You’ve seen her face. Maybe it was on a dusty planet in a Star Wars film, or perhaps she was wearing that iconic white dress as Whitney Houston. Either way, Naomi Ackie is currently having a "moment" that has actually been about ten years in the making. If you're looking for a list of Naomi Ackie movies and TV shows, you aren't just looking at a resume; you’re looking at a masterclass in how to stay relevant in a brutal industry.
Most people think she just popped out of nowhere with the Whitney biopic. Honestly? Not even close. She’s been the "secret weapon" of British casting directors since 2015.
The Breakout: From Lady Macbeth to the Galaxy
Let’s talk about Lady Macbeth. No, not the Shakespeare one—the 2016 film starring Florence Pugh. While everyone was losing their minds over Pugh (rightfully so), Ackie was there playing Anna, a housemaid pushed to the absolute brink. It’s a quiet, devastating performance. It won her a British Independent Film Award, and basically told the world she could hold her own against anyone.
Then came the big one. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Playing Jannah was a massive deal. She was a former stormtrooper leading a rebellion on the back of space horses (Orbaks, if we're being nerdy). It’s the kind of role that usually traps an actor in "franchise land" forever. But Ackie is smarter than that. She didn't just stick to blockbusters. She went back to the gritty, weird stuff that makes British TV so good.
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The TV Roles You Probably Missed (But Shouldn't)
If you haven't seen The End of the F*ing World season 2, stop reading this and go watch it. Ackie plays Bonnie. Bonnie is... complicated. She’s an outsider, she’s obsessed, and she’s arguably one of the most terrifyingly human "villains" on Netflix. That role snagged her a BAFTA, which is basically the UK's way of saying, "Yeah, she's the real deal."
Then there's Master of None. In the third season, "Moments in Love," she played Alicia. It was a total pivot. No blasters, no revenge plots—just a raw, intimate look at a relationship falling apart. She even co-produced that season.
- Doctor Who (2015): A tiny role as Jen in "Face the Raven." It’s a classic "before they were famous" moment.
- Small Axe (2020): She appeared in the "Education" episode of Steve McQueen’s anthology. It’s essential viewing for anyone who cares about British history.
- The Bisexual (2018): A recurring role as Ruby that showed off her dry comedic timing.
The Whitney Houston Peak
Look, playing Whitney Houston in I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022) was a massive gamble. Biopics are tricky. If you're too perfect, it’s boring. If you’re not enough like them, the fans revolt. Ackie spent months training her voice and movement. Even though the vocals in the movie are mostly Whitney's (because, let's be real, nobody sounds like Whitney), Ackie’s lip-syncing was so precise it felt eerie.
The critics were mixed on the movie itself, but they were unanimous about her. She was Whitney. It solidified her as a leading lady who can carry a $45 million production on her shoulders.
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What’s Happening in 2025 and 2026?
This is where things get really interesting. If you think she’s reached her peak, you’re wrong.
Right now, in 2026, we’re seeing the fallout of her massive 2025 slate. Mickey 17—the Bong Joon-ho sci-fi flick—finally dropped after what felt like a decade of delays. Playing Nasha alongside Robert Pattinson? That’s "prestige actor" territory. She also headlined Blink Twice, Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut. If you saw it, you know she went through the physical and emotional ringer in that one.
The latest buzz? The Thursday Murder Club. Netflix is betting big on this adaptation of Richard Osman’s books. Ackie plays Donna de Freitas, the young police officer who has to deal with a bunch of retirees solving murders. It’s a total shift back to her British roots, and frankly, it’s refreshing to see her do something a bit more lighthearted after all the intense sci-fi and drama.
And don't ignore the rumors about DC Studios. There’s been heavy talk about her joining the Clayface movie directed by Mike Flanagan. If that lands, she’s officially conquered every major genre in Hollywood.
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Why She’s Different
A lot of actors have "ranges," but Ackie has a specific kind of groundedness. Even in Star Wars, she felt like a real person you might meet at a bus stop—if that bus stop was on a moon. She doesn't overact. She waits. She uses her eyes.
She's also one of the few actors who can jump from a $150 million Bong Joon-ho epic to a small, weird indie like Sorry, Baby without it feeling like a "career move." It just feels like she likes the scripts.
A Quick Recap of Her Best Work:
- Blink Twice (2024): A psychological thriller where she plays Frida. It’s intense.
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022): The definitive Whitney Houston biopic.
- The End of the Fing World (2019):* Her BAFTA-winning turn as Bonnie.
- Lady Macbeth (2016): The film that started it all.
If you’re trying to catch up on her filmography, start with The End of the F*ing World. It’s short, punchy, and shows exactly why she’s being cast in everything right now. Then, move to Lady Macbeth to see her early potential. By the time you get to Mickey 17, you’ll realize you’re watching someone who’s probably going to have an Oscar on her shelf by the end of the decade.
Keep an eye on the 2026 release of Shelter. It’s another project where she’s testing her limits, and if the early word is true, it might be her most physical role yet. Naomi Ackie isn't just a name on a list anymore; she's the benchmark.
To truly appreciate her range, watch Master of None season 3 immediately followed by Star Wars. The contrast is jarring in the best way possible. Check your local streaming listings for The Thursday Murder Club this month, as it's the perfect entry point for her newer, more mainstream work.