# Gloria Obianyo
**Gloria Obianyo** (born 1995) is a British actress known for work across theater, film, and television. She won first prize at the 2022 Ian Charleson Awards for her performance as [Neoptolemus](https://www.edgepedia.org/neoptolemus) in [Kae Tempest](https://www.edgepedia.org/kae-tempest)'s *Paradise* at the National Theatre, and the award for Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play) at the UK Theatre Awards 2026 for playing Rosalind in [Ralph Fiennes](https://www.edgepedia.org/ralph-fiennes)'s production of *As You Like It* at Theatre Royal Bath[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/) • [2](https://uktheatre.org/winners-uk-theatre-awards-2026/). On screen she has appeared in *High Life*, *Dune*, *Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One*, and the Amazon series *Good Omens*, in which she plays the angel Uriel[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1995, Lewisham, London, England[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gloria-obianyo/) |
| Training | BA (Hons) Actor Musicianship, Rose Bruford College, graduated 2016[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/) |
| First professional role | Ensemble and 1st cover Mary in *Jesus Christ Superstar*, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, 15 July – 27 August 2016[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) |
| Ian Charleson Awards | First prize, 2022, for Neoptolemus in *Paradise* at the National Theatre[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/) |
| UK Theatre Award | Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play), 2026, for Rosalind in *As You Like It* at Theatre Royal Bath[2](https://uktheatre.org/winners-uk-theatre-awards-2026/) |
| Best-known screen roles | Uriel in *Good Omens* (2019–2023), Elektra in *High Life* (2018), a Female Fremen in *Dune* (2021), Mercy Woodcock in *Outlander*[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7950698/) |
| Representation | Roxane Vacca Management[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/) |
## Early life and training
Obianyo was born in 1995 in Lewisham, London[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gloria-obianyo/). In an interview with Jane McGowan she described growing up in [West London](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-london), attending The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Acton, and initially aiming to become a lawyer until watching *High School Musical* at about age 12 turned her toward performing; she joined a local theater school soon after[6](https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/api/amp/theatre-arts/londons-new-leading-lady/).
She won a scholarship to the Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, South-[East London](https://www.edgepedia.org/east-london), enrolling on its BA (Hons) Actor Musicianship course, which combines acting training with instrumental skills[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/) • [6](https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/api/amp/theatre-arts/londons-new-leading-lady/). Her student credits at Rose Bruford included *Urinetown*, *Hamlet*, *Attempts on her Life*, and *Orpheus Descending*[7](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/gloria-obianyo). Midway through her final year she was offered a place in *Jesus Christ Superstar* at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre; she took the role before formally completing her training, finishing the run on a Saturday and starting her next job, *The Grinning Man* at [Bristol Old Vic](https://www.edgepedia.org/bristol-old-vic), the following Monday[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [6](https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/api/amp/theatre-arts/londons-new-leading-lady/). She graduated in 2016[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/).
## Theatre career
**Musical theater.** Obianyo's early career was rooted in musicals. After *Jesus Christ Superstar* (2016) and *The Grinning Man* at Bristol Old Vic, in which she played Lady Trelaw, she appeared in Michael John LaChiusa's *The Wild Party* at The Other Palace in 2017[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [8](https://www.stagefaves.com/performers/gloria-obianyo/). In Conor McPherson's *Girl from the North Country*, with music and lyrics by [Bob Dylan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bob-dylan), she took over the role of Marianne Laine at the Gielgud Theatre from 10 December 2019 during the show's return West End run[8](https://www.stagefaves.com/performers/gloria-obianyo/). Reviewers singled out her singing; *The Times* described her voice as having "shades of Nina Simone"[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/).
**Classical and contemporary plays.** At the National Theatre she played Charmian opposite Ralph Fiennes and [Sophie Okonedo](https://www.edgepedia.org/sophie-okonedo) in Simon Godwin's *Antony and Cleopatra*, understudying Okonedo in the leading role[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [6](https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/api/amp/theatre-arts/londons-new-leading-lady/). In 2021 she appeared in *Paradise*, written by Kae Tempest and staged at the National Theatre, as Neoptolemus; the performance won her first prize at the 2022 Ian Charleson Awards, which recognize outstanding classical performances by actors under 35[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/). Her agent's profile describes the award as recognizing the best classical performance by an actor under 30[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/).
