Vivian Oparah

Vivian Oparah (born 30 December 1996) is a British actress. She played Tanya Adeola in the BBC's Doctor Who spin-off Class.

Vivian Oparah
Born (1996-12-30) 30 December 1996[1]
OccupationActress
Years active2016–present
Notable work
Class

Early life

Oparah was born on 30 December 1996.[1] She grew up in the London district of Tottenham.[2] In 2014, she studied media, English literature, product design and biology at The Latymer School, where she was doing her A-Levels. During her media coursework in 2014 she formed a band called NTLS along with other students. Their debut single and video Heart Skipped a Beat was published on YouTube. Oparah also attended the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.[1] Later she became a member of the National Youth Theatre,[3] where she did a two-week summer course.[4]

Career

In 2016 Oparah was cast in the BBC Three Doctor Who spin-off Class as Tanya Adeola. Oparah later said that Class was her first audition. When she auditioned she only knew that the series was linked to the Doctor Who universe, but she did not imagine that it was such a big production until she got the job and started filming. During the production of the series Oparah lived in Cardiff, in the same building as actress Sophie Hopkins.[5] In 2017 Oparah was mentioned at the Screen Nation Film and Television Awards as Emerging Talent.[6] In the same year she starred as the house slave Minnie in the theatre play An Octoroon at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond.[7][8] For her performance she received a nomination for the 2017 Off West End Theatre Awards as Best Female In A Play.[9][10] In 2018 Oparah reprised her role as Tanya in six audio plays by Big Finish.[11]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Teen Spirit Kelli [12]
2019 Pagans Viv Short film
2019 Signs Ade Short film

TV series
Year Title Role Notes
2016 Class Tanya Adeola Main role (8 episodes)
2017 The Rebel Amaya Series regular (5 episodes)[12]
2020 I May Destroy You Bisola Episode 1x07: Happy Animals
2020–present Enterprice Isha

Audio
Year Title Role Notes
2018ClassTanya Adeola3 episodes

Music videos
Year Title Artist Role Notes
2014 Heart Skipped A Beat NTLS Singer Oparah appears and sings in the music video

Theatre
Year Title Role Theatre Location
2017 An Octoroon[13] Minnie Orange Tree Theatre Richmond, United Kingdom
2018 Fanny & Alexander[14][15] Mej The Old Vic London, United Kingdom
2018 An Octoroon[16] Minnie Royal National Theatre (Dorfman) South Bank, London United Kingdom

Nominations

The Off West End Theatre Awards

  • 2017: Best Female In A Play for An Octoroon at the Orange Tree Theatre[9]
  • 2018: Supporting Female in a Play

References
  1. "Vivian Oparah". 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  2. Roth, Rachael (22 May 2017). "Stomping Grounds: Vivian Oparah of BBC America's 'Class' on "Everything Good and Bad About London"". Fodors. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. Gill, James (4 April 2016). "Who are the stars of new Doctor Who spin-off Class?". Radio Times. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. Radish, Christina (15 April 2017). "'Class' Star Vivian Oparah on the 'Doctor Who' Spinoff & Working with Peter Capaldi". Collider. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  5. "Interview: "We're part of something really cool" – Sophie Hopkins (BBC's Class/Dr. Who)". vulturehound.co.uk.
  6. "News. Susan Wokoma, Malachi Kirby, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Arnold Oceng & more nominated for the 12th Screen Nation Awards [Full list]". Scene TV. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  7. Birchenough, Tom (27 May 2017). "An Octoroon review - slavery reprised as melodrama in a vibrantly theatrical show". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  8. Ludmon, Mark (27 May 2017). "REVIEW: An Octoroon, Orange Tree Theatre". British Theatre. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  9. "The Offies". Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  10. "An Octoroon. Whats On. Orange Tree Theatre". Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  11. "Axed Doctor Who spin-off Class to return for audio series". Radio Times.
  12. "Vivian Oparah".
  13. Al-Hassan, Aliya (25 May 2017). "BWW Review: AN OCTOROON, Orange Tree Theatre". Broadway World. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. "Fanny & Alexander Cast. The Old Vic". Old Vic Theatre. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  15. "Fanny and Alexander at the Old Vic, London – review round-up". thestage.co.uk/. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  16. Snow, Georgia (21 February 2018). "Cast confirmed for Brian Friel's Translations at National Theatre". The Stage. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
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