Nykiya Adams

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Nykiya Adams
Adams at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born2009/2010[1]
Years active2022–present

Nykiya Adams (born 2009/2010) is an English child actress. She made her film debut playing Bailey in Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age drama Bird (2024).

Early and personal life

She is from Basildon, Essex. She has an older sister called Tallulah Adams.[2][3]

Career

She made her screen debut as Bailey in Andrea Arnold's 2024 film Bird alongside Barry Keoghan.[4] Previously, she had only acted in a school production of Matilda. Arnold reworked her script to accommodate Adams once she was cast as Bailey.[5] She was cast following a meeting with the film's casting director Lucy Pardee at an open casting at her school.[1] She received praise from critics for her performance, described as "one of the year's best",[6] with a "screen presence" and "an authentic realism",[7] as well as "stunning".[8]

For her performance in Bird, she was nominated in the Young British or Irish Performer at the London Film Critics Circle Awards.[9] She was nominated for the 2024 British Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performance.[10] She was nominated for Best Women's Breakthrough Performance at the Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards.[11]

She also featured in the Fontaines D.C. music video for the song Bug in 2024.[12]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2024 Bird Bailey

References

  1. Ferreira, Sofia (7 December 2024). "Nykiya Adams is breaking through". Wonderland Magazine. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  2. Murray, Lana (18 November 2024). "Nykia Adams Is Ready to Fly". i-d.co. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  3. Wojnar, Zak (15 November 2024). "Bird Actor & Hollywood Newcomer Nykiya Adams Reflects On Landing Her Star-Making Role Opposite Barry Keoghan". Screen Rant. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  4. Zemler, Emily (22 November 2024). "They're young, but their acting is powerful: four fresh faces this awards season". LA Times. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  5. Chen, Nick (4 November 2024). "Nykiya Adams: The 12-year-old star of Andrea Arnold's new film Bird". Dazed Digital. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  6. O'Rourke •, Ciarán (4 November 2024). "Newcomer Nykiya Adams Gives One Of The Year's Best Performances In Andrea Arnold's Bird". Headstuff. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  7. Wilkinson, Amber (30 October 2024). "Bird review: Coming-of-age film races between gritty realism and magical fabulism". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  8. Witherspoon, Patrice (8 November 2024). "Bird Review: Newcomer Nykiya Adams Delivers A Stunning Performance In Disappointing Harrowing Drama". Screen Rant. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  9. Pulver, Andrew (19 December 2024). "'Anora' and 'The Brutalist' lead London Film Critics' Award nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  10. Ritman, Alex (7 December 2024). "BIFA Breakthrough Performers: Nykiya Adams, Susan Chardy, Ruaridh Mollica, Saura Lightfoot-Leon and Jason Patel on Their 'Absolutely Mad' Year". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. Neglia, Matt (January 7, 2025). "The 2024 Alliance Of Women Film Journalists (AWFJ) EDA Award Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  12. Jones, Damian (4 November 2024). "Fontaines D.C. share Andrea Arnold-directed video for 'Bug' starring Barry Keoghan, Franz Rogowski, Nykiya Adams and more". NME. Retrieved 8 February 2025.