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Last updated on the 8 August 2024 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: 20 March 1979, Hackney, London, England.
Freema Agyeman’s mother Azar is Iranian Kurdish and her father Osei is Ghanaian. They divorced when she was young and Agyeman grew up with her older sister Leila and younger brother Dominic.
Freema Agyeman attended Our Lady’s Convent RC High School, a Catholic school in Stamford Hill. During the summer of 1996, she attended the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington, where she developed her passion for acting. She went on to study performing arts and drama at Middlesex University, graduating in 20001. In 1998, she also took a theatrical course at Radford University in Virginia, USA, where she volunteered as a box-office assistant for student drama productions.
Freema Agyeman’s career began with small guest roles in TV series such as “Casualty,” “Mile High,” and “The Bill”. Her breakthrough came in 2007 when she was cast as Martha Jones, the Doctor’s companion, in the iconic BBC science fiction series “Doctor Who”. She reprised her role as Martha Jones in the spin-off series “Torchwood” and appeared in the BBC period miniseries “Little Dorrit” in 2008.
Agyeman continued to build her career with notable roles in various TV series. She played Crown Prosecutor Alesha Phillips in the ITV crime procedural “Law & Order: UK” from 2009 to 2012. She also starred as Amanita Caplan in the Netflix science fiction drama “Sense8” from 2015 to 2018. More recently, she portrayed Dr. Helen Sharpe in the NBC medical drama “New Amsterdam” from 2018 to 2023.
In addition to her television work, Freema Agyeman has appeared in films such as “North v South” (2015), “Eat Locals” (2017) and “The Matrix Resurrections” (2021).
Agyeman’s Iranian heritage is represented by a tattoo on her upper arm. It features a butterfly above the Persian word “raha,” which translates to “free.” She has been in a long-term relationship with actor Luke Roberts, famous for his role as Joseph Byrne in the BBC series “Holby City.”
Suggested viewing
Doctor Who (1963)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.6
“Doctor Who” is a science fiction television program that has been broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The program depicts the adventures of a time traveller known as the Doctor, who is an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor travels through time and space in his unique craft, the TARDIS, which is an acronym for Time and Relative Dimensions in Space. The Doctor is often joined by companions and together they combat foes, work to save civilisations, and help people in need.
Top cast: David Tennant, Freema Agyeman (S2-4), Gugu Mbatha-raw, Reggie Yates, Christina Cole, Amanda Lawrence, Angela Pleasence, K9.
Torchwood (2006)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.7
“Torchwood” is a science fiction television series that follows a covert team of operatives who defend Earth from alien threats and supernatural phenomena. Led by the charismatic and enigmatic Captain Jack Harkness, the team operates from a secret headquarters beneath Cardiff, Wales. The series explores themes of sexuality, mortality and the dark side of humanity, while also delivering thrilling action and thought-provoking storylines.
Top cast: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Kai Owen, Gareth David-Lloyd, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, Freema Agyeman (S2.E7-9).
Little Dorrit (2008)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 8.2
Set in 19th-century England, the story follows Amy Dorrit, a young woman born and raised in Marshalsea debtors’ prison, who cares for her imprisoned father and dreams of a life beyond the prison walls. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Arthur Clennam, a man haunted by his family’s dark past. Together, they navigate the complexities of class, wealth and societal expectations as they uncover a web of secrets that connects their families.
Top cast: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Tom Courtenay, Emma Person, Alun Armstrong, Freema Agyeman, Judy Parfitt, Maxine Peake, Andy Serkis, Eddie Marsan.
