Judi Shekoni Explained

Judi Shekoni
Birth Name:Judith Iyabo Shekoni
Birth Place:Manchester, England
Occupation:Actress, television personality, businesswoman
Notable Works:Twilight, Heroes Reborn, Ice, Maleficent

Judith Iyabo Shekoni is an English actress, television personality and businesswoman.

Early life and education

Born to a Yoruba Nigerian father and a British mother of English and Spanish descent, Shekoni is from Gorton, Manchester.

Career

Shekoni began her television career with a breakout role as Marjorie "Precious" Hudson (née Hulton) in the BBC1 soap EastEnders. She then moved into film with roles including Garfield 2 for Fox, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as Renee and Ali G Indahouse.

Shekoni lived and studied in Los Angeles for 10 years and appeared on US television shows including NCIS, All of Us and Damages, Fat Friends and The King of Queens.

Whilst in Los Angeles she worked with Bill Condon in the film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2. She joined the cast as a lead in Heroes Reborn in 2015, the NBC reboot of the original show, where she played Joanne Collins opposite Zachary Levi.[1]

Relocating back to the UK in 2016, Shekoni appeared in the second season of the BBC1 drama Ordinary Lies written by Bafta winning writer Danny Brocklehurst, airing in November 2016.[2] She then filmed two seasons as the female lead opposite Donald Sutherland and Ray Winston for the American cable series Ice, directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Magnificent Seven) appearing as Lady Rah, the kingpin of LA Diamond Trade.[3]

Remaining in London, she starred as Shrike in for Disney, with Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfieffer.[4]

Shekoni joined the cast of the Apple TV series Foundation as She-Bends-Light in 2023. [5]

Business interests

Shekoni co-founded with British model Amanda Van Annan Extension Evolution, a company supplying hair extensions, and is also the founder of two other companies, Make It America and Actors Evolution.[6] [7] [8] She is the CEO of Global WPM, Atap Productions and is affiliated with the Helen Bamber Foundation.[9]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999The World Is Not EnoughGirl in casinouncredited
2000Spinning CandyflossMel
Maybe BabyEwan's posse
It Was an AccidentSarauncredited
2002Ali G IndahouseJacuzzi girl
2004Echoes of WarFatima
2005Private MomentsSerena
2006Garfield 2Tour guide
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeRenee
2010For Christ's SakeMia do'em
2012The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2Zafrina
2015Club Dancer[10]
2019Shrike[11]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998CasualtyMia CampbellEpisode: One from the Heart
2000Fat FriendsImogen
2001Murphy's LawReceptionist
2002The Hidden CityClaire
CasualtyNaomiEpisode: In the Heat of the Night
AttachmentsSueEpisode: Fuck Buddy
Time Gentlemen PleaseSister ElizaEpisode: This Vale of Beers
EastEndersMarjorie "Precious" Hudson (née Hulton)
2003The King of QueensMelanieEpisode: Nocturnal Omission
2005NCISNatalie VanceEpisode: Model Behavior
2006DamagesCandy
All of UsAmandaEpisode: Love Do Cost a Thing and Trojan Condo
2007Brothers & SistersHostessEpisode: Valentine's Day Massacre
2008When Women Rule the WorldIsland hostNever broadcast in America[12]
2015BackstromLady MahSeason 1, Episode 6: "Ancient, Chinese, Secret"
Heroes RebornJoanne[13]
2016Alisa ChambersSeason 7, Episode 21, "Head of the Snake"
IceLady Rah
2023FoundationShe-Bends-LightFive episodes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Exclusive: Twilight Star Joins Heroes Reborn. eonline.com. 10 June 2017. 2015-03-18.
  2. Web site: Episode 2, Series 2, Ordinary Lies - BBC One. BBC. 10 June 2017.
  3. Web site: Antoine Fuqua's Audience Drama 'Ice' Casts Judith Shekoni; 'Transparent' Adds Molly Bernard. Denise. Petski. 15 August 2016. deadline.com. 10 June 2017.
  4. Web site: 'Maleficent 2' Adds Judith Shekoni of 'Heroes Reborn' and 'Ice' (EXCLUSIVE). 8 June 2018.
  5. Web site: Judith Shekoni | Actress . .
  6. Web site: History of Extension Evolution. 5 September 2011.
  7. Web site: Make It America. 5 September 2011.
  8. Web site: Actors Evolution "Who we are" page . 5 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903070258/http://www.actorsevolution.com/who_we_are.htm . 3 September 2011 .
  9. Web site: Judith Shekoni. Speakers for Schools. 26 February 2020 . 18 November 2021.
  10. Web site: Movie Review: Club Dancer – Low brow effrontery . . 8 April 2016 . 30 March 2017.
  11. News: Clarke. Stewart. 'Maleficent 2' Adds Judith Shekoni of 'Heroes Reborn' and 'Ice' (EXCLUSIVE). June 8, 2018. Variety. June 11, 2018.
  12. Web site: Breaking News - FOX Gives Updates on "Lie to Me," Reality Projects - TheFutonCritic.com. www.thefutoncritic.com. 10 June 2017.
  13. Web site: Heroes Reborn . NBC.com . 2015-06-22 . 2015-06-26.