# DeObia Oparei
**DeObia Oparei** (also credited as Deobia Oparei or Dhobi Oparei) is a British actor and playwright born in 1971 in Hackney, London, best known for playing the Gunner in *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011), Rongo in *Dumbo* (2019), and Boastful Loki in the Marvel series *Loki* (2021).[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758) His screen career spans more than three decades, from a debut in *Alien³* (1992) to the independent feature *Jimpa* (2026), and runs alongside a theater career with the [Royal Shakespeare Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-shakespeare-company) and the [Royal National Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-national-theatre).[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/) • [3](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/deobia-oparei/141013/biografia/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Hackney, London, England, UK[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758) |
| Screen debut | Arthur in *Alien³* (1992), directed by David Fincher[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/) • [3](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/deobia-oparei/141013/biografia/) |
| Signature roles | Gunner in *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* (2011); Rongo in *Dumbo* (2019); Boastful Loki in *Loki* (2021)[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758) |
| Television | Areo Hotah in *Game of Thrones* (seasons 5 and 6); Mr. Effiong in *Sex Education*; Captain Vorak in *The Orville*[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/) • [1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758) |
| Theatre | Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal National Theatre; Royal Court playwright[3](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/deobia-oparei/141013/biografia/) • [4](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Deobia-Oparei/amzn1.dv.gti.772c7e6c-2068-43dc-9850-4b45c2cd27e1) |
| Filmmaking | Wrote, directed, and acted in the short film *G I A N T S* (2022)[5](https://filmfreeway.com/DeObiaOparei) |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in[5](https://filmfreeway.com/DeObiaOparei) |
## Early life and theater
Oparei was born to West African parents in London.[6](https://www.wienxtra.at/fileadmin/web/cinemagic/pdf_Unterrichtsmaterial/DUMBO_PH.pdf) In a podcast interview he described his mother as perceptive about his talent: she enrolled him in acting classes from about age six or seven, at Anna Scher's well-known London school, where many pupils later went into film.[7](https://pod.wave.co/podcast/kat-on-the-loose/actor-deobia-oparei) At about 13 a drama teacher pointed him to a youth theater across the street, which he attended almost every night until 16; with that company he toured plays in the Czech Republic and [Eastern Europe](https://www.edgepedia.org/eastern-europe) while still a teenager, encountering writers including Chekhov, Shakespeare, and [African playwrights](https://www.edgepedia.org/african-playwrights) such as [James Baldwin](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-baldwin).[7](https://pod.wave.co/podcast/kat-on-the-loose/actor-deobia-oparei) He left school at 16 to become an actor.[7](https://pod.wave.co/podcast/kat-on-the-loose/actor-deobia-oparei)
His stage work has been extensive. He worked for years in English theaters with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, took part in the international tour of *The Winter's Tale* with the Théâtre de [Complicité](https://www.edgepedia.org/complicite), and performed in Australia with the [Sydney Theatre Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/sydney-theatre-company) in *Angels in America* and *Six Degrees of Separation*.[3](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/deobia-oparei/141013/biografia/) His talent agency lists stage credits including *Angels in America*, *Gilgamesh*, the Royal Court's *Crazyblackmuthaf**kinself* and *Clubland*, and *Torilus and Cressida* and *Haroun and the Sea of Stories* at the National Theatre.[8](https://pattersontalentgroup.com/deobia-oparei/) He is described as a published [Royal Court Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-court-theatre) playwright.[4](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Deobia-Oparei/amzn1.dv.gti.772c7e6c-2068-43dc-9850-4b45c2cd27e1)
