Ruth Negga

After working primarily in theatre, Ruth Negga made her screen debut in the Irish film Capital Letters, playing the lead role of Taiwo. She went on to play the lead role of Mary in Isolation.

After seeing Negga act, director Neil Jordan changed the script to Breakfast on Pluto so that she could appear in the movie. She has also starred in Colour Me Kubrick with John Malkovich, and the short films The Four Horsemen, 3-Minute 4-Play and Stars.

On television, Negga has appeared in Doctors, Criminal Justice, Love Is the Drug and Love/Hate. She also played the lead role of Doris in the BBC Three series Personal Affairs, alongside Laura Aikman, Annabel Scholey and Maimie McCoy. Negga also appeared as Dame Shirley Bassey in the BBC production Shirley in 2011, and won the IFTA Award for Best Actress (Television) for her performance.

Negga's theatre work includes roles in Duck, Titus Andronicus and Lay Me Down Softly. As of 2007 she began working with the Irish theatrical group Pan Pan Theatre. In 2010, she played Ophelia in the National Theatre's production of Hamlet.

In 2013, it was announced that Negga had been booked for a recurring role as Raina on the American TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Also in 2013, she appeared in Steve McQueen's Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave and in 2014 she appeared in Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is by My Side. In 2016, Negga was cast in the role of Tulip O'Hare in AMC fantasy drama series Preacher and she also portrayed Lady Taria in the fantasy feature Warcraft. She also drew worldwide plaudits for Jeff Nichols racial drama Loving, where she stars opposite Joel Edgerton. This Film led to an Oscar Nomination for Ruth, in the Actress in a lead role category. Following this success, Ruth went on to star in Passing (2022), opposite Tessa Thompson, This performance led to nominations for an IFTA, BAFTA and Golden Globe.

Presumed Innocent

• IFTA Nominee, Best Supporting Actress, Drama (2025)

Passing

• IFTA Nominee, Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Film (2022)
• Golden Globes Nominee, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (2022)
• BAFTA Awards Nominee, Best Supporting Actress (2022)

Loving

• IFTA Winner, Best Actress in a Lead Role - Film (2017)
• Golden Globes Nominee, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (2017)
• Academy Awards Nominee, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (2017)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

• IFTA Nominee, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Drama (2016)

Dark Souls II

• Behind the Voice Actors Awards Nominee, Best Female Lead Vocal Performance in a Video Game (2015)
• Behind the Voice Actors Awards Nominee, Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game (2015)

Secret State

• IFTA Nominee, Best Supporting Actress TV (2013)

Shirley

• IFTA Winner, Best Actress - Television (2012)
• RTS Television Nominee, Best Actor (Female) (2012)

Misfits

• IFTA Nominee, Best Supporting Actress – Television (2012)

Love/Hate

• IFTA Nominee, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Television (2011)

Breakfast on Pluto

• IFTA Nominee, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Film (2007)

Isolation

• IFTA Nominee, Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film (2007)

EFP Shooting Star

• Berlin International Film Festival, EFP Shooting Star Winner (2006)

Key Credits

• Presumed Innocent (2024)
• Good Grief (2023)
• Polystyrene: I am Cliche (2021)
• Passing (2021)
• Ad Astra (2019)
• Warcraft (2016)
• Preacher (2016-2019)
• Loving (2016)
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013-15)
• Noble (2014)
• Jimi: All Is by My Side (2013)
• 12 Years a Slave (2013)
• World War Z (2013)
• Love/Hate (2010-11)
• Shirley (2011)
• Jacob (2010)
• The Nativity (2010)
• Misfits (2010)
• National Theatre Live: Hamlet (2010)
• Personal Affairs (2009)
• Corduroy (2009)
• Breakfast on Pluto (2005)
• 3-Minute 4-Play (2005)
• Love Is the Drug (2004)
• Capital Letters (2004)