Jimmy Akingbola
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| Jimmy Akingbola | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 1978 (age 29–30) England |
| Years active | 1999 - present |
Jimmy Akingbola (born 1978 in Plaistow, Newham), is an English actor of Nigerian decent.
The youngest of four children (two brothers, one sister), he was born at Forest Gate Hospital. After his parents divorced (the older three children went with his father), Jimmy was in the care of his sick mother, and eventually due to her illness sent to Windermere children's home aged two. At age three he was fostered by the white Crow family, as the youngest of four children in Silvertown. The family later moved back to Plaistow, to the house formerly owned by Jimmy's foster mothers father.[1]
Akingbola foster brothers loved comedy films, and he enjoyed watching them react to the acting of comedy actors like Steve Martin. During school he loved playing in school Christmas plays, including a role at Junior school where he played Little Red Riding Hood.[1] On leaving school he then studied acting at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts between 1996 and 1999,[2] throughout which he ushered at Theatre Royal Stratford East.[1]
His first professional work was for Bill Alexander at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in The Nativity. The then developed his art in theatre, including in a production of Baby Doll,[1] and playing in The People Next Door by Scottish playwright Henry Adams at the Traverse Theatre, opposite Leslie Phillips in the 2003 Edinburgh Festival.[3] Akingbola considers his break in theatre playing Christopher in Blue/Orange, initially at the Sheffield Crucible and then touring,[4] opposite Roger Lloyd Pack in a production directed by Kathy Burke - a role for which he won best supporting actor at the Theatrical Management Association annual awards.[1] He later played in The Cut at the Donmar Warehouse, opposite Sir Ian McKellen.[5] Akingbola will play John Osbourne's anti-hero Jimmy Porter in a revival of Look Back in Anger at the Jermyn Street Theatre from 2nd to 26th July, 2008.[6]
He television roles started with Anansi in 2002, and in the black sitcom The Crouches. He has since played roles in Stupid!, The Bill, The Royal, Holby City and Doctors. Akingbola currently appears in Holby Blue as PC Neil Parker, the professional partner of Chloe Howman's character.[7]
Akingbola is a Liverpool F.C. supporter.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Theatre Voices - interview with Jimmy Akingbola, April 18, 2007
- ^ Jimmy Akingbola. Hamilton Hodell. Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ Festival 2003 - The People Next Door. Edinburgh Guide (August 2003). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ Blue / Orange. BBC Northamptonshire (2005-02-19). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ Charles Spencer reviews The Cut at the Donmar Warehouse. The Telegraph (2006-03-01). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ News. British Theatre Guide (2008-05-26). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ Holby Blue - Jimmy Akingbola. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
[edit] External links
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