Bukky Bakray (born 2002) is a British actress. She is known for her debut role in the film Rocks (2019). At 18, she became the youngest BAFTA Rising Star Award recipient as well as one of the youngest Best Actress in a Leading Role nominees. She appeared on the 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
Early life and education Bakray was born around 2002Lizzie Edmonds, Love letters, Evening Standard, London, 19 January 2022, page 9. She was 19 on that date. in Hackney, east London to Christian Nigerian parents. She grew up on an estate in Lower Clapton, near where Rocks was filmed. She has three brothers and a sister who lives in South Africa. She attended Clapton Girls' Academy and Cardinal Pole Catholic School.
Bakray joined the RADA Youth Company and enrolled in the Originate Actor Training programme at Theatre Peckham.
Career Bakray was discovered at school when she was 15 by director Sarah Gavron, who cast Bakray in the titular role of her film Rocks. Bakray became the youngest EE Rising Star Award winner and one of the youngest nominees for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
In 2021, Bakray made her television debut as Bless in the BBC One series You Don't Know Me. She also wrote an essay for the collection Black Joy. This was followed in 2023 by roles as Kim in the Apple TV+ series Liaison and Dione in the Netflix horror film The Strays with Ashley Madekwe. Also in 2023, Bakray starred in Sleepova at the Bush Theatre.
Bakray has an upcoming role in the film Self-Charm directed by Ella Greenwood.
Acting credits +KeyDenotes works that have not yet been released
Film Year Title Role Notes 2019 Rocks Olushola "Rocks" Omotoso Debut role 2021 The Gospel According to Gail Mia Short film 2023 The Strays Abigial "Abby" / Dione Clark 2027 Children of Blood and Bone Binta Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2021 You Don't Know Me Blessing/Bless 2023 Liaison Kim
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2022 Living Newspaper Edition 4 Ensemble Royal Court Theatre, London 2023 Sleepova Funmi Bush Theatre, London
Bibliography Essay in Black Joy, edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire (2021)
Accolades Year Award Category Work Result Ref 2021 London Critics' Circle Film Awards British/Irish Actress of the Year Rocks Young British/Irish Performer British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Most Promising Newcomer British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Rising Star Award Herself 2023 The Stage Debut Awards Best Performer in a Play Sleepova
See also List of British actors
References
External links