Joey Ansah was born in 1982 in Hammersmith, London, England, as the second child to his parents, Nicola and Kofi. His mother is from Plymouth, Devon, England, while his father is from Ghana, West Africa. Joey grew up in Streatham, South London, and spent the first 10 years of his life attending private schools, including Oakfield School and Dulwich College Prep.
During his early years, Joey developed a strong interest in acting and performance, participating in various stage performances. He also became fascinated with martial arts and action cinema, often watching films with his father, which became a source of inspiration for him. As he grew older, Joey's interest in martial arts and action intensified, and he began training in Tae Kwon Do, joining a local class for four years.
In his teenage years, Joey moved to Accra, Ghana, with his family, where he attended Ghana's top international school for almost five years. During this period, he immersed himself in African culture and developed a balanced understanding of his dual heritage. He continued to pursue his passion for acting and stage performance, joining the school's drama club.
Joey returned to England at the age of 15, moving to Plymouth with his mother and younger sister. He attended Devonport High School for Boys, where he completed his secondary education. During this time, he began training in Ninjutsu with military personnel and developed an interest in acrobatics and tumbling.
After completing his A-levels, Joey moved to Oxford, where he studied human biology at Oxford Brookes University for three years. During his university years, he continued to practice Ninjutsu and acrobatics, and also took up Capoeira. Joey began his professional work in show-business, getting experience in various areas, including extras and walk-on parts, modeling, and stunts.
Straight after graduating from university, Joey landed a major role in the award-winning UK indie film, Love Struck, and subsequently got an acting agent, marking the beginning of his full-time acting career. He has since worked consistently in a variety of TV and film projects, including notable roles in the TV show Spooks and the prime-time BBC docuseries Time Watch.
In 2006, Joey landed a major role in the upcoming UK action feature, Underground. His big Hollywood break came with the casting of the Bourne Ultimatum, where he plays 'Desh', a Blackbriar super assassin working for the CIA.
