Sophie Okonedo, acclaimed for her contributions to film and theater, received the prestigious Richard Harris Award at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The award, named after legendary actor Richard Harris, celebrates an actor’s outstanding contribution to British cinema.
Okonedo, an Academy Award nominee for Hotel Rwanda (2005) and a Tony winner for A Raisin in the Sun (2014), joins a roster of previous honorees, including Samantha Morton, Judi Dench, Riz Ahmed, and Stephen Graham.
The British-Nigerian actress began her journey at London’s Royal Court youth theatre and refined her craft at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA).
Her film debut came with Isaac Julien’s Young Soul Rebels (1991), and she has since delivered riveting performances in Skin, The Secret Life of Bees, Wild Rose, and Death on the Nile.
Okonedo’s accolades include three BAFTA TV nominations and an Emmy nod for her role in Ryan Murphy’s Ratched.
She currently stars as MI5 Director Ingrid Tearney in Apple TV+’s Slow Horses and has appeared in Amazon Prime’s The Wheel of Time and the upcoming Janet Planet (2024).
The Harris family expressed their admiration, stating, “Sophie’s performances on stage and screen are celebrated for their quality and humanity. We are honored she accepted this award in our father’s name.”
The Richard Harris Award underscores Okonedo’s immense talent and her significant impact on British film, solidifying her legacy among cinema’s finest.