## Screen career
**Early film.** Oparei made his cinema debut in a small supporting role as Arthur in *Alien³* (1992).[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/) • [3](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/deobia-oparei/141013/biografia/) After playing the lead role in a stage production of John Guare's *Six Degrees of Separation*, he took the part of Le Chocolat in [Baz Luhrmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/baz-luhrmann)'s musical *Moulin Rouge!* (2001).[9](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-136054/) Through the 2000s he appeared in *The Four Feathers* (2002), *Thunderbirds* (2004) as Mullion, *Doom* (2005) as [Destroyer](https://www.edgepedia.org/destroyer), and *7 Seconds* (2005) as Spanky.[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/)
**Blockbusters and television.** In 2011 he played the Gunner in *Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides* and Thundarian in *Your Highness*, and joined *Game of Thrones* as Areo Hotah, a role he played again in seasons 5 and 6.[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758) • [2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/) His casting in the Dorne storyline in 2014 was noted as adding to the racial diversity of the show's cast, in keeping with [George R. R. Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-r-r-martin)'s description of Dorne as a multiracial region.[10](https://time.com/3040106/game-of-thrones-cast-keeps-faith/) In a 2015 interview with Vulture he discussed the region's gender dynamics and argued for more male nudity on the show, saying "the male body is a place of desire, too, so let's have some more equality there."[11](https://time.com/3912375/game-of-thrones-deobia-oparei-male-nudity/)
Later credits include Dikembe Umbutu in *Independence Day: Resurgence* (2016), Captain Vorak in *The Orville* and Loki Hayes in *Santa Clarita Diet* (both 2017), Rongo in [Tim Burton](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-burton)'s *Dumbo* and Mr. Effiong, Eric's father, in *Sex Education* (both 2019), and Brad in [Guy Ritchie](https://www.edgepedia.org/guy-ritchie)'s *Wrath of Man* (2021).[2](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/) • [1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758) In 2021 he played Boastful Loki, a variant of [Tom Hiddleston](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-hiddleston)'s character, in the Marvel and Disney+ series *Loki*.[8](https://pattersontalentgroup.com/deobia-oparei/) He also appeared as Dulin in the Russo Brothers' *The Gray Man* (2022).[8](https://pattersontalentgroup.com/deobia-oparei/)
## Filmmaking and recent work
Oparei has moved into writing and directing. His debut short film *G I A N T S* (2022), which he wrote, directed, and acted in, has received praise and awards internationally, according to his own promotional materials.[5](https://filmfreeway.com/DeObiaOparei) • [4](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Deobia-Oparei/amzn1.dv.gti.772c7e6c-2068-43dc-9850-4b45c2cd27e1) He operates through a company, Made by Giants (International) Ltd, based in [Manhattan Beach, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/manhattan-beach-california), and is based in Los Angeles.[5](https://filmfreeway.com/DeObiaOparei) In 2025 he launched a crowdfunding campaign for *Coffee & Cake*, a planned short film about Saul, a non-binary bipolar writer in free fall after a breakup, described as the first in a series of stories centering non-binary characters with a gender-diverse, multi-ethnic, LGBTQIA cast and crew.[12](https://www.gofundme.com/f/coffee-cake-a-short-film)
He stars as Stephen in Sophie Hyde's independent feature *Jimpa*, alongside John Lithgow and Olivia Colman; the film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival to a strong reception, according to his representation.[8](https://pattersontalentgroup.com/deobia-oparei/) Database listings date its release to February 6, 2026.[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758)
## References
1. [Deobia Oparei, FilmNoir App (TMDB data)](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/58758)
2. [Deobia Oparei : Filmografia, AdoroCinema](https://www.adorocinema.com/personalidades/personalidade-136054/filmografia/)
3. [Deobia Oparei biografia, ComingSoon.it](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/deobia-oparei/141013/biografia/)
4. [Deobia Oparei, Prime Video](https://www.primevideo.com/person/Deobia-Oparei/amzn1.dv.gti.772c7e6c-2068-43dc-9850-4b45c2cd27e1)
5. [DeObia Oparei, FilmFreeway](https://filmfreeway.com/DeObiaOparei)
6. [Dumbo production notes, The Walt Disney Company (via WienXtra)](https://www.wienxtra.at/fileadmin/web/cinemagic/pdf_Unterrichtsmaterial/DUMBO_PH.pdf)
7. [Actor Deobia Oparei, Kat on the Loose podcast](https://pod.wave.co/podcast/kat-on-the-loose/actor-deobia-oparei)
8. [DeObia Oparei, Patterson Talent Group](https://pattersontalentgroup.com/deobia-oparei/)
9. [Deobia Oparei, SensaCine.com.mx](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-136054/)
10. [Why the New 'Game of Thrones' Cast Is Keeping the Faith in Westeros, Time](https://time.com/3040106/game-of-thrones-cast-keeps-faith/)
11. [Here's Why This 'Game of Thrones' Actor Wants More Male Nudity on the Show, Time](https://time.com/3912375/game-of-thrones-deobia-oparei-male-nudity/)
12. [Help Fund - COFFEE & CAKE - a short film, GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/coffee-cake-a-short-film)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames N to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license