Rose Bruford College is celebrating alum and rising star Gloria Obianyo (Class of 2016), who has won Best Supporting Performance (in a Musical or Play) at the UK Theatre Awards 2026 for her portrayal of Rosalind in As You Like It, part of the Ralph Fiennes season at Theatre Royal Bath in 2025.

The award recognises Gloria’s performance in Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy, adding to a growing list of accolades for the actress, whose career spans acclaimed theatre productions, major feature films and internationally successful television series.

Gloria Obianyo, represented by Roxane Vacca Management.

From Bruford to the national stage

Gloria trained on Rose Bruford College’s BA (Hons) Actor Musicianship programme before graduating in 2016. She began her professional career in the same year, appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar before joining the cast of The Grinning Man at Bristol Old Vic.

Since graduating, Gloria has built an impressive body of work across stage and screen, performing at some of the UK’s leading theatres. Her theatre credits include Girl from the North Country at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End, A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic and Antony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre.

In 2021, she appeared in Paradise, written by Kae Tempest and staged at the National Theatre. Her performance as Neoptolemus earned her first prize at the 2022 Ian Charleson Awards, which recognise outstanding performances by actors under 35 in classical theatre. The recognition marked a significant milestone in her career.

Gloria has also performed in productions at the Almeida Theatre, including Yaël Farber’s King Lear, in which she played Cordelia, and The Clinic and Next Please: The Keyworker’s Cycle. Her more recent stage work includes the role of Rosalind in As You Like It, directed by Ralph Fiennes at Theatre Royal Bath.

An expanding career on screen

Alongside her theatre work, Gloria has established an extensive screen career, appearing in productions for major film studios and international streaming platforms.

Her film credits include High Life, alongside Robert Pattinson and Juliette Binoche, Dune and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. On television, she has appeared in Good Omens, playing Uriel, as well as Outlander, Eric, The Road Trip, Andor, the BBC adaptation of Murder Is Easy and ITV’s A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.

In 2026, Gloria returned to Good Omens for its third series, continuing her work across a range of genres and formats.

Gloria will also appear as Astrid in Up to No Good, an upcoming six-part Channel 4 drama starring acclaimed actor Glenn Close, alongside Penelope Wilton, Meera Syal and Bridgerton star Claudia Jessie. Based on the short story collections by Swedish crime writer Helene Tursten, the darkly comic drama follows Maud Oldcastle (Close), a woman with a murderous past who sets out to claim a new chapter in her life. Gloria joins an ensemble cast in the series, which is produced by Playground for Sony Pictures Television.

Share Your Story

Gloria’s UK Theatre Award is a proud moment for our community, recognising the achievements of a graduate whose work continues to reach audiences across theatre, film and television.

Are you a Rose Bruford alum with a story to tell? We’d love to hear what you’ve been up to since graduation. If you’d like to be featured in a future alumni story, get in touch with our Communications team at .