Akai Osei (born 12 April 1999) is a British actor, dancer, presenter and musician, who is best known for winning the first series of Got to Dance in February 2010. It is reported that he was inspired by Michael Jackson, Diversity, Flawless and Chris Brown. Akai joined the acting scene shortly after winning Got to Dance. He appears in the film StreetDance 3D alongside Diversity, George Sampson and Flawless, and its sequel, StreetDance 2.[1]

Akai Osei
Born
Akai Milan Osei-Mansfield

(1999-04-12) 12 April 1999 (age 25)
Lambeth, London, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Actor, dancer, rapper, singer and presenter
Years active2010–present
FamilyJennifer Osei (mother)
Rico Mansfield (father)
Ashanti Osei-Mansfield (sister)

Osei also appeared in Boy Blue Entertainment's street dance hip hop show Pied Piper – A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution. Osei appeared in the music video for the N-Dubz song "We Dance On" in 2010, which was the main song on the soundtrack for the film StreetDance 3D. He also appeared in an advert for Ministry of Sound Street Dance 2010 CD.

Osei has joined the cast of Into the Hoods.[2] Osei appeared on Blue Peter in mid 2010 and also featured in the annual dance show "Streets Ahead" in London 2010, which featured many dance crews and schools, including Peridot. He is featured in the song by Wretch 32, Unorthodox, featuring Example. He is seen dancing on a rooftop.

In July 2011, Akai was a judge on a talent show on Disney Channel, called Shake It Up Dance Dance.[3] His most recent work was starring in CBBC's 4 O'Clock Club playing Josh's cousin, Nero. From Series 4 to Series 7, he stars as the show's main character as to previously being a series regular in the third series. He also made a guest appearance in Series 8

His character left in the fourth episode of Season 7, because his character was moved to America with his temporal guardian and his girlfriend but he returned as a guest appearance in Series 8 as well as appearing in the Flashbacks for Series 7 and 8 (2018–2020).

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Whats Cooking? Guest/Himself Season 1 Episode 61
2014–2015 Friday Download (Series 8) Himself Presenter (Season 8 + 9)
2014–2020 4 O'Clock Club Nero Johnson Series Regular (Series 3)
Main Role (Series 4 to 7)
Guest appearance (Series 8 Episode 9)
Guest Appearance (Flashbacks (2018–2020))
2014 4 O'Clock Files Nero Johnson Regular
2016 Horrible Histories: Gory Games (Series 4) Himself Contestant[4]
2017 Drunk History King Charles II Season 3 Episode 8

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 StreetDance 3D Dancing Kid in Shopping Mall
2011 Horrid Henry: The Movie Talent Show Contestant (uncredited)
2012 StreetDance 2 Junior
2013 All Stars Jaden (as Akai Osei-Mansfield)

Awards and nominations

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Year Nominated work Category Award Result Notes Ref.
2011 Honorary Award Young Achiever Award BEFFTA Won
2014 4 O'Clock Club Best Children's Performer BAFTA Nominated Role: Nero Johnson [5]

References

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  1. ^ "Streetdance 3D premieres in London". ITN. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "News: Akai joins Into the Hoods". londondance.com. 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  3. ^ Akai face of Disney Channel’s Shake It Up: Dance, Dance competition. allstreetdance.co.uk. 8 July 2011
  4. ^ "Celebrity Special, Series 3, HH: Gory Games Play Along - Credits - BBC - CBBC". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Nominations Announced: British Academy Children's Awards". www.bafta.org. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2017.