Weruche Opia

Reanne Weruche Opia (/wəˈruːtʃeɪ ˈoʊpiə/)[1] (born 11 April 1987) is a British-Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She is the founding CEO of the clothing line Jesus Junkie Clothing.[2] She was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for her performance in the BBC miniseries I May Destroy You (2020).

Weruche Opia
Opia in 2017
Born
Reanne Weruche Opia

(1987-04-11) 11 April 1987
Lagos, Nigeria
Alma materUniversity of the West of England, Bristol
Occupation(s)Actress, entrepreneur
Years active2010–present
Parent

Early life and education

Born in Lagos,[3] Opia moved to South East London at the age of 13. Her father is an author and professor of social sciences and her mother is veteran Nigerian broadcaster and television host Ruth Benamaisia-Opia.[4][5] Opia holds a degree in drama and sociology from the University of the West of England, Bristol.[4]

Career

After making her television debut with a guest appearance in a 2010 episode of The Bill, Opia spent a year with the Renegade Theatre Company in Nigeria. Upon returning to England in 2012, she appeared in the Channel 4 crime drama Top Boy and the Channel 5 procedural Suspects.[6]

Opia gained prominence through her role as Cleopatra Ofoedo in the third series of the BBC comedy Bad Education and its 2015 spinoff film.[7] Opia was nominated in 2015 in the Nollywood Actress of the Year category at the 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards for her role in the film When Love Happens. From 2019 to 2020, Opia was in the main cast of the Dave sitcom Sliced as Naomi.

Opia starred as Terry Pratchard in Michaela Coel's BBC series I May Destroy You, which first aired in June 2020.[8][9] For her performance, Opia was nominated for a British Academy Television Award and won a Black Reel Award. In 2022, she appeared in the ITV thriller Our House.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2014 When Love Happens Mo
2015 The Bad Education Movie Cleopatra Ofoedo
Prey Ebele Short film
Isla Traena Tamikah Short film
2016 When Love Happens Again Mo
2017 Thereafter June Short film
2018 Haircut Funmi Short film
2021 Invisible Manners Narrator (Epilogue) Short film
2022 Slumberland Agent Green Netflix film

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2010 The Bill Selina Moris Episode: "Death Knock"
2013 Top Boy Nafisa 4 episodes
2014–2015 Suspects Mae Roberts 2 episodes
2014, 2022 Bad Education Cleopatra Ofoedo Main role (series 3)
Cameo (reunion special)
2015 Banana Lilia 1 episode
Hot Pepper Toya Web series; episode: "One-Night Stand"
2017 Just a Couple Melissa Miniseries; 4 episodes
2018 Inside No. 9 Maz Episode: "Tempting Fate"
2019–2021 Sliced Naomi Main role
2020 I May Destroy You Terry Miniseries; main role
2022 Our House Merle Miniseries; main role
2023 Black Mirror Unnamed actress Episode: "Loch Henry"
TBA High Desert Carol Upcoming

Stage
Year Title Role Notes
2014 Liberian Girl Finda Royal Court Theatre, London[10]
2015 The Trial Comptroller Young Vic, London
2018 The Divide Giella The Old Vic, London

Awards and nominations
Year Award(s) Category Work(s) Result Ref.
2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Actress of The Year (Nollywood) ...When Love Happens Nominated [11]
Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actress in a Comedy Nominated [12]
2021 Independent Spirit Awards Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series (shared with cast) I May Destroy You Won [13]
British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated [14]
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Won

References
  1. "Weruche Opia On 'I May Destroy You', Sexual Consent And Her Dream Role". Elle UK. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  2. "YHP Interviews Young Entrepreneur and CEO of Jesus Junkie, Reanne Weruche Opia". Your Hidden Potential. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  3. Blair, Olivia (13 July 2020). "Weruche Opia On 'I May Destroy You', Black Narratives And Sticking To Your Guns". Elle UK. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  4. Akbar, Arifa (6 December 2020). "Weruche Opia: 'I told my team I didn't want the sassy rude girl roles any more'". the Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  5. "Weruche Opia is the next Nigerian actress you should be stanning". YNaija. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "10 Things You Didn't Know About Weruche Opia". Youth Village. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  7. "Bad Education's girls interview". British Comedy Guide. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  8. "Weruche Opia". Afrinolly. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  9. Harrison, Ellie (7 March 2022). "Weruche Opia: 'I nearly turned down I May Destroy You over the threesome scene'". The Independent. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  10. "Weruche Opia". Royal Court Theatre. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  11. Oneill, Danielle (15 July 2015). "The Nigeria Entertainment Awards Announce 2015 Nominees". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  12. Izuzu, Chidumga (11 December 2014). "AMVCA 2015 Nominees Rita Dominic, 'October 1', '30 Days in Atlanta', get nominations". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  13. Warren, Matt (26 January 2021). "2021 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations Announced!". Film Independent. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  14. "Television - 2020". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
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