SOPHIE OKONEDO has joined the all-star cast of Sky original drama Brittania, it has been announced today.

The Bafta and Academy Award nominated actress will star in the third series of critically acclaimed drama created by brothers Jez and Tom Butterworth, and James Richardson.

The series, which is currently filming in the UK, is an epic genre-bending tale of clashing civilisations and religions set in a wold of mythic Celtic tribes, psychedelic druids and terrifying Romans, as a young girl tries to build a rebel alliance with a group of misfits.

Okonedo will star as “Hemple”, the wife of General Aulus, played by David Morrissey, who arrives in Britannia to find out why her husband has failed with Lokka’s mission to capture the chosen one, Cait.

Sophie Okonedo said: “I’m so glad to be plunged into the weird and wonderful world of Britannia. I was already a fan of the show and its writers Jez and Tom Butterworth, so I jumped for joy when they offered me the wonderful character of Hemple. Without giving too much away I’ll just say this woman has a huge appetite…”

Series three also sees the return of actors David Morrissey, Mackenzie Crook, Annabel Scholey, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, and Zoë Wanamaker.

James Richardson said: “Sophie is one of the UK’s greatest actors and we all feel very privileged to have her play our new and particularly malevolent force for series three. She is an actor with an enormous range and manages to make you laugh whilst being completely terrifying. A perfect fit for Britannia! We feel very fortunate to be able to continue making such an ambitious show about a time when everything changes.”

All episodes of series one and two of Britannia are available to watch on demand on Sky and NOW TV.