In our profile series, Tell Us In 10, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions.
This week, we’ve got the talented – and very funny – Amaka Okafor, who’s currently playing Sofia in The Son at the Duke Of York’s Theatre alongside Amanda Abbington and John Light.
1. My route into theatre was…
Years of touring community theatre into schools, prisons and churches. Then gradually worked my way up from there.
2. My West End idol is…
The guy who sells the big issue by stage door at the Duke of York’s. He’s always in such good spirits and up for a chat. Perks me RIGHT up!
Jane (Amaka Okafor) in Peter Pan (Photo Steve Tanner)
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
Flatulant.
4. My favourite show present or past (that isn’t one I star in) is…
Kneehigh’s The Baccae, I saw it at Bristol Old Vic.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
THIS JOB!
6. The hardest part about my role is…
The audience start off hating my character Sofia in this show, but I have to stick to my guns, and play the truth of her. They come around later when they see different sides to her. But being OK with the audience hating you – that’s not easy.
John Light and Amaka Okafor in The Son. Photo by Marc Brenner.
7. If I didn’t work in theatre I would be…
A foster mum.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I’m a countryside person.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
When someone has made you ridiculously angry, walk away and count to 10 before responding. My Grandad told me that. It’s good.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
Do your physio exercises.
You can see The Son – the final play in Florian Zeller’s trilogy – at the Duke Of York’s Theatre until 2 November. The play follows Nicolas at the eye of a storm following his parents’ divorce and his father’s new family – you don’t have to have seen the other parts of the trilogy to enjoy this one.