Zephani Idoko is a Nigerian-American actress best known for her starring role as Abena in Horror film The Unsettling and her supporting role as Sallay in Nikyatu Jusu's Nanny, which won the top award (The Grand Jury Prize) at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. She also plays Stephanie on the Starz show Power book II: Ghost and Ashley on HBO Max's Gossip Girl[1]
Zephani Idoko | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 17, 1994 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Spouse |
David Doss (m. 2019) |
Personal life edit
Zephani Idoko was born in Lagos, Nigeria to parents Deborah and John Idoko as the youngest of six siblings. After moving to the United States, she earned a BFA degree studying Acting under Diane Baker at the Academy Of Art in San Francisco, California. Idoko began working as an actor and model while still an undergraduate. She met her husband during her time in San Francisco and the two were married 4 years later in 2019, and now live in New York City.
Career edit
Shortly after her graduation and move to New York City, She was cast in the starring role of Abena in the independent psychological horror film The Unsettling[2] which screened at international film festivals in Australia, The UK and The US in 2021 and 2022[3] [4] [5]l[6][7] before its release on February 10 2023 in select theaters and on Apple TV+, Prime Video and other streaming platforms. Idoko's most recent TV appearances are in the recurring role of Stephanie in Starz show Power Book II: Ghost and her role in the 2nd season of HBO Max's Gossip Girl.
In June 2021, it was announced that Idoko was cast in the supporting role of Sallay in Blumhouse and Amazon Studios' psychological Horror film, Nanny,[8] Which Premiered at Sundance Film Festival[9][10] 2022 and won the Grand Jury Prize[11] in the dramatic competition. Idoko has discussed the film and her career in a number of interviews, including her feature in Photobook Magazine.[12] and with OkayAfrica[13] Nanny screened in the Special Presentations category at TIFF in September 2022[14] and at several other festivals including BFI London Film Festival,[15][16] AFI FEST[17][18] and AFRIFF[19] in Lagos Nigeria, where Idoko was born. Nanny was released in movie theaters November 23, 2022,[20][21] followed by a Prime Video streaming release on December 16, 2022.[22]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Die Dopelganger | Salon Receptionist | Short Film |
| 2017 | Offsprung | Make-up Artist | Short film |
| 2018 | Can Collector | Michelle | Short film |
| 2019 | A Woman of No Importance | Yosola | Short Film. Formerly titled Ismat.
Screened at 2019 Columbia University Film Festival[23] Premiered at Flickerfest 2022.[24] Official selection at Short of the Week[25] in 2022 Released as Vimeo |
| 2021 | The Unsettling | Abena | Screened at festivals in Australia, the United Kingdom,
NYC and Chattanooga in 2021 and 2022. General release February 10 2023. |
| 2022 | Nanny | Sallay | Winner: Grand Jury Prize
at Sundance Film Festival 2022 |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Bad Henry | Caroline Love | Investigation Discovery film |
| 2018 | Stalked by My Doctor: Patient's Revenge | Victoria | Lifetime TV movie |
| 2019 | Deadly Mile High Club | Penelope | Lifetime TV movie |
| 2021- 2023 | Power Book II: Ghost | Stephanie | Recurring Costar |
| 2022 | Gossip Girl | Ashley | Season 2 episode 6 |
References edit
- ^ "Zephani Idoko Talks 'Nanny,' 'Gossip Girl,' and Making Horror Films - OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "The Unsettling". MPI Media. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Movie mayhem is unleashed when A Night of Horror festival stalks you online". Time Out Sydney. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Cine-Excess 15: Screenings - Cine-Excess". www.cine-excess.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "The Unsettling | The Unsettling - 2nd Look | NYC HORROR FILM FESTIVAL 2021". watch.eventive.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "Features". Chattanooga Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Muir, Nathaniel (2022-06-27). "'The Unsettling': More than another haunted house story". Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (2021-04-13). "Stay Gold Features & Topic Studios Team On Horror Film 'Nanny' From Nikyatu Jusu". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "The 10 Films We're Most Excited to See at Sundance". Vanity Fair. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole (2021-12-09). "Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2022 Lineup That Reflects 'Age of Reckoning'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (2022-01-29). "Sundance: 'Nanny' and 'The Exiles' Take Top Prizes at 2022 Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- ^ Seth, Kenisha (2021). "Zephani Idoko stars as Abena in "The Unsettling" - a psychological horror film". PhotoBook Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
- ^ "Zephani Idoko Talks 'Nanny,' 'Gossip Girl,' and Making Horror Films - OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-07-28). "Toronto Film Festival Expecting "Full Houses", Says CEO With Star Power World Premieres: Jennifer Lawrence's 'Causeway', Anya Taylor-Joy's 'The Menu', Jessica Chastain's 'The Good Nurse', Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell's 'Devotion' & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Stottor, William (2022-10-08). "Nanny: Interview with Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan & Zephani Idoko". Loud And Clear Reviews. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ Bradbury, Sarah. "Nanny: On the red carpet with Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Nikyatu Jusu and Zephani Idoko at London Film Festival 2022". The Upcoming. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "AFI FEST 2022 | NANNY". AFI FEST. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "AFI FEST 2022 | Photos". AFI FEST. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ "Opening Films". Afriff. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-08-01). "Prime Video Dates Fall Movie Slate: Harry Styles' 'My Policeman', Lena Dunham's 'Catherine Called Birdy', Sylvester Stallone's 'Samaritan', 'Good Night Oppy' & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Nanny, 2022-11-22, retrieved 2022-09-30
- ^ "Nanny". press.amazonstudios.com. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ "Ismat". Columbia University Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "Flickerfest | A Woman Of No Importance". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ "A Woman of No Importance by Gauri Adelkar | A Short Drama". Short of the Week. Retrieved 2023-02-17.