Jonathan Ajayi

Jonathan Ajai
Education	London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2019–present

Jonathan Ajayi is an English stage television and film actor from London.

Early life

From Chiswick, London, Ajayi is of Nigerian and Jamaican descent.[1] He was mentored by Royal Shakespeare Company actor Joseph Marcell, whose wife worked at his school. Ajayi attended ArtsEd and graduated in 2018 from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.[2]

Career

Ajayi made his theatre debut at the Young Vic in The Brothers Size and played Lieutenant Lekan Baako in 2020 in the BBC One television series Noughts + Crosses. He appeared in the Patty Jenkins film Wonder Woman 1984 and was included on the 2020 longlist for Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards.[2] He had a lead role in British romantic drama film The Drifters.[3] He was named by Screen International as one of their 2021 Stars of Tomorrow.[4]

In 2022, Ajayi was commended at the Ian Charleson Awards for his performance as Laertes in Hamlet at the Young Vic.[5] He had a recurring role as Wes Harper in the second series of British thriller series Vigil.[6] In 2024, he appeared in experimental production Talking People at the Bush Theatre in London.[7]

Ajayi has an upcoming role in the science-fiction series Alien: Earth.[8][9]

Partial filmography

Key

†	Denotes works that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2019	The Drifters	Koffee	Film
2020-2022	Noughts + Crosses	Lieutenant Lekan Baako	7 episodes
2020	Wonder Woman 1984	Black Gold Young Man	Feature film
2023	Vigil	Wes Harper	6 episodes
2025	Alien: Earth†	Ricky Winkler

References

1. "Jonathan Ajayi". Anthea Represents. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
2. Woode, David (24 March 2021). "Jonathan Ajayi on 'The Drifters', insecurities, and fame: 'I had to fight to be allowed to act'". inews. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
3. Le, Phuong (22 March 2021). "The Drifters review – grating post-Brexit romantic drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
4. "Stars of Tomorrow Jonathan Ajayi". Screen Daily. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
5. Snow, Georgia (28 March 2022). "Shortlist revealed for Ian Charleson Awards". The Stage. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
6. "Vigil season 2 cast - Meet the characters in BBC thriller". Radio Times. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
7. Ruggiano, Harriet (14 November 2024). "Review: Talking People: Volume 2, Bush Theatre". Everythingtheatre. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
8. Cordero, Rosy (September 3, 2024). "FX's 'Alien' Earthbound Series From Noah Hawley Drops Logline & Teaser". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
9. Otterson, Joe (Nov 29, 2023). "Noah Hawley's 'Alien' Series at FX Rounds Out Main Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 28 January 2025.

External links

• Jonathan Ajayi at IMDb
• Jonathan Ajayi at Spotlight