Michael Obiora

Biography

Michael Obiora was born in North-West London to Nigerian parents. After starting drama classes aged seven. He was soon encouraged to join an agency by his drama teacher. He then joined another drama group at nine years of age, and within a year, landed a part in the hit children's' school drama, 'Grange Hill'. Michael played 'Max Abassi' in the program for five years and is down as the youngest ever actor to have appeared on the show. Michael went on to appear in such programs as 'Doctors', 'The Bill' and 'Holby City', but it was his role in the stage play 'Exclude Me' that really set the ball rolling. He completed a successful 11-week run on stage at The Chelsea Theatre. Lead roles in the award winning play 'Fallout' at the Royal Court Theatre and 'Badnuff' at The Soho Theatre soon followed. Following this, Michael went on to appear in other popular television shows such as 'My Family', 'Judge John Deed' and 'Sea Of Souls'. In 2005, aged 18, Michael started a seven-month run in the award winning play, 'Elmina's Kitchen' written by Kwame Kwei-Armah, at the Garrick Theatre. Michael was short-listed as 'Best New Comer' for this performance. Before the West End run of 'Elmina's Kitchen' came to an end, Michael won the part of receptionist, 'Ben Trueman', in the BBC1 smash, 'Hotel Babylon'. It is for this role that Michael is most famous. The show ran for four seasons, regularly achieving figures of 6 million viewers per episode. It is one of the BBC's most successful exports and continues to be shown in over one hundred countries including, America, Africa, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Latin America, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Australia, Israel, Pay TV in the Middle East, India, Bulgaria, Thailand, Croatia, Bahrain, Poland and Hong Kong. As well appearing in ITV1's 'Afterlife,' E4's BAFTA winning 'Misfits' and giving a notable performance in 'The Weeping Angels' episode of BBC1's ever-popular 'Doctor Who' as 'DI Billy Shipton,' Michael is hugely recognizable for his portrayal of outspoken nurse 'Lloyd Asike' in BBC1's long running medical drama 'Casualty.' London boy Michael, is a sports and fitness enthusiast. He is a keen Arsenal fan, enjoys going to games at the Emirates and can often be seen going berserk in the stands! Michael's first novel Black Shoes, was published in 2009.