Fola Evans-Akingbola (/ˈɑːkiːnˈboʊlɑː/) is a British actress. She is known for roles such as Maddie Bishop in the Freeform series Siren and American Secret Service agent Chelsea Arrington in the 2023 Netflix series The Night Agent. other credits include Youngers (2014), Holby City (2014), Death in Paradise (2016), Game of Thrones (2016), Black Mirror, episode "Striking Vipers" (2019), and Ten Percent (2022).
Fola Evans-Akingbola | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1995[1] London, England |
| Other names | Fola Akingbola |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Agent(s) | William Morris Endeavor Luber Roklin Entertainment Identity Agency Group (IAG)[2] |
| Partner | Curtis Lum (engaged 2022) |
| Relatives | Jimmy Akingbola (uncle) |
Early life and education
editEvans-Akingbola was born in London, to an English anthropologist mother, Gillian Evans,[a] and Nigerian musician father Sola Akingbola (of the band Jamiroquai). She was raised in Bermondsey,[3] and educated at Alleyn's School in Dulwich, graduating sixth form in 2012.[1]
She received acting training at the National Youth Theatre,[3] but stopped at age 12 to concentrate on her schoolwork.[3] She later resumed actor training at the Identity School of Acting.[4]
Career
editBefore acting professionally, Evans-Akingbola worked as a model.[5]
Her first acting credits were for the BBC series Youngers (2014) and Holby City (2014).[6] While appearing on a third BBC series, Death in Paradise,[6] Evans-Akingbola was cast in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones,[7] as the (unnamed) second wife of Khal Moro during season 6 in 2016.[5]
Since 2018, she has been a main character on Siren,[7] playing marine biologist Madelyn Bishop. She has also directed, co-wrote, and produced a short film called Grandma's 80th Surprise and done voiceover work for Assassin's Creed video games.[7]
For Netflix's Black Mirror,[7] she appeared in a 2019 episode called "Striking Vipers" as Mariella, a younger Millennial woman dating Karl (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), (the co-protagonist), but events suggest her relationship with Karl is quite shallow.[8]
Evans-Akingbola plays US secret agent Chelsea Arrington in the 2023 Netflix series The Night Agent.[1]
Personal life
editEvans-Akingbola is in a relationship with Canadian actor Curtis Lum. The two worked together in Sirens (2018–2020) and both appeared in the 2023 season of The Night Agent. They became engaged in 2022, which they then used as the instigating "surprise" in their co-produced short film, Grandma's 80th Surprise.[9]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Youngers | Reanne (uncredited) | Episode: "Links" |
| 2014 | Holby City | Amaani Qalanjo | Episode: "True Colours" |
| 2016 | Death in Paradise | Rosey Fabrice | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Game of Thrones | Moro's Wife #2 | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Dawn | Pakalan | TV movie |
| 2017 | An American Exorcism | Angelica | Feature film |
| 2017 | Assassin's Creed: Origins | Voice Talent | Video game (as Fola Akingbola) |
| 2018–2020 | Siren | Maddie Bishop | Main cast |
| 2018 | VS. | Makayla | Feature film |
| 2019 | Black Mirror | Mariella | Episode: "Striking Vipers" |
| 2022 | Ten Percent | Zoe Spencer | Main cast |
| 2023 | The Night Agent | Chelsea Arrington | Main cast |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Fola Evans-Akingbola (Tulley's 2012) in The Night Agent". Alleyn's School. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ Petski, Denise (6 October 2016). "'The Deep': Alex Roe & Fola Evans-Akingbola Round Out Cast Of Freeform Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC.
- ^ a b c "Fola Evans-Akingbola – interview, Death in Paradise and Game Of Thrones". afridiziak.com. 27 September 2020.
- ^ "Identity School of Acting Alumni". identityschoolofacting.com. 22 September 2019.
- ^ a b Crow, Roger (28 July 2017) [27 July 2016]. "A Chat with Game of Thrones' Fola Evans-Akingbola". Huffington Post UK. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ a b Ellenbogen, Rachael (29 March 2018). "Freeform's 'Siren' TV Show Premiere: Here's How You Know The Cast". International Business Times. IBTimes LLC.
- ^ a b c d Ziyadeh, Murad (18 January 2020). "Preview: "Grandma's 80th Surprise" – how a mixed-race relationship leads to familial problems". Vancouver Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020.
- ^ Shamimi, Minaal (29 March 2018). "Black Mirror: 'Striking Vipers' Ending Explained". International Business Times. IBTimes LLC.
- ^ May, Evan-Thomas (11 May 2022). "Making It: Actor, writer Curtis Lum on using artistic platforms to break barriers for the Asian community". coldteacollective.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
Notes
edit- ^ Not to be confused with British philosopher Gillian Evans.