<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Sophie Okonedo (born January 1, 1969, in London, England) is an Oscar-nominated English stage and film actress of Nigerian and Jewish-European descent. Okonedo may be remembered for her appearance in the film Æon Flux opposite Charlize Theron and her award-nominated performance as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda with Don Cheadle.

Okonedo was drawn to acting by an advertisement for a writer's workshop. She discovered she was better able to dramatically present her classmate's work than her own and was encouraged by her writing coach to pursue acting. She gained experience at the Royal Court Theater and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy. Okonedo won critical acclaim as Cressida in Trevor Nunn's production of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida at London's National Theater. She made her film debut in 1991, appearing in Young Soul Rebels and her television debut in the same year. She made guest appearances on television series but continued her career on the stage. In 1995, she appeared in her first notable American production, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.

Okonedo's most notable appearances include The Jackal starring Bruce Willis, Dirty Pretty Things, Alibi . . .