
Ariyon Bakare
In 1998, he became the first Black man to play a lead role in a BBC period drama, portraying Mehuru in the BAFTA-nominated miniseries A Respectable Trade. His performance was described by The Guardian as “powerful and understated… conveying dignity, intellect, and the quiet fury of a man surviving under unimaginable constraint.” Bakare’s portrayal marked a significant moment in British television history. He has since built a prolific career with major roles in Doctors, His Dark Materials, Carnival Row, Thirteen, Karen Pirie, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and Mr Loverman. In 2025, he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Mr Loverman.
Bakare has also directed for television, received development funding from the UK Film Council for his debut feature Kodak Cowboy, and founded the racial justice initiative iC4RE. He is a long-time ambassador for WaterAid and delivered a keynote speech at St James’s Palace in 2025 on global water access and social justice.
Biography from the Wikipedia article Ariyon Bakare. Licensed under CC-BY-SA. Full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For

Good Omens

Karen Pirie

A Respectable Trade

Carnival Row

Doctors

His Dark Materials

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Mr Loverman

New Blood

The Mosquito Coast

Thirteen
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