Nigerian Star Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama Brings ‘The Progenitor’ to Life on Star Trek
Nigerian actress Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama joins the cast of the American sci-fi series Star Trek: Discovery, bringing fresh talent to the Paramount+ show. She appears as a key character called “The Progenitor” in the show’s fifth season, specifically in the tenth episode titled “Life, Itself.” Overflowing with pride and excitement, the Delta State native and model recently took to Instagram to announce her role, sharing her enthusiasm with her fans.
Iyamah-Idhalama, a biochemistry graduate, also reflected on her journey to landing the part. “Guess who and guess where…it’s yours truly on the set of @startrekonpplus as ‘The Progenitor’. Interesting fact: I auditioned for this show for a good minute. Finally got a cool role then,” she wrote on her post.
Well-known in the Nigerian film industry, Somkele gained significant recognition for her role as one of the Nigerian doctors who contracted Ebola in 93 Days, directed by Steve Gukas. Her portrayal in the biopic earned her notable accolades, including the ELOY Award for Best Actress of the Year, the AMVCA Trailblazer Award, and The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting.
Somkele is also celebrated for her role as Yemisi Disu in the romantic comedies The Wedding Party (2016), directed by Kemi Adetiba, and The Wedding Party 2 (2017), directed by Niyi Akinmolayan.