From Harborne to Hollywood: Sọpẹ Dìrísù

Sọpẹ Dìrísù definitely knows his cinema etiquette.

The 35-year-old star of Gangs of London, His House and My Father’s Shadow had put his phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and emerged from the cinema to a barrage of messages congratulating him on his invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Now our alumnus is eligible to take part in voting for the Oscars and was swift to start the work, attending his first Academy screening only days later.

‘I hadn’t received an email, or anything from official sources to confirm the news. And then I saw the actual announcement on the Academy website. I was lost for words. It’s an honour and a privilege I can’t fully describe.

‘It seems a lot larger than the dreams of a young boy from a working-class household, but I’m delighted to be realising them and to show others that your dreams aren’t so far away that they are unreachable.’

The induction into the Academy is perhaps the next step up from his membership of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), which he joined following his Lead Actor nomination to the 2020 BAFTAs for his role in the critically-acclaimed horror His House.

Sọpẹ started in acting when he joined Bedford Modern secondary school, using it as a way to socialise. He adds: ‘It became a space I really enjoyed,and I made really good friends so that as a group, we would all do the school play together every year.’

He also credits ‘wonderful teachers who were excellent encouragers of my talent and those around me,’ including supporting his audition to the National Youth Theatre (NYT). From the age of 15 to 22, he would spend his holidays participating in the NYT’s summer programme, following in the footsteps of stars like Daniel Craig, Daniel Day-Lewis, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet.

While he would go on to study Economics at Birmingham (and graduate with a 2:1), Sọpẹ was well aware of the excellent reputation of our Department of Drama and Theatre Arts (now Department of Creative Industries) and made sure to pursue his acting passion throughout his degree.

He later successfully auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages Programme, appearing on stage in Stratford-upon-Avon to star in Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

A return to the National Youth Theatre to join their REP Company programme led to Sọpẹ meeting his now-agent and his career blossomed. He would mix stage appearances in One Night in Miami and Coriolanus with Hollywood roles in The Huntsman: Winter’s War and television sci-fi series Humans.

His big breakthrough came in 2020, first as the lead in Sky’s action crime drama television series Gangs of London, followed by His House.

Throughout, he’s focused on demonstrating his range of talent. ‘It has always been important that I stretch myself. Any project that gives me the opportunity to display something different to what I’ve done before, I’m already interested,’he says.

In his lead role as undercover police officer Elliot in Gangs of London, he has displayed a physical side to his acting, with many long and tightly choreographed action sequences.

‘Using my body in my acting has always been important to me,’ he explains. ‘I played rugby at school, did judo and karate when I was younger and was a quarterback in American football while studying at Birmingham.

‘When I was at school, there was often a tug of war between my teachers for my time between rehearsing a play and rugby practice. Gangs of London felt like the time when the two were finally blending.’

For the 2025 drama My Father’s Shadow, which follows a family reunion during the 1993 Nigerian presidential election, Sọpẹ was able to film in the country of his parents and represent his heritage and culture with a performance that won him the Gotham Independent Film Award for Outstanding Lead Performance.

He adds: ‘The opportunity to work in Nigeria and spend time with my grandma and family was wonderful. I’m really proud of the film.

‘My job has opened up the doors of the world to travel and shoot in many wonderful places. I’ve been super, super blessed and I hope that continues.’

Sọpẹ advises current Birmingham students to maximise their opportunities and link up with societies. He says: ‘The University is a wonderful resource, so throw yourself into everything. I was in a performance every term; I went up to the Edinburgh Fringe in my first year.

‘Use the city as a resource as well. If you want to be a director, or producer, write to the people at the new studio in Digbeth and ask for experience as a runner.

‘I wouldn’t change my time at Birmingham for anything. I might look back and think I should have studied a different subject but then I wouldn’t have made the friends that I did. I’m still in touch with them to this day, which really means the world to me. I grew and changed as a person, for the better.’

The fourth and final season of Gangs of London will screen on Sky Atlantic in 2027.