Judi Shekoni

Judith Iyabo Shekoni is an English actress, television personality and businesswoman.

Judi Shekoni
Shekoni in 2015
Born
Judith Iyabo Shekoni

Manchester, England
Occupation(s)Actress, television personality, businesswoman
Notable workTwilight, Heroes Reborn, Ice, Maleficent

Early life and education

Born to a Yoruba Nigerian father and a British mother of English and Spanish descent, Shekoni is from Gorton, Manchester and was brought up by a single parent in council housing.[1][2][3] She briefly enrolled in a business programme at the University of Westminster.[4]

Career

Shekoni began her television career with a breakout role as Marjorie "Precious" Hudson (née Hulton) in the BBC1 soap EastEnders. She then moved into film with roles including Garfield 2 for Fox, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as Renee and Ali G Indahouse.

Shekoni lived and studied in Los Angeles for 10 years and appeared on US television shows including NCIS, All of Us and Damages, Fat Friends and The King of Queens.

Whilst in Los Angeles she worked with Bill Condon in the film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2. She joined the cast as a lead in Heroes Reborn in 2015, the NBC reboot of the original Heroes TV Show, where she played Joanne Collins opposite Zachary Levi.[5]

Relocating back to the UK in 2016, Shekoni appeared in the second season of the BBC1 drama Ordinary Lies written by Bafta winning writer Danny Brocklehurst airing in November 2016.[6] She then filmed 2 seasons as the female lead opposite Donald Sutherland and Ray Winston for the American cable series Ice, directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training day, Magnificent Seven) appearing as Lady Rah, the kingpin of LA Diamond Trade.[7]

Remaining in London, she starred as Shrike in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil for Disney, with Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfieffer.[8]

Business

Shekoni co-founded with British model Amanda Van Annan Extension Evolution, a company supplying hair extensions, and is also the founder of two other companies, Make It America and Actors Evolution.[9][10][11] She is the CEO of Global WPM, Atap Productions, and is affiliated with the Helen Bamber foundation.[3]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1999 The World Is Not Enough Girl in casino uncredited
2000 Spinning Candyfloss Mel
Maybe Baby Ewan's posse
It Was an Accident Sara uncredited
2002 Ali G Indahouse Jacuzzi girl
2004 Echoes of War Fatima
2005 Private Moments Serena
2006 Garfield 2 Tour guide
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Renee
2010 For Christ's Sake Mia do'em
2012 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 Zafrina
2015 Club Dancer[12]
2019 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Shrike[13]

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Casualty Mia Campbell Episode One from the Heart
2000 Fat Friends Imogen
2001 Murphy's Law Receptionist
2002 The Hidden City Claire
Casualty Naomi Episode: In the Heat of the Night
Attachments Sue Episode: Fuck Buddy
Time Gentlemen Please Sister Eliza Episode: This Vale of Beers
EastEnders Marjorie "Precious" Hudson (née Hulton)
2003 The King of Queens Melanie Episode: Nocturnal Omission
2005 NCIS Natalie Vance Episode: Model Behavior
2006 Damages Candy
All of Us Amanda Episode: Love Do Cost a Thing and Trojan Condo
2007 Brothers & Sisters Hostess Episode: Valentine's Day Massacre
2008 When Women Rule the World Island host Never broadcast in America[14]
2015 Backstrom Lady Mah Season 1, Episode 6: "Ancient, Chinese, Secret"
Heroes Reborn Joanne[15]
2016 NCIS: Los Angeles Alisa Chambers Season 7, Episode 21, "Head of the Snake"
Ice Lady Rah
2023 Foundation She-Bends-Light Five episodes

References
  1. "Up close with Judi Shekoni of "Twilight: Breaking Dawn"". Trendy Africa. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. "Gorton actress in Twilight film". ITV. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. "Judith Shekoni". Speakers for Schools. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  4. Adams, Guy (3 November 2012). "Judi Shekoni: From EastEnders to Twilight". The Independent. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  5. "Exclusive: Twilight Star Joins Heroes Reborn". eonline.com. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  6. "Episode 2, Series 2, Ordinary Lies - BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  7. Petski, Denise (15 August 2016). "Antoine Fuqua's Audience Drama 'Ice' Casts Judith Shekoni; 'Transparent' Adds Molly Bernard". deadline.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  8. "'Maleficent 2' Adds Judith Shekoni of 'Heroes Reborn' and 'Ice' (EXCLUSIVE)". 8 June 2018.
  9. "History of Extension Evolution". Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  10. "Make It America". Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  11. "Actors Evolution "Who we are" page". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  12. "Movie Review: Club Dancer – Low brow effrontery". The Free Press Journal. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  13. Clarke, Stewart (11 June 2018). "'Maleficent 2' Adds Judith Shekoni of 'Heroes Reborn' and 'Ice' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  14. "Breaking News - FOX Gives Updates on "Lie to Me," Reality Projects - TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  15. "Heroes Reborn". NBC.com. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
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