David Oyelowo Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

David Oyelowo was born on April 1, 1976. He is a British Nigerian producer and actor. He is popularly known for his role as Martin Luther King Jr. in the film ‘Selma.’ He also played the chess coach in the film ‘Queen of Katwe.’

Early life

David Oyelowo Oyetokunbo was born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford in England. He was born to Stephen who worked for the National Airline and his wife who worked for a railway company. When he was six years old, his family moved to Lagos in Nigeria. At the age of fourteen, his family moved back to London where they settled in Islington. He attended City and Islington College where he took theatre studies. He later joined the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art where he took an art foundation course. In 1998, he finished his three year training. He also attended the National Youth Theatre.

Career

Stage

In 1999, David Oyelowo began his career on stage. He was offered a season with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He first featured in ‘Oroonoko.’ In 2001, he appeared in the stage performance ‘This England: The histories’ and King Henry VI. In the year the performance won him the 2001 Ian Charleson Award for best performance by an actor under thirty in a classical play. In 2005, he appeared in ‘Prometheus Bound.’ In 2006, he made his directorial debut with the production of ‘The White Devil.’

TV

In 1998, David Oyelowo appeared in the films ‘Maisie Raine’ and ‘Brothers and Sisters’. In 2002, he got a role as Danny Hunter in the drama series ‘Spooks’. In the same year he appeared in the film ‘Tomorrow La Scala’. In 2005, he made a cameo appearance in ‘As Time Goes By’. The following year he appeared in the film ‘Born Equal’. He also appeared in the film ‘Shoot the Messenger’. He has also appeared in films such as ‘The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’, ‘The Passion’, ‘Mayo’ and ‘Sweet Nothing in My Ear’ among others. In 2009, he played a leading role in ‘Small Island’. In 2010, he appeared in the series ‘Blood and Oil’ as Keme Tobodo. In 2014, he starred in the film ‘Nightