Naomi Ackie

Naomi Ackie

Naomi Ackie (born 2 November 1992) is a British actress. She is known for her roles as Bonnie in the television series The End of the F***ing World (2019), Jannah in the Star Wars sequel trilogy films Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and Whitney Houston in the biographical film I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022).

Early Life and Education

Ackie was born in Walthamstow, London, England. Her mother is Ugandan and her father is Scottish. She attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, London, where she studied musical theatre.

Career

Ackie began her acting career in theatre, appearing in productions such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Tempest. She made her television debut in the BBC series Doctor Who in 2015. She had a recurring role in the Channel 4 series Chewing Gum (2015-2017), and starred in the E4 series The Aliens (2016).

Ackie's breakthrough role came in the Netflix series The End of the F***ing World (2019), in which she played the role of Bonnie, a troubled teenager who falls in love with a classmate. The series was a critical and commercial success, and Ackie's performance was praised for its authenticity and emotional depth.

In 2019, Ackie also appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, in which she played the role of Jannah, a former stormtrooper who joins the Resistance. The film was a box office success, grossing over $1 billion worldwide.

In 2022, Ackie starred in the biographical film I Wanna Dance with Somebody, in which she played the role of Whitney Houston. The film tells the story of Houston's rise to fame and her struggles with addiction. Ackie's performance was praised for its emotional depth and physicality.

Personal Life

Ackie is private about her personal life. She has never been married and does not have any children. She is a vegan and an advocate for animal rights.

Awards and Nominations

• 2019: BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for The End of the F***ing World
• 2020: Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
• 2023: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama for I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Filmography

• 2015: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (uncredited)
• 2016: The Aliens (television series)
• 2017: Cleaning Up (television series)
• 2018: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (uncredited)
• 2019: The End of the F***ing World (television series)
• 2019: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
• 2020: Education (film)
• 2021: The Harder They Fall
• 2022: I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Theatre

• 2012: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre)
• 2013: The Tempest (Almeida Theatre)
• 2014: The Aliens (Royal Court Theatre)