Zephani Idoko (born 17 March 1994) is an actress best known for her starring role as Abena in Horror film The Unsettling and her supporting role as Sallay in Nanny, which won the top award (The Grand Jury Prize) at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival before being acquired by Blumhouse and Amazon Studios.[1] She also plays Stephanie on the Starz show Power book II: Ghost.
Zephani Idoko | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1994-03-17) March 17, 1994 (age 28) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Spouse | David Doss (m. 2019) |
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 studied Acting under Diane Baker at the Academy Of Art in San Francisco, California where she earned a BFA in 2017. 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.
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 which screened in Australia, the United Kingdom and New York City in late 2021 at A Night of Horror International Film Festival,[2][3] Cine-Excess[4] and New York City Horror Film festival.[5] It also screened at Chattanooga Film Festival[6][7] in 2022. Her most recent TV appearances are in the recurring role of Stephanie in Starz show Power Book II: Ghost and her role in the upcoming 2nd season of HBO Max's Gossip Girl reboot.
In June 2021, it was announced that Idoko was cast in the supporting role of Sallay in the 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. The rights to the film were then acquired by Blumhouse Productions and Amazon Studios. Idoko has since discussed the film and her role in a number of interviews, including her feature in Photobook Magazine.[12][13] Nanny screened in the Special Presentations category at TIFF in September 2022[14] and will be released in U.S movie theaters November 23, 2022,[15] [16] followed by a Prime Video streaming release on December 16, 2022.[17]
| 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[18] Premiered at Flickerfest 2022.[19] Released as Vimeo |
| 2021 | The Unsettling | Abena | Screened at festivals in Australia, the United Kingdom,
NYC and Chattanooga in 2021 and 2022. |
| 2022 | Nanny | Sallay | Winner: Grand Jury Prize
at Sundance Film Festival 2022 |
| 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- 2022 | Power Book II: Ghost | Stephanie | Recurring Costar |
| 2022 | Gossip Girl | Ashley | Season 2 |