Deborah Olayinka Ayorinde (born 13 August 1987) is a British-Nigerian[1] actress raised in the United States. She is known for her role in the Amazon Prime horror series Them (2021).[2]
Deborah Ayorinde | |
|---|---|
| Born | Deborah Olayinka Ayorinde (1987-08-13) 13 August 1987 (age 35) Enfield, London, England |
| Alma mater | Howard University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2010–present |
Ayorinde was born in London, England[3] to Nigerian parents.[4][5] She spent her childhood in London before relocating to San Jose, California when she was 8.[6]
In May 2009, she graduated with honors from Howard University's John H. Johnson School of Communications with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production. During her matriculation at Howard, she won the coveted Paul Robeson Best Actress award for her performance in a short film she wrote and directed. The film also won the award for Best Cinematography.[7]
Ayorinde's resume includes her work on Netflix's popular Marvel series Luke Cage, and as Simone (the “other woman”) in the American comedy film, Girls Trip. She starred opposite Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monáe in Harriet, a biopic of American abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman, and she also starred in a season of HBO's True Detective.
In 2019, it was announced that she had joined the cast of Amazon Prime's Them for which Ayorinde received rave reviews for her portrayal of the character, Livia "Lucky" Emory. She received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for her performance.
In the same year, it was also announced that she had been added to the cast of Fatherhood.[8] In June 2021, Fatherhood debuted at Number 1 on Netflix in both the United States and the United Kingdom.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | She Believes | Pearl | Short |
| 2015 | Bad Asses on the Bayou | Taryn | Video |
| 2016 | Barbershop: The Next Cut | Marquita | |
| Bad Dad Rehab | Regina | TV Movie | |
| 2017 | Where Is Kyra? | DMV Attendant | |
| The Wizard of Lies | Salon Receptionist | TV Movie | |
| Girls Trip | Simone | ||
| 2019 | Harriet | Rachel Ross | |
| 2020 | Always and Forever | Sommer | |
| 2021 | Fatherhood | Liz |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Meet the Browns | Chloe | Episode: "Meet the Consequences" |
| 2011 | Necessary Roughness | Rochelle | Episode: "Spinning Out" |
| 2012 | The Game | Jennifer | Episode: "Grand Opening, Grand Closing" |
| 2014 | Survivor's Remorse | Heather | Episode: "How to Build a Brand" |
| Constantine | Officer Sullivan | Episode: "Rage of Caliban" | |
| 2015 | Sleepy Hollow | Michelle | Episode: "Awakening" |
| Complications | Kate | Episode: "Relapse" | |
| 2016 | Game of Silence | Young Nurse Amy Reese | Episode: "Blood Brothers" & "Ghosts of Quitman" |
| Luke Cage | Candace Miller | Recurring Cast: Season 1 | |
| 2017 | The Affair | Jessa | Episode: "Episode #3.8" |
| 2019 | True Detective | Becca Hays | Recurring Cast: Season 3 |
| The Village | Dana | Recurring Cast | |
| 2021 | Them | Livia 'Lucky' Emory | Main Cast |
| Truth Be Told | Rose | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 |
Independent Spirit Awards | Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series | Them | Nominated | [10] |