Ivy Omere

Ivy Omere was born in London, England to mechanical engineer Macdonald Omere and caterer Mary Omere (now Iyamu), both of whom immigrated to England from Nigeria in the 1960's -though they met in London. She is the first born of their three children. Ivy grew up with two younger brothers, Roy and Frankie. After what she describes as a classic Dickensian childhood, which included living through the English foster care system, resulting from her parents turbulent relationship, Ivy found her way to acting at the age of 14, first by way of a school play in the role of Helena in Shakespeare's A Midsummer night's Dream. After receiving her BA in English and German literature from Queen Mary & Westfield College at the University of London, Ivy trained at the renowned Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. She left with a distinction and began her career in a critically acclaimed role as Rosalind in As You Like It, with the English Shakespeare Company and was directed by the internationally acclaimed, multiple-award-winning director, Michael Bogdanov. Among other notable roles, Ivy performed in an extended run of The Three Musketeers, at the Young Vic and also in a critically acclaimed, extended run of Amen Corner, by James Baldwin, at the Tricycle Theatre. Ivy is considered by the US government as an "alien of extraordinary ability" and as a result, received an O1 Visa through which she gained access to the United States, followed by a Green Card for permanent residency. She is a member of AEA, British Equity and SAG-AFTRA. Ivy is also a lifetime member of the Actors Studio. She has written two short plays, 'Jenny' and 'He Told Me Everything I Ever Did'. Ivy has been directed at the Studio by Oscar winners Ellen Burstyn, Lee Grant and more recently by Estelle Parsons in 'My Story, My Voice', which is Ivy's first full-length play.