O.C. Ukeje

O.C. Ukeje was born in Lagos state, Nigeria. The second child of a family of 3 children concentrated mainly on singing before beginning a career in acting from his first year at the University of Lagos, Nigeria with a lead role in a stage play. After winning the 2006 Amstel Malta Box Office reality TV show for actors, he began a full career with a merger of stage and screen. His first screen appearance, as directed by Izu Ojukwu was in White Waters (2008) with the acclaimed Joke Silva and Rita Dominic. 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). He was a member of cast of the TV series that was presented at the International Emmy World Television Festival, Wetin Dey (2007) produced by the BBC World Service Trust and played lead and supporting lead roles in films like Confusion Na Wa and The Awakening. He featured in acclaimed director, Jeta Amata's Black November (2012), along with Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Sarah Wayne-Callies, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Vivica Fox, Fred Amata and a host of others. OC was on the repertory team that showcased 3 stage plays for the Nigeria House at the London Cultural Olympiad (2012). In 2012, he played the second lead in the screen adaptation of Bola Agbaje's award winning play, Gone Too Far, sponsored by the British Film Institute and premieres at the 2013 London International Film Festival. He also featured in the screen adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun (2013) with Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Anika Noni-Rose as lead cast as directed by Biyi Bandele, which premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and screened at the London International film festival. OC also starred in Shirley Frimpong Manso's Love Or Something Like That, the high-rated TV series Gidi Up and Dowry. He played lead in the South African film Ayanda and The Mechanic (2015) by renowned director Sarah Blecher. The film screened at the Cannes film market, premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival, opened the Durban International Film Festival and screened at the London International Film Festival. OC is a two time recipient of the Best Actor in a Drama Award at the inaugural and 2015 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards; the 2013 Best Actor in a Lead Role Award at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards and was nominated in the Best Actor category at the Africa Movie Academy Awards( AMAA). Other awards include Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards(GIAMA), Nigerian Movie Awards (NMA), Best Of Nollywood Awards (BON) and the Future Awards Africa Prize in Entertainment Category. In his spare time he writes material for his music, works on radio jingles and collaborates with other musical artistes and producers.