Sope Dirisu (, ; born 1991) is a British actor. He made his film debut in 2016 with Sand Castle, Criminal, and The Huntsman: Winter's War. Since 2020, he has starred as Elliot Carter in the Sky Atlantic series Gangs of London, while in 2022, he starred as the titular character in the period drama film Mr. Malcolm's List.
Early life and education Dirisu was born in 1991 in London to Nigerian parents. His father studied history and his mother law before becoming preachers.
He was educated at Bedford Modern School, where he excelled at drama, and joined the National Youth Theatre in 2006.
He later studied Economics at the University of Birmingham. While studying there he played quarterback for the University of Birmingham Lions American Football team.
Career In 2012, Dirisu successfully auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages Programme. His first stage role was as Pericles in Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre. After the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dirisu returned to the National Youth Theatre where he trained in the REP company programme for eight months.
He has subsequently acted in a number of television series including The Mill, Utopia, Humans, The Casual Vacancy, Siblings, and Undercover.
Dirisu appeared in three 2016 films, Criminal, The Huntsman: Winter's War, and Sand Castle. In 2016, he also appeared in "Nosedive", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.
Dirisu received a Commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards for his 2017 performance as Coriolanus in Coriolanus at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He was nominated as Best Actor for the 2020 British Independent Film Awards for his role as Bol in the film His House.
In 2023, Dirisu played the role of Sean Donovan in the third season of the Apple TV series Slow Horses.
In 2025, Dirisu played the role of Wes in the Netflix series "Black Rabbit".
In the Full Cast audiobook recordings of Harry Potter, released by Audible, he voices the character of Sirius Black.
Dirisu will star alongside Nicole Beharie and John Douglas Thompson in the upcoming Netflix limited series adaptation All the Sinners Bleed, based on the S. A. Cosby novel of the same name.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2012 Lazarus Rising Pvt. Maurice (voice) Short film 2013 Circles The Boy (C) Short film2016 Criminal Fire Officer The Huntsman: Winter's War Tull The Trip James Short film The Dead Sea Emmanuel Short film Motherland Moussa Sidibé Short film2017 Sand Castle Sgt. Cole The Fight Said Short film A Battle in Waterloo Coleman Short film 2020 His House Bol 2021 Mothering Sunday DonaldSilent Night James Tides Tucker Also released as The Colony 2022 Mr. Malcolm's List Mr. Malcolm 2023 Chasing the Night Leon Short film2025 The Gorge Jasper "J.D" Drake My Father's Shadow Folarin Feature film TBA TBA Post-production
Television Year Title RoleNotes2014 Utopia Roy Episode #2.4 The Mill Peter 6 episodes 2015 The Casual Vacancy Young Doctor 3 episodes 2015–2018 Humans Fred 8 episodes2016 Black Mirror Man in Prison Episode: "Nosedive" Undercover Michael Antwi 4 episodes Siblings Zeff Episode: "Golden Aunt" 2017 The Halcyon Sonny Sullivan 8 episodes 2018 Next of Kin DS Stanley Hart / DS Elliot Hart 5 episodes 2019 State of the Union Giles Episode: "Plaster Cast" 2020–2022 His Dark Materials Sergi (voice) 2 episodes 2020–present Gangs of London Elliot Carter / Elliot Finch 24 episodes 2021 Foresight Kwesi Episode: "Digging"2023 Tabby McTat Tabby (voice) Television film Slow Horses Sean Donovan 6 episodes 2025 Black Rabbit Wes MiniseriesTBATitus CrownLimited series
Audiobooks Year Title Role Notes2026Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Full-Cast Audio Edition) Sirius BlackHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Full-Cast Audio Edition)Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Full-Cast Audio Edition)Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Full-Cast Audio Edition)
Stage From 6 October to 3 December 2016, Dirisu played Muhammad Ali in One Night in Miami by Kemp Powers, at Donmar Warehouse in London, alongside David Ajala as Jim Brown, Arinzé Kene as Sam Cooke, and Francois Battiste as Malcolm X.
Other theatre includes The Whipping Man, Tory Boyz, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Red Riding Hood, Our Days of Rage, Fallujah, and Pericles with the RSC.
Dirisu received a Commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards for his 2017 performance as Coriolanus in Coriolanus at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef British Independent Film Award2020 Best Performance by an Actor His House British Academy Film Awards 2021Rising Star Award Himself Critics' Choice Super Award2021Best Actor in a Horror MovieHis HouseGotham Independent Film Awards2025Best Lead PerformanceMy Father's Shadow
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