Biography

O.C. Ukeje is a Nigerian actor and singer. He has enjoyed relative success in his home country in TV and film after cutting his teeth in theatre. In 2006, he aced a Box Office reality TV show for actors and began a full career with a merger of stage and screen.

Between 1999 and 2004, Ukeje worked on his music, writing and performing with acapella, rap and choral groups. He gradually shifted his focus to TV and film after the reality TV show and made his first film appearance in Izu Ojukwu's White Waters (2008) with acclaimed actors, Joke Silva and Rita Dominic. He was also cast on the BBC World Service Trust Nigeria TV series, Wetin Dey in 2007. He went on to win the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) for the Best Upcoming Actor (2008) and the City People's Award for Best New Act (2010).

Ukeje attended the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles in 2009 to study Acting for Film after which he returned home and was featured in Jeta Amata's Black November (2012), along with Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Sarah Wayne-Callies and Hakeem Kae-Kazim. He jumped back into theatre and became part of the repertory team that showcased 3 plays for the Nigeria House at the London Cultural Olympiad in 2012.

Later in 2012, he starred in the screen adaptation of Bola Agbaje's award winning play, and BFI sponsored Gone Too Far, alongside Malachi Kirby, and was directed by Destiny Ekaragha. It premiered at the 2013 London International Film Festival. Ukeje also featured in the screen adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun (2013) with Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni-Rose and John Boyega as lead cast and Biyi Bandele as director, which premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and also screened at the 2013 London Film Festival.

In 2015, he starred in the South African film, Ayanda, by renowned director Sarah Blecher which premiered at the 2015 LA Film Festival film; screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Market & London Film Festival and opened the 2015 Durban Film Festival.

Ukeje made the list of TIFF 2016 Rising Stars and shortly after, took a certificate course in Filmmaking at the Relativity School in LA before moving to Canada. He also joined the 2017 Berlinale Talents Programme and returned to Berlin in 2020 for the premiere of Matias Mariani's Cidade Passaro/Shine Your Eyes in which he starred.

Ukeje is a two time recipient of the Best Actor in a Drama Award at the inaugural (2012) and 2015 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs) amongst others. He was also a nominee in the 2013, 2016 and 2018 Best Actor category at the Africa Movie Academy Awards( AMAA). He is also the recipient of the 2013 Future Awards Africa Prize for Entertainment.

- IMDb mini biography by: OC Ukeje