Wikipedia

Zephani Idoko

Zephani Idoko is a Nigerian-American actress best known for her role as Sallay in Blumhouse and Amazon Studios' Nanny, (written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu) which won the top award (The Grand Jury Prize) at Sundance Film Festival. She's also known for her starring role as Abena in Horror film The Unsettling and for playing Stephanie on the Starz show Power book II: Ghost and Ashley on HBO Max's Gossip Girl[1]

Zephani Idoko
Born (1994-03-17) March 17, 1994 (age 32)
Lagos, Nigeria
OccupationActress
Years active2016–present

Personal life

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Zephani Idoko was born in Lagos, Nigeria to parents Deborah and John Idoko as the youngest of six siblings. After moving to the United States, she earned a BFA degree studying Acting under Diane Baker at the Academy Of Art in San Francisco, California. Idoko began working as an actor and model while still an undergraduate. She moved to New York City upon graduating.

Career

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Shortly after her graduation and move to New York City, She was cast in the starring role of Abena in the independent psychological horror film The Unsettling[2] which screened at international film festivals in Australia, The UK and The US in 2021 and 2022[3][4][5]l[6][7] before its release on February 10, 2023 in theaters and on Apple TV+, Prime Video and other streaming platforms. Idoko's more recent TV appearances include the recurring role of Stephanie in Starz show Power Book II: Ghost and her role in the 2nd season of HBO Max's Gossip Girl. In late 2025, the UK-set romantic comedy series Twelve Dates 'Til Christmas was released.[8] Idoko plays Sarah in 5 of the 6 episodes in this Limited series starring Mae Whitman.

In June 2021, it was announced that Idoko was cast in the supporting role of Sallay in Blumhouse and Amazon Studios' psychological Horror film, Nanny,[9] Which Premiered at Sundance Film Festival[10][11] 2022 and won the Grand Jury Prize[12] in the dramatic competition. Idoko has discussed the film and her career in a number of interviews, including her feature in Photobook Magazine.[13] and with OkayAfrica[14] Nanny screened in the Special Presentations category at TIFF in September 2022[15] and at several other festivals including BFI London Film Festival,[16][17] AFI FEST[18][19] and AFRIFF[20] in Lagos Nigeria, where Idoko was born. Nanny was released in movie theaters November 23, 2022,[21][22] followed by a Prime Video streaming release on December 16, 2022.[23]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Die Dopelganger Salon Receptionist Short Film
2017 Offsprung Make-up Artist Short film
2018 Can Collector Michelle Short film
2019 A Woman of No Importance Yosola Short Film. Formerly titled Ismat.

Screened at 2019 Columbia University Film Festival[24]

Premiered at Flickerfest 2022.[25]

Official selection at Short of the Week[26] in 2022

Released as Vimeo Staff Pick

2021 The Unsettling Abena Screened at festivals in Australia, the United Kingdom,

NYC and Chattanooga in 2021 and 2022.

General release February 10, 2023.

2022 Nanny Sallay Winner: Grand Jury Prize

at Sundance Film Festival 2022

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2017 Bad Henry Caroline Love Investigation Discovery film
2021 Power Book II: Ghost Stephanie 2 episodes
2022 Gossip Girl Ashley Season 2 episode 6
2025 Twelve Dates 'Til Chrismas Sarah 5 episodes

References

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  1. ↑ "Zephani Idoko Talks 'Nanny,' 'Gossip Girl,' and Making Horror Films - OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  2. ↑ "The Unsettling". MPI Media. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  3. ↑ "Movie mayhem is unleashed when A Night of Horror festival stalks you online". Time Out Sydney. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  4. ↑ "Cine-Excess 15: Screenings - Cine-Excess". www.cine-excess.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  5. ↑ "The Unsettling | The Unsettling - 2nd Look | NYC HORROR FILM FESTIVAL 2021". watch.eventive.org. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  6. ↑ "Features". Chattanooga Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  7. ↑ Muir, Nathaniel (2022-06-27). "'The Unsettling': More than another haunted house story". Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  8. ↑ www.imdb.com https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36260876/. Retrieved 2026-05-26. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (2021-04-13). "Stay Gold Features & Topic Studios Team On Horror Film 'Nanny' From Nikyatu Jusu". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  10. ↑ "The 10 Films We're Most Excited to See at Sundance". Vanity Fair. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  11. ↑ Sperling, Nicole (2021-12-09). "Sundance Film Festival Unveils 2022 Lineup That Reflects 'Age of Reckoning'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  12. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (2022-01-29). "Sundance: 'Nanny' and 'The Exiles' Take Top Prizes at 2022 Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  13. ↑ Seth, Kenisha (2021). "Zephani Idoko stars as Abena in "The Unsettling" - a psychological horror film". PhotoBook Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  14. ↑ "Zephani Idoko Talks 'Nanny,' 'Gossip Girl,' and Making Horror Films - OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  15. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-07-28). "Toronto Film Festival Expecting "Full Houses", Says CEO With Star Power World Premieres: Jennifer Lawrence's 'Causeway', Anya Taylor-Joy's 'The Menu', Jessica Chastain's 'The Good Nurse', Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell's 'Devotion' & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  16. ↑ Stottor, William (2022-10-08). "Nanny: Interview with Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan & Zephani Idoko". Loud And Clear Reviews. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  17. ↑ Bradbury, Sarah. "Nanny: On the red carpet with Anna Diop, Michelle Monaghan, Nikyatu Jusu and Zephani Idoko at London Film Festival 2022". The Upcoming. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  18. ↑ "AFI FEST 2022 | NANNY". AFI FEST. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  19. ↑ "AFI FEST 2022 | Photos". AFI FEST. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  20. ↑ "Opening Films". Afriff. Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  21. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2022-08-01). "Prime Video Dates Fall Movie Slate: Harry Styles' 'My Policeman', Lena Dunham's 'Catherine Called Birdy', Sylvester Stallone's 'Samaritan', 'Good Night Oppy' & More". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  22. ↑ Nanny, 2022-11-22, retrieved 2022-09-30
  23. ↑ "Nanny". press.amazonstudios.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  24. ↑ "Ismat". Columbia University Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  25. ↑ "Flickerfest | A Woman Of No Importance". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  26. ↑ "A Woman of No Importance by Gauri Adelkar | A Short Drama". Short of the Week. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
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