Jude Akuwudike (born 1965) is a Nigerian actor. He has mostly worked in the United Kingdom, on screen and stage.
He has appeared in productions of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.
Early life
Born in Nigeria, West Africa,Tiziana Morosetti, Africa on the Contemporary London Stage (2018), p. 104. Akuwudike moved to Britain and was educated at St Augustine's College in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, an independent Roman Catholic boarding school. In 1985, he began to train for an acting career at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1987.Jane Milling, Modern British Playwriting: the 80s (2012), p. 211.
Career In 1988, Akuwudike played Captain Watkin Tench in Our Country's Good at the Royal Court Theatre.Timberlake Wertenbaker, Our Country's Good (2015), p. 16. His first film appearance was in the same year, as a priest in A World Apart.J. T. Rogers, The Overwhelming (2006), "Biographies". An early leading role came in 1989 in the play The Fatherland by Murray Watts, at the Bush Theatre at Riverside,"The Fatherland", programme from the Bush Theatre at Riverside, 1989. and his first significant part on television was as Sergeant Gummer in the drama serial Virtual Murder (1991).
Throughout his career, Akuwudike has worked mainly on stage, including appearing in several productions for the National Theatre, notably Not About Nightingales, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, and Ion. He has also appeared for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as working on Broadway. He has also had many roles in film and television and is a voice actor.About the Players at shakespeare.nd.edu (Shakespeare at Notre Dame). Retrieved 21 February 2019.
In 1998, in the first British production of Not About Nightingales by Tennessee Williams, directed by Trevor Nunn at the National Theatre, Akuwudike originated the part of "the Queen", a gay prisoner.Plays and Players Applause, Issue 521 (1998), p. 9. In 2002 he played the black pimp in a Royal National Theatre production of Edmond, with Kenneth Branagh in the title role.Plays International, Volume 18 (Chancery Publications, 2002), p. 14.
From February to May 2011, Akuwudike was Abel Magwitch in an English Touring Theatre production of Great Expectations (adapted by Tanika Gupta), with Lynn Farleigh as Miss Havisham.Mary Hammond, Charles Dickens's Great Expectations: A Cultural Life, 1860–2012 (2015), Appendix C.
In the Cary Joji Fukunaga film Beasts of No Nation (2015), Akuwudike played Supreme Commander Dada Goodblood, leader of an unnamed West African country torn by civil war.Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, "Idris Elba highlights the flawed Beasts of No Nation", 15 October 2015 at film.avclub.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
In September 2018, it was announced that Akuwudike had been cast alongside Joe Cole and Sope Dirisu in a new Cinemax television serial called Gangs of London, then in production.Alex Ritman, Gangs of London Cinemax Series Sets Cast dated 12 May 2018, hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
The Actor's career has been centred on stage performances, which include notable roles in movie production for the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Filmography Film
Year Film RoleNotes 1988 A World Apart Priest Drama 1997 Richard II Scroop TV film 1998 The Ebb-Tide Fakeeva TV film 2000 A Likeness in Stone DC Levi Pryor TV film 2005 Sahara ImamDesert Adventure 2007 Jehovah's Witness Percy Short 2010 The Tempest BoatswainDrama 2015 Beasts of No Nation Dada GoodbloodDrama / War 2020 Eyimofe Mofe 2021 Benediction Priest Docudrama 2023 The Little Mermaid JoshuaFairy Tale 2024 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Lord ThorneVoice2026ClarissaClarissa’s husband
Television Year Title RoleNotes 1990 ScreenPlay Thomas Episode: "The Land of Dreams" 1992 Virtual Murder Sergeant Gummer Series regular6 episodes 1993 Between the Lines Custody Sergeant Episode: "Big Boys' Rules: Part II" 1994 The Bill Mr. Jensen Episode: "All Along the Watchtower" 1996–1999 Roger Roger Henry Series regular12 episodes 1998 Heat of the Sun Elihu Mwangi Episode: "The Sport of Kings" 1999 Kavanagh QC Matthew Atta Episode: "Previous Convictions"2003 Silent Witness Malcolm Linden Episode: "Running on Empty" Holby City Derek Fletcher Episode: "Know When to Fold"2005 Bad Girls Leroy 1 episode The Last Detective Bradshaw Episode: "Towpaths of Glory" 2007 Silent Witness Willi Episode: "Suffer the Children"2009 Moses Jones Matthias Mutukula Mini-series3 episodes The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Oswald Ranta Episode: "The Boy with an African Heart" Holby City Marvin Stewart Episode: "What Will Survive of Us" 2010 Law & Order: UK Marcus Wright Episode: "Skeletons" 2012 Holby City Gabriel Vaughan Episode: "Hail Caesar" 2013 Doctors Thomas Tembe 3 episodes 2015 Cucumber Ralph Sullivan 1 episode2016 Stan Lee's Lucky Man Dr. Marghai Episode: "A Twist of Fate" Undercover Al 1 episode Friday Night Dinner Custody Sergeant Episode: "The Funeral"2017 Chewing Gum Alex Episode: "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number" Death in Paradise Tony Garret Episode: "In the Footsteps of a Killer" The A Word Vincent Daniels 3 episodes 2017–2018 Fortitude Doctor Adebimpe Recurring role10 episodes 2018 Kiri Reverend Lipide 1 episode 2018–2020 In the Long Run Uncle Akie Series regular7 episodes2019 Moving On Dr. Bello Episode: "Frozen" Plebs Agrippa Episode: "The Banquet"2020 Gangs of London Charlie Carter Recurring role 9 episodes On the Edge Dad Episode: "BBW" 2021 Manhunt Delroy Grant Series regular 4 episodes 2022 The Crown Sydney Johnson Episode: "Mou Mou"2023 Casualty Clark Johnson Episode: "No Regrets" Culprits Carl Marking Episode: "Circle in a Circle" 2025 Midsomer Murders Richard Clissold Episode: "Treasures of Darkness"
Stage Year Title Role Venue Notes1988 The Park Norman Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Moon on a Rainbow Shawl Ketch Almeida Theatre, Islington, London Our Country's Good Captain Watkin TenchRoyal Court Theatre, London The Recruiting Officer Scruple/Costar Pearmain/Balance's Servant also World Tour 1989 "Master Harold"...and the Boys Sam Bristol Old Vic, Bristol 1990 Death and the King's Horseman Olunde Royal Exchange, Manchester1991 A Long Way From Home Tomi Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London Light in the Village Rhodes Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh1993 Marching for Fausa Sssi Royal Court Theatre, London Wiseguy Scapino Léandre Theatr Clwyd, Mold1994 Ion Hermes-Athens The Pit, Barbican Centre, London Poor Super Man Shannon Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh1995 Richard II Sir Stephen Scroop/Lord FitwaterCottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London The Machine Wreckers William 1996 Nuremberg: The War Crimes Trial Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn, London 1998 Not About Nightingales The Queen Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London 1999 Honk! The Ugly Duckling Turkey Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London 2000 A Doll's House Nils Krogstad Ambassadors Theatre, London2001 Luminosity Saul Mercer The Pit, Barbican Centre, London Young Hamlet King Claudius Young Vic, The Cut, London Brixton Stories Ossie The Pit, Barbican Centre, London also UK Tour2002 The Winter's Tale AntigonusThe Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London & Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Pericles Cerimon 2003 Henry V PistolOlivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London Edmond A Pimp 2004 The Jungle Book Akela Northampton Royal, Northampton 2005 Pericles Antichus/Lysinichus Globe Theatre, London 2006 The Overwhelming Joseph Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London with Out of Joint Theatre Company2007 Macbeth BanquoSwan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon Macbett Glamiss2008 God In Ruins Soho Theatre, Soho, London The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Dullfeet Lyric Hammersmith, London Walking Waterfall Odame Almeida Theatre, Islington, Londonwith Tiata Fahodzi2009 Iya-Ile Chief Adeyemi Soho Theatre, Soho, London Othello Othello Citizens Theatre, Glasgow The Rime of the Ancient Mariner The Mariner Southbank Centre, London2011 Great Expectations Magwitch Watford Palace Theatre, Watford Passing Wind Justice New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich part of Pulse Fringe Festival The Faith Machine Lawrence/Patrick Royal Court Theatre, London Britannicus Burrhus Wilton's Music Hall, Shadwell, London2012 Moon on a Rainbow Shawl Charlie Adams Cottesloe Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London also UK Tour Ignorance Dr Nasir al-Maliki Hampstead Theatre, London 2013 Othello Othello Cockpit Theatre, London also USA Tour2015 Hamlet Asylum Seeker Claudius UK Tour with Talawa Theatre Company The Crucible Reverend Parris Bristol Old Vic, Bristol2016 Workshop Negative Mkhize Gate Theatre, London The Royale Wynton Bush Theatre, Shepherd's Bush, London2017 The Lower Depths Abram Ivanich MedvedievArcola Theatre, London The Cherry Orchard Yermolai Alexeievitch Lopakhin 2018 The Two Noble Kinsmen Theseus Globe Theatre, London The Convert Uncle Young Vic, The Cut, London 2019 Three Sisters Eze Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London2022 Henry V King of France/Archbishop of Canterbury/Sir Thomas Erpingham Donmar Warehouse, London House of Ife Solomon Bush Theatre, London2023 The Dumb Waiter Various Greenwich Theatre, London A Slight Ache Various Greenwich Theatre, London
Games Year Title RoleNotes 2021 GTFO Dr. Abeo Dauda
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 1994 Martini Rossi TMA Awards Best Supporting Actor Poor Super Man 2008 Red Rock Film Festival - Grand Jury Prize Special Achievement in Acting Role Jehovah's Witness 2016 Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Favourite International Film (with Idris Elba & Ama K. Abebrese) Beasts of No Nation 2021 Africa Movie Academy Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Eyimofe
Notes
External links Jude Akuwudike at IMDb Jude Akuwudike at RADA