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Fisayo Akinade () is an English actor, best known for his roles as Dean Monroe in Cucumber and Banana on Channel 4 and Mr. Ajayi in the Netflix series Heartstopper. Akinade has also done work in theatre, notably portraying Reverend Hale in The Crucible at the National Theatre and Gielgud Theatre in London.
He wanted to be a gymnast growing up. However, after suffering injury, and the closure of the place where he practiced, Akinade began attending drop-in drama classes at the Contact Theatre, later joining the Contact Young Actors Company, and workshops at the Royal Exchange Theatre. He went on to train at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London.
His television breakthrough came in 2015, when he starred as Dean Monroe in Russell T Davies' drama Cucumber and its offshoots Banana and Tofu. In 2016, Akinade starred alongside Glenn Close, Gemma Arterton, and Paddy Considine in The Girl with All the Gifts.
He appeared in the 2019 feature film The Personal History of David Copperfield.
In 2020 he appeared in the National Theatre musical production, Barber Shop Chronicles, written by Inua Ellams. The show was presented live on stage and streamed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.
In 2021 he played Mercutio in the National Theatre production of Romeo and Juliet, made for television. It premiered on 4 April 2021 on Sky Arts in the UK.
In February 2022, Akinade starred in Alistair McDowall's play The Glow. The play was performed at Royal Court Theatre Downstairs. Akinade featured in the Netflix series Heartstopper, which was released in April 2022. In the series, he plays Nathan Ajayi. In November 2022, Akinade starred as Chevalier de Saint-Jacques in Starz drama Dangerous Liaisons, alongside Alice Englert, Nicholas Denton and Lesley Manville. Dangerous Liaisons was picked up for a second series.
In December 2025, Akinade appeared as Nurse Angel in Kate Winslet's directorial-debut film Goodbye June; the film aired on Netflix.
Akinade was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for young British actors in 2014 for his role as Silvius and William in the UK tour production of As You Like It . He went on to win third prize of the same award in 2016 for his role as The Dauphin in the Donmar Warehouse production of Saint Joan, losing out to Paapa Essiedu and Jessica Brown Findlay for the first and second prizes, respectively . In 2025, Akinade became one of the judges of the Ian Charleson Award .
Personal life
Akinade is openly gay. He cites Heartstopper as the kind of programme which would have helped him to come out of the closet much sooner. He also said the show has helped him become more joyful, bold, and brave about his own queerness.
Filmography
Film
2013 Lifesaver Ben Short film 2016 The Works Iago Short film The Girl with All the Gifts Private Kieran Gallagher 2018 The Isle Cailean Ferris 2019 The Personal History of David Copperfield Markham 2025 Goodbye June Nurse Angel
Television
2013 Fresh Meat Vlad Supporter 1 Series 3 Episode 8 2015 Cucumber Dean Monroe 7 episodes Banana Dean Monroe 6 episodes Ordinary Lies Ziggy 5 episodes The Vote Jonathan Clarke Television film 2016 A Midsummer Night's Dream Flute Television film 2017 In the Dark Theo Miniseries 2018 A Very English Scandal Clive Otunde Series 1 Episode 3 2019 Silent Witness Andrew Dewey Episodes: "To Brighton, To Brighton" (Parts 1&2) Martin's Close William Television film 2021 Romeo & Juliet Mercutio Television film produced by National Theatre at Home The Complaints Department Narrator 2 episodes 2022 Atlanta Khalil Episode: White Fashion 2022–present Heartstopper Nathan Ajayi 10 episodes 2022 Dangerous Liaisons Chevalier de Saint-Jacques 8 episodes 2025 Foundation Eely Karvis 3 episodes
Stage
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!Notes and references 2013 As You Like It Adam/Silvius/William Multiple venues on UK tour Nominated for an Ian Charleson Award 2015 The Vote Jonathan Clarke Donmar Warehouse 2015 Barbarians Company Young Vic UK revival of the trilogy of plays originally written by Barrie Keeffe in 1977 2016 The Tempest Caliban Sam Wanamaker Playhouse 2016 Three Migrants John Royal Court Theatre, London Written by Fausto Paravidino 2016 Pigs and Dogs Company Royal Court Theatre, London Written by Caryl Churchill 2016 Saint Joan The Dauphin Donmar Warehouse Third Prize in the Ian Charleson Award 2019 The Antipodes Adam Dorfman Theatre 2022 The Crucible Reverend Hale Olivier Theatre 2023 Gielgud Theatre West End transfer of the National Theatre production. 2024 Slave Play Gary Noël Coward Theatre Written by Jeremy O. Harris
Web
2015 Tofu Self Web series; 5 episodes
Video games
2019 Blood & Truth
Awards and nominations
2014 Ian Charleson Awards As You Like It 2016 Saint Joan
External links
Categories: Living People, 1987 Births, 20th-century English Lgbtq People, 21st-century English Male Actors, 21st-century English Lgbtq People, Alumni Of The Royal Central School Of Speech And Drama, Black British Lgbtq People, Black British Male Actors, English Gay Actors, English People Of Nigerian Descent, Lgbtq People From Manchester, Male Actors From Liverpool, Male Actors From Manchester, People From Fallowfield, People From Moss Side
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