Rita Ora movies and TV shows span more than two decades, beginning with a small British film role in 2004 and expanding into major franchises like Fifty Shades, Pokémon, and Descendants. Her screen work now includes dramatic films, animated voice roles, and reality television judging on shows such as The Masked Singer.
Who Is Rita Ora?
Rita Sahatçiu Ora was born on November 26, 1990, in Pristina, Kosovo, to Albanian parents who relocated to London when she was an infant . She grew up in West London and trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, an institution known for producing British performers . While music remains her primary career, acting has become a significant parallel pursuit since her teenage years.
Rita Ora’s Early Film and Television Roles
Her first credited acting role came at age thirteen in the British drama series The Brief (2004), where she played Jaclyn Livermore . That same year, she appeared in the British film Spivs as Rosanna, a minor gangster comedy that marked her big-screen debut . A cameo in Fast & Furious 6 (2013) followed, credited as a Race Caller, though the role was uncredited in some listings .
The Fifty Shades Trilogy and Breakthrough
In December 2013, Universal Pictures confirmed Ora would play Mia Grey, the adopted younger sister of Christian Grey, in the film adaptation of E. L. James’s bestselling trilogy . She appeared in all three films: Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), and Fifty Shades Freed (2018) . Ora later told Billboard that the role “opened the door to a lot of movie things,” describing it as a “moment of cameo and a really good wake-up call” .
Expanding Into Major Film Franchises
Following Fifty Shades, Ora secured roles in several high-profile productions. She appeared in Southpaw (2015) as Maria Escobar alongside Jake Gyllenhaal . In Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), she played Dr. Ann Laurent, a scientist in the video game adaptation . She also starred as Dodge in Twist (2021), a modern retelling of Oliver Twist, and appeared in the fantasy drama Wonderwell (2023) as Yana .Quick Bio: Rita Ora
Rita Ora in the Descendants Franchise
Ora joined Disney’s Descendants universe in 2024 as the Queen of Hearts in Descendants: The Rise of Red . The character was described as a “withholding, tyrannical Queen, who rules over the kingdom of Wonderland with an iron fist” . According to her on-screen daughter Kylie Cantrall, Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera were initially in consideration for the role before Ora was cast . She reprises the role in the upcoming fifth film, Descendants: Wicked Wonderland .
Voice Acting and Animated Projects
Ora has built a parallel career in voice acting. She voiced Wandering Blade in the animated series Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022) . More recently, Deadline announced she would voice Hedvig, a Viking girl, in the animated adventure-comedy ViQueens, opposite Ella Purnell . Her other upcoming film work includes Tin Soldier (2025), an action thriller with Jamie Foxx and Robert De Niro, where she plays Mama Suki .
Television Judging and Reality Roles
Ora has been a fixture on singing competitions and reality shows. She served as a coach on The Voice UK in 2015, replacing Kylie Minogue, and later coached The Voice Australia from 2021 to 2023 . In 2023, Fox announced she would join the American version of The Masked Singer as a judge, and she remains on the panel for its fourteenth season . She also appeared as herself in a recurring role on the music drama Empire in 2015 .
Upcoming Rita Ora Movies and TV Shows
Several projects are in various stages of production. Tin Soldier (2025) is completed and features Ora in a supporting role . ViQueens is an animated feature with no confirmed release date . Too Much (2025) is a comedy-romance series for Netflix, while He Bled Neon (2026) and Voltron are listed as upcoming projects . These additions suggest her screen career continues to expand beyond music.
Conclusion
Rita Ora’s filmography reflects a deliberate transition from musician to versatile screen performer. She has moved from minor British productions to billion-dollar franchises, from live-action drama to animated voice work, and from cameo appearances to leading television roles. Her trajectory suggests she will remain a visible presence in both film and television for years to come.Frequently Asked Questions About Rita Ora’s Acting Career
What was Rita Ora’s first acting role?
Ora’s first credited screen role came in the British film Spivs (2004), where she played a character named Rosanna. She secured the part at just eleven years old, though the film was released when she was thirteen.
Is Rita Ora in the Fifty Shades movies?
Yes, Ora played Mia Grey, Christian Grey’s adopted younger sister, in all three films: Fifty Shades of Grey (2015), Fifty Shades Darker (2017), and Fifty Shades Freed (2018). Her role was notably small in the first film, with her character appearing in only a handful of scenes.
What character does Rita Ora play in Descendants: The Rise of Red?
Ora portrays the Queen of Hearts in the Disney+ film, released in July 2024. The character is described as a tyrannical ruler of Wonderland and the mother of Red, the film’s protagonist. Ora has expressed enthusiasm for playing villains and reprises the role in the upcoming Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.
Is Rita Ora a judge on The Masked Singer?
Yes, Ora joined the American version of The Masked Singer as a panelist in September 2023, replacing Nicole Scherzinger. She has continued on the judging panel for multiple seasons alongside Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, and Ken Jeong.
