Reanne Weruche Opia () (born 11 April 1987) is a Nigerian actress and entrepreneur. She is the founding CEO of the clothing line Jesus Junkie Clothing. She was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for her performance in the BBC miniseries I May Destroy You (2020).
Early life and education Born in Lagos, Opia moved to Southeast 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. Opia holds a degree in drama and sociology from the University of the West of England, Bristol.
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.
Opia gained prominence through her role as Cleopatra Ofoedo in the third series of the BBC comedy Bad Education and its 2015 spinoff film. 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. 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.
Audiobook narration +YearTitleAuthorNotes2019Daughters of NriReni K AmayoFantasy2019My Sister the Serial KillerOyinkan BraithwaiteThriller2021Descendants of the FirstReni K AmayoFantasy2021The Upper WorldFemi FadugbaScience Fiction / Fantasy2020RaybearerJordan IfuekoFantasy2022Honey & SpiceBolu BabalolaRomance2024Only Big Bumbum Matters TomorrowDamilare KukuSatirical2025A Really Short History of Nearly EverythingBill BrysonNon-fiction2025Cursed DaughtersOyinkan BraithwaiteContemporary2025Sweat HeatBolu BabalolaRomance2025The Motherless LandNikki MayLiterary
Filmography Film Year Title RoleDirector Notes 2014 When Love Happens MoSeyi BabatopeRomance 2015 The Bad Education Movie Cleopatra OfoedoElliot HegartyComedy Prey EbeleSunny King Short film Isla Traena TamikahFreddy Syborn Short film 2016 When Love Happens Again MoSeyi BabatopeRomance 2017 Thereafter JuneYinka Idowu Short film 2018 Haircut FunmiKoby Adom Short film2021Invisible MannersNarrator (Epilogue)John Lee TaggartShort film 2022 Slumberland Agent GreenFrancis LawrenceNetflix film2026Ladies FirstRubyThea Sharrock
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 role2023 High Desert Carol Main role Black Mirror Unnamed actress Episode: "Loch Henry"2024 Iwájú Otin (voice) Main role The Jetty Riz Samuel Main role2026BaitFelicia Recurring
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2014 Liberian Girl Finda Royal Court Theatre, London 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 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards Best Actress in a Comedy 2021 Independent Spirit Awards Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series (shared with cast) I May Destroy You British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actress Black Reel Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series 2023 AudioFile Earphones Award For her narration of Honey & Spice. Honey & Spice
References
External links
Weruche Opia at Curtis Brown