Following success on the small screen, British actor Chiké Okonkwo has landed what looks to be his breakout film role in a high-profile US period drama.

Surrey born and raised Okonkwo showed promise in acting from an early age and was picked as one of 12 actors from thousands of applicants to take part in a BBC Talent Scheme in 2001, leading to his first professional role in Holby City. After completing a Business Computing degree a few years later, Okonkwo moved into acting full time and went on to appear in UK television series such as Silent Witness, New Tricks and Paradox. Now the Brit of Nigerian descent will be seen alongside an all-star cast - including Armie Hammer and Colman Domingo - on the big screen in Birth of A Nation, a historical drama based on the true story of the 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner.