Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ ( ) (born 1991/1992) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jack Starbright in the Amazon Prime spy thriller Alex Rider (2020–2024) and Yvonne in the Netflix musical film Been So Long (2018). She also guest-starred in two episodes of Doctor Who (2017).
On stage, her work includes Three Sisters at the National Theatre, (2020), Lava at Bush Theatre, (2021), and Blues for an Alabama Sky (2022).
Early life Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ was born in Hackney and raised in Barking, London. She is of Nigerian Yoruba ancestry. Adékọluẹ́jọ́ was a pupil at Jo Richardson Community School, where she excelled in Drama, achieving one of the national top 10 highest grades in the subject at GCSE.SMSC Matters - Summer 2015
Adékọluẹ́jọ́ studied acting for three years from 2010 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), in London, graduating in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting (H Level).
Theatre Adékọluẹ́jọ́ crafted her acting skills on the theatre stage, in productions such as Pride and Prejudice, at the Sheffield Crucible (2015), The Mountaintop at the Young Vic (2016), and Twelfth Night at the Filter Theatre in Hammersmith (2016). In 2020, Adékọluẹ́jọ́ appeared on stage in the role of Abosede in the live-streaming theatre play Three Sisters at National Theatre Live, and was nominated for best classical stage performances by actors under the age of 30 at the Ian Charleson Awards. However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2021, Adékọluẹ́jọ́ performed solo on stage, live-streamed worldwide, in the Benedict Lombe-directed play Lava at the Bush Theatre. She won 'Best Performance Piece' for this work, at The Offies in 2022.
In 2022, she starred as Delia in the all-black American tragicomedy Blues for an Alabama Sky at the National Theatre, written by Pearl Cleage, and based on the Harlem Renaissance in 1930s New York. Her performance earned a nomination at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for Best Actress.
From November 2024 to January 2025 Adékọluẹ́jọ́ played the role of Gwendolen Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre.
Film and television From 2014, Adékọluẹ́jọ́ had some single-episode appearances in TV series until starring in series 10 of Doctor Who, when she played Penny in both "Extremis" and "The Pyramid at the End of the World", alongside Peter Capaldi (the Twelfth Doctor) and his companion Pearl Mackie. Adékọluẹ́jọ́ starred as Demi-Lea Sadler in the "Nadia Cavelle" short film Lascivious Grace, which premiered at the Underwire Film festival 2017 and was an official film selection for the Bermuda International Film Festival 2018. Adékọluẹ́jọ́ was nominated for best actor at Underwire Film Festival 2017 for her performance in the short film Lascivious Grace.
In 2018, Ronke starred in the Tinge Krishnan-directed Netflix musical Been So Long, as the character Yvonne, best friend of Simone, played by lead actress Michaela Coel. The film was shown at the 2018 BFI London Film Festival. In 2019, Adékọluẹ́jọ́ landed a main role in the Amazon Prime teenage spy thriller television series Alex Rider as Jack Starbright, Alex Rider's American primary carer and mentor.
In 2021, Adékọluẹ́jọ́ played Ṣadé in the pilot of the Channel 4 television production Big Age.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes K & J Joan Short film 2014 Broken Sabrina Short film 2016 One Crazy Thing Bus Passenger #12017 Stay the Burning Short film Lascivious Grace Demi-Lea Sadler Short film2018 Been So Long Yvonne Christopher Robin Katherine Dane Ready Player One Sorrento's Assistant Found Bab Short film 2019 Cyprus Avenue Bridget (Therapist) 2020 The Big Other Amina The Forgotten C Mary Short film 2021 Ear for Eye UK Friend 1 2022 Chevalier Nanon 2023 Guests Cecelia Short film 2025 Dreamers Isio Filming
Television Year Title Role Notes 2014 Suspects Carrie Evans Episode: "Eyes Closed" 2015 Chewing Gum Amy Episode: "Tolled Road"2016 NW Grace TV film Cold Feet Bridie Sellers Episode #6.8 Josh Policewoman Episode: "Cut & Dried"2017 Sick Note Theatre Nurse Episode: "Janina Kolkiewicz" Doctor Who Penny 2 episodes: "Extremis" and "The Pyramid at the End of the World"2018 Cuckoo Job Centre Manager Episode: "Lawyer of the Year" Black Earth Rising Alice's Secretary Episode: "The Forgiving Earth" 2020 Soulmates Carly Episode: "Watershed" 2021 Big Age Ṣadé Episode: "Pilot" 2020–2024 Alex Rider Jack Starbright 23 episodes 2023 Rain Dogs Gloria 8 episodes2026Waiting for the OutOfficer Stephens5 episodes
Live streaming theatre Year Title Role 2020 National Theatre Live: Three Sisters Abosede 2021 Bush Theatre: Lava'''' | South African woman |- |2025 |National Theatre Live: The Importance of being Earnest''Gwendolen Fairfax
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2017 Underwire Film Festival Best Actor Lascivious Grace (Short film) 2020Ian Charleson AwardsThree Sisters Black British Theatre Awards Best Female Actor in a Play The Offies Most Promising New Playwright Teleportation part of This is Black 2022 Best Performance Piece Lava Evening Standard Theatre Awards Best Actress Blues For An Alabama Sky 2024 Royal Television Society Programme Awards Leading Actor: Female Rain Dogs
References
External links
Scott Marshall profile - Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo twitter