Kola Bokinni
{{Short description|British actor (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kola Bokinni
| honorific_suffix = Actor
| image = Kola Bokinni on March 20, 2023 in the Oval Office of the White House - P20230320AS-2576 (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1992|8|05}}
| birth_place = Peckham, London, England
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2015–present
| education = BRIT School
| notable_works = {{Plainlist|
| relatives = Yinka Bokinni (sister)
}}
Kola Bokinni (born 5 August 1992) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Isaac McAdoo, the captain of AFC Richmond, in the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso (2020–2023). He is also well known from Celebrity Bear Hunt (2025).
Early life
Bokinni's mother is Irish, and his father is Nigerian.{{Cite web |last1=Bokinni |first1=Kola |last2=Armstrong |first2=Meg |date=17 February 2023 |title=Kola Bokinni |url=https://www.euphoriazine.com/blog/2023/02/interviews-kola-bokinni/ |website=Euphoria}} He attended the BRIT School, initially on Saturdays before an opportunity opened up to attend the main school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwrmagazine.com/post/energy-family-and-good-times-in-conversation-with-kola-bokinni|date=13 August 2022|title=Energy, Family and Good Times – In Conversation with Kola Bokinni|first=Kyra|last=Latinwo|access-date=6 April 2023}} His first public performance was an original play, first performed at the Bussey in Peckham, before moving to the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square. Following good reviews for his performance he signed with his first agent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycastings.com/apple-tv-ted-lasso-actor-kola-bokinni-says-patience-is-key|website=nycastings.com|access-date=6 April 2023|title=Apple TV+ Ted Lasso Actor Kola Bokinni Says Patience Is Key|date=29 October 2021}}
Career
Bokinni played Lennard in a 2016 episode of Black Mirror entitled "Men Against Fire". He also had a recurring role as Leyton on the television series Top Boy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/comedy/ted-lasso-cast|website=Radio Times|access-date=6 April 2023|first=James|last=Hibbs|date=3 April 2023|title=Ted Lasso season 3 cast: Meet the stars of Apple TV+ comedy}}
From 2020 he played Isaac McAdoo, the AFC Richmond centre-back and vice-captain, and then captain on the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso with his character maturing during his portrayal from immature and a "bully" to a leadership role.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/ted-lasso-kola-bokinni-isaac-mcadoo-season-3|title='Ted Lasso' star Kola Bokinni joins GDNY: What comes after Season 3?|first=Michael|last=Stallone|date=14 March 2023|website=FOX 5 NY|access-date=6 April 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://toofab.com/2023/03/31/ted-lasso-kola-bokinni-on-rollercoaster-season-3-final-day-of-filming|website=toofab.com|date=31 March 2023|accessdate=6 April 2023|title=Ted Lasso's Kola Bokinni Talks 'Rollercoaster' Season 3, Recalls Final Day of Filming (Exclusive)}}
With members of the ensemble cast of Ted Lasso, he visited The White House and met President Biden and Vice-president Kamala Harris.{{Cite web|title=Ted Lasso's Kola Bokinni Wears Inherent During White House Visit To Discuss Mental Health|website=303Magazine|url=https://303magazine.com/2023/04/ted-lassos-kola-bokinni-wears-inherent-during-white-house-visit-to-discuss-mental-health/|access-date=6 April 2023|first=Lauren|last=Uppert|date=3 April 2023}} Bokinni has spoken about the teamwork and camaraderie on the set of Ted Lasso.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/im-a-part-of-something-special-ted-lasso-star-kola-bokinni-on-season-three/4171256/?amp=1|title='I'm A Part of Something Special': 'Ted Lasso' Star Kola Bokinni on Season Three|first=Sanjesh|last=Singh|date=22 March 2023|access-date=6 April 2023|website=NBC New York}}{{Cite magazine|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=6 April 2023|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-videos/brendan-hunt-toheeb-jimoh-and-cast-of-ted-lasso-advise-on-how-to-be-a-teammate-wwyd-1234708636|date=3 April 2023|title=Brendan Hunt, Toheeb Jimoh, and Cast of 'Ted Lasso' Advise on How to Be a Teammate WWYD}} He described having his Ted Lasso character turned into a playable character with his likeness in the video game FIFA as "something I don't think I'll ever be able to get over".{{Cite web|first=Beth|last=Bennett|url=https://essentialjournal.co.uk/a-greyhound-barks-kola-bokinni|title=A Greyhound Barks: Kola Bokinni|website=ssentialjournal|date=22 March 2023|access-date=6 April 2023}}
Personal life
Bokinni is a football fan himself, and is a fan of Arsenal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.one37pm.com/sports/kola-bokinni-ted-lasso-arsenal|website=One37pm.com|title=Kola Bokinni Talks Ted Lasso and Arsenal|first=Matt|last=Reed|date=10 December 2021|access-date=6 April 2023}} He typically plays football more as an attacker than his defence-playing character from Ted Lasso.{{Cite web|url=https://awardsradar.com/2022/02/11/interview-kola-bokinni-on-isaacs-trajectory-and-relationships-with-other-characters-on-ted-lasso|website=Awardsradar.com|access-date=6 April 2023|title=Interview: Kola Bokinni on Isaac's Trajectory and Relationships with Other Characters on 'Ted Lasso'|first=Abe|last=Friedtanzer|date=11 February 2022}} He is good friends with fellow actor Will Poulter,{{Cite web|url=https://www.photobookmagazine.com/features/kola-bokinni|website=Photobookmagazine.com|access-date=6 April 2023|date=3 August 2022|title=Kola Bokkini}} and his sister is broadcaster and DJ Yinka Bokinni.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B3HWqDuAiTa/|access-date=9 July 2023|date=2 October 2019|title=Kola Bokinni instagram, Nigerian independence with my sibling}}
Selected filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Not yet released}} |Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2016
| Lennard | Episode: "Men Against Fire" |
| 2019
| Top Boy | Leyton | Recurring character |
| 2020—2023
| Isaac | Recurring character |
| 2024
| Celebrity Race Across the World series 2 | Himself | |
| 2025
| Himself (contestant) |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Kola Bokinni}}
- {{IMDb name|6703520}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bokinni, Kola}}
Category:Black British male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:English male stage actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:English people of Irish descent
Category:Male actors from London
Category:Actors educated at the BRIT School