Bukky Bakray (born 2002) is a British actress and writer. She is known for her debut role in the film ''

Rocks In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks form the Earth's ...

'' (2019). At 18, she became the youngest

BAFTA Rising Star Award The EE British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Rising Star Award, currently styled as the EE Rising Star Award for commercial reasons and previously known as the Orange Rising Star Award, is a film award that acknowledges new talents ...

recipient as well as one of the youngest

Best Actress in a Leading Role Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

nominees. She appeared on the 2021 ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

'' 30 Under 30 list.

Early life and education

Bakray was born around 2002 in Hackney,

east London East London is the part of London, England, east of the ancient City of London and north of the River Thames as it begins to widen. East London developed as London Docklands, London's docklands and the primary industrial centre. The expansion of ...

to Christian Nigerian parents. She grew up on an estate in

Lower Clapton Clapton is a district of east London, England, in the London Borough of Hackney. Clapton is divided into Upper Clapton, in the north, and Lower Clapton to the south. Clapton railway station lies north-east of Charing Cross. Geography and ori ...

, near where ''

'' 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 The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central Lond ...

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 Sarah Gavron (born 20 April 1970) is a British film director. She has directed four short films, and three feature films.Garcia, Maria. "Demanding To Be Heard". ''Film Journal International''. 118. Her first film was ''This Little Life'' (2003) ...

, 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 Best Actress in a Leading Role is a British Academy Film Awards, British Academy Film Award presented annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding leading performan ...

. In 2021, Bakray made her television debut as Bless in the

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...

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+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...

series ''

Liaison Liaison or Liaisons may refer to: General usage * Affair, an unfaithful sexual relationship * Collaboration * Co-operation * Liaison, an egg-based thickening used in cooking Arts and entertainment * Liaisons (''Desperate Housewives''), a 2007 ...

'' and Dione in the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

horror film '' The Strays'' with

Ashley Madekwe Ashley Madekwe (; born 6 December 1983) is a British actress. She is known for her roles as Bambi in the ITV2 series ''Secret Diary of a Call Girl'' (2008–2010), Ashley Davenport in the ABC drama ''Revenge'' (2011–2013), and Tituba in the ...

. Also in 2023, Bakray starred in ''Sleepova'' at the

Bush Theatre The Bush Theatre is located in the Passmore Edwards Public Library, Shepherd's Bush, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It was established in 1972 as a showcase for the work of new writers. Artistic Directors * Brian McDermott ...

. Bakray has an upcoming role in the film ''Self-Charm'' directed by Ella Greenwood.

Acting credits

Film

Television

Stage

Bibliography

*Essay in ''Black Joy'', edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff and Timi Sotire (2021)

Accolades

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bakray, Bukky Living people 2002 births Actresses from London BAFTA Rising Star Award winners Black British actresses British child actresses English people of Nigerian descent People from Lower Clapton Actors from the London Borough of Hackney People from Hackney, London