At the Almeida Theatre she played Cordelia in Yaël Farber's *King Lear* and led the world premiere of Dipo Baruwa-Etti's *The Clinic*, directed by Monique Touko, which ran from 3 September to 1 October[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/) • [3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/). Other stage credits include *A Christmas Carol* and *Fanny and Alexander* at the Old Vic, *Maryland* at the Royal Court, and *The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui* at the Donmar Warehouse[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [9](https://goodomens.fandom.com/wiki/Gloria_Obianyo).
**Rosalind and the UK Theatre Award.** In 2025 Obianyo played Rosalind in *As You Like It* at Theatre Royal Bath, directed by Ralph Fiennes as part of his season at the venue, running from 15 August to 6 September alongside [Harriet Walter](https://www.edgepedia.org/harriet-walter) as Jaques, Dylan Moran as Touchstone, and Charlie Rowe as Orlando[10](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/ralph-fiennes-as-you-like-it-with-harriet-walter-gloria-obianyo-and-dylan-moran-first-look_1691284/). Reviewers praised her performance: Kris Hallett wrote in WhatsOnStage that her "wit glitters" and that she delivered her lines "as though plucked fresh from the forge"[11](https://theweek.com/culture-life/theatre/as-you-like-it-ralph-fiennes-directs-shakespeare-comedy-with-depth). At the UK Theatre Awards 2026, announced at a ceremony at 8 Northumberland Avenue hosted by La Voix, she received the award for Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play) for the role[2](https://uktheatre.org/winners-uk-theatre-awards-2026/).
## Screen career
Obianyo's film debut came in [Claire Denis](https://www.edgepedia.org/claire-denis)'s science-fiction film *High Life* (2018), in which she played Elektra alongside [Robert Pattinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-pattinson) and [Juliette Binoche](https://www.edgepedia.org/juliette-binoche)[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gloria-obianyo/). She appeared as a Female Fremen in Denis Villeneuve's *Dune* (2021) and as an Osprey Agent in *Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One* (2023)[4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gloria-obianyo/).
On television she is best known as the angel Uriel in the [Amazon Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/amazon-prime) series *Good Omens*, appearing in the first two seasons from 2019 to 2023 and returning for the third series, which was released in May 2026[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [4](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gloria-obianyo/). Her other television credits include Mercy Woodcock in *Outlander* (2024–2026), Snee in *Andor* (2025), Angela in Netflix's *Eric* (2024), Ila in *The Road Trip* (2024), Ngozi Ude in the BBC's *Murder Is Easy* (2023), Joy Okoro in ITV's *A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story* (2025), and roles in *Riches*, *Feel Good*, and *Silent Witness*[3](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7950698/).
She is cast as Astrid in *Up to No Good*, an upcoming six-part [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) drama starring [Glenn Close](https://www.edgepedia.org/glenn-close) as Maud Oldcastle, based on the short-story collections of Swedish crime writer Helene Tursten and produced by Playground for Sony Pictures Television[1](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/).
## References
1. [Rose Bruford College alum Gloria Obianyo wins UK Theatre Award, Rose Bruford College](https://www.bruford.ac.uk/rose-bruford-college-alum-gloria-obianyo-wins-uk-theatre-award/)
2. [Winners announced at the UK Theatre Awards 2026 sponsored by Encore, UK Theatre](https://uktheatre.org/winners-uk-theatre-awards-2026/)
3. [Obianyo, Roxane Vacca Management](https://roxanevacca.co.uk/clients/obianyo/)
4. [Gloria Obianyo, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/gloria-obianyo/)
5. [Gloria Obianyo, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7950698/)
6. [West London's new leading lady, Essential Surrey](https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/api/amp/theatre-arts/londons-new-leading-lady/)
7. [Gloria Obianyo, Bristol Old Vic](https://bristololdvic.org.uk/profile/gloria-obianyo)
8. [Gloria Obianyo, Stage Faves](https://www.stagefaves.com/performers/gloria-obianyo/)
9. [Gloria Obianyo, Good Omens Wiki](https://goodomens.fandom.com/wiki/Gloria_Obianyo)
10. [Ralph Fiennes' As You Like It with Harriet Walter, Gloria Obianyo and Dylan Moran – first look, WhatsOnStage](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/ralph-fiennes-as-you-like-it-with-harriet-walter-gloria-obianyo-and-dylan-moran-first-look_1691284/)
11. [As You Like It: Ralph Fiennes directs Shakespeare comedy with 'depth', The Week](https://theweek.com/culture-life/theatre/as-you-like-it-ralph-fiennes-directs-shakespeare-comedy-with-depth)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stage practitioners and craft › Acting: theory, technique, and teachers › Acting overview*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 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