix's Bodies. Bodies is created by Paul Tomalin, directed by Marco Kreuzpaintner, and based on the graphic novel by Si Spencer and Dean Ormston. In one of her most prominent roles to date, Okafor stars alongside Aisling Bea, Alice Lowe, and Jayde Adams in Greatest Days, a 2023 cinematic adaptation of Take That's smash-hit stage musical, The Band. Greatest Days portrays a group of school friends reuniting after 25 years. The BFI's review says that Okafor and her co-stars "make the most of the film’s more predictable plotlines and gags". Her other film work includes upcoming UK indie comedy drama Sweet Sue, directed by Leo Leigh. Okafor is also known for her work in radio drama and audiobooks, portraying Kaz in long-running BBC soap The Archers (a rare, brief, occurrence of a BAME character in this rural soap opera). and Zoe in Mark Ravenhill's adaptation of the Dion Boucicault play, The Octoroon, and appearing in Neil Gaiman's podcast series, The Sandman. She starred as Emily McCoy in Tom Stoppard's 2013 radio play, Darkside, based on Pink Floyd's classic album, The Dark Side of the Moon.
Feature Films (11)
Sheltering beneath the streets of London, the company of a West End play find themselves isolated from their loved ones when a nearby terrorist attack cuts short their final night performance. Minds racing over past anxieties from the run, they contemplate life-and-death decisions within the claustrophobic confines of the theatre basement.
Upon the Edge
Sue is back on the dating scene. She meets a mysterious biker called Ron at her brother's funeral and sparks fly. But when Ron introduces her to her social media-influence son, Anthony, Sue finds herself in an increasingly surreal battle of wills with this ambitious teenager who, despite showing no signs of talent, is convinced his dance troupe 'Electric Destiny' is tipped for stardom. Will she find the purpose and imagination to bring this little unconventional family together for a chance of happiness?
Sweet Sue
Based on the Take That musical, five best friends have the night of their lives seeing their favourite boy band in concert. Twenty-five years later, their lives have changed in many different ways as they reunite for one more epic show by their beloved band, to relight their friendship and discover that maybe their greatest days are ahead of them.
Greatest Days
When Peter Pan, leader of the Lost Boys, loses his shadow, headstrong Wendy helps him to reattach it. In return, she is invited to Neverland, where Tinker Bell the Fairy, Tiger Lily and the vengeful Captain Hook await. A riot of magic, music and make-believe ensues.
National Theatre Live: Peter Pan
A miser is in search of a suitable wife, however his foul attitude and selfishness prevents him from achieving this objective. [parts 1-2]
Calculator: The Only Wise Man
Television & Series (13)
Brighton based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, but his career is currently at rock bottom. He’s fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, and running enquiries into long forgotten cold cases with little prospect of success. Following another reprimand for his unorthodox police methods, Grace is walking a career tightrope and risks being moved from the job he loves most.
Grace
One victim, found dead on a London street. Four detectives, in four different time periods, must solve the mystery to protect Britain's future.
Bodies
Under pressure, fraying at the edges. In relentless night-time Liverpool, copper Chris is paired with a rookie. Will they save or destroy each other?
The Responder
Set in the fictional Midlands town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the city of Birmingham, this soap opera follows the staff and families of a doctor's surgery.
Doctors
Set in the fictional Midlands town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the city of Birmingham, this soap opera follows the staff and families of a doctor's surgery.
