Bukky Bakray

Bukky Bakray (born 2002) is a British actress and writer. 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.[2]

Bukky Bakray
Bakray in 2020
Born2002 (age 20–21)[1]
Hackney, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present
Known forRocks (2019)
AwardsBAFTA Rising Star Award (2021)

Early life and education

Bakray was born in Hackney, East London to Christian Nigerian parents and 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]

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 Dionne 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]

Bibliography
  • Essay in Black Joy, edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire (2021)[16]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2019 Rocks Olushola "Rocks" Omotoso Debut role; At 19, Bukky Bakray became the youngest EE Rising Star Award winner and one of the youngest nominees for BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
2021 The Gospel According to Gail Mia Short film
2023 The Strays Dione Netflix Movie
TBA Self-Charm Maddie Upcoming

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[17]
2023 Sleepova Funmi Bush Theatre, London

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 Pending [23]

See also

References
  1. Lizzie Edmonds, Love letters, Evening Standard, London, 19 January 2022, page 9. She was 19 on that date.
  2. "Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2021: Entertainment". Forbes.
  3. Phillips, Emily (26 March 2021). "My London: Bukky Bakray". Evening Standard. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  4. Ross, Charley (24 September 2019). "Meet Bukky Bakray, Rocks' teenage star". Time Out London. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  5. Williams, Holly (8 March 2020). "Rocks stars: meet the teenage cast of the hot new British film". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  6. Jones, Emma (17 September 2020). "Unknown east London schoolgirl actresses on 'life-changing' film Rocks". BBC. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. ClaptonGirlsAcademy (27 September 2019). "A huge well done to CGA superstars Bukky and Anastasia for your performances in the new film Rocks. Here is an interview with Bukky in Time Out Magazine! Congratulations girls!". Retrieved 4 June 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. Chant, Holly (13 April 2021). "Hackney schoolgirl and actress Bukky Bakray wins Bafta". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  9. "Hackney's Bukky Bakray nominated for Leading Actress and Rising Star at 2021 BAFTAs". Hackney Citizen. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  10. "BAFTA Breakthrough awards for RADA actors". RADA. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  11. Chant, Holly (4 March 2021). "Hackney 'rising star' nominated for BAFTA". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  12. Jones, Alice (3 March 2021). "Bukky Bakray on 'Rocks' and the Baftas: 'Anyone can act. The industry makes it exclusive out of fear'". INews. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  13. Ravindran, Manori (18 March 2021). "BAFTA-Nominated 'Rocks' Actor Bukky Bakray to Star in BBC and Netflix Drama 'You Don't Know Me' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  14. Crompton, Sarah (6 March 2023). "Sleepova with Bukky Bakray at Bush Theatre – review". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  15. Ramachandran, Naman (1 December 2020). "Bukky Bakray to Headline Ella Greenwood's Mental Health Film 'Self-Charm' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  16. Chandler, Mark (21 December 2020). "Brinkhurst-Cuff curates Black Joy collection for Penguin". The Bookseller. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  17. "Bukky Bakray". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  18. Cline, Rich (7 February 2021). "London Critics name Nomadland their best film of 2020". Critics' Circle. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  19. Sherwin, Adam (7 February 2021). "London Critics' Circle Film Awards: Rocks star Bukky Bakray wins after being discovered in a Hackney classroom". MSN. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  20. "Winners & Nominations". BIFA. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  21. Sherwin, Adam (9 March 2021). "Bafta 2021 nominations: Rocks star Bukky Bakray and Daniel Kaluuya lead breakthrough year for diverse talent". INews. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  22. Pewsey, Guy (3 March 2021). "Bukky Bakray And Morfydd Clark Among Nominees For BAFTA's EE Rising Star Award". Grazia. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  23. "Stage Debut Awards 2023 Nominees include Lenny Henry: Samira Wiley: Bukky Bakray: Carla Dixon-Hernandez: Anoushka Lucas: Kyle Ramar Freeman and more". Alt A Review. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
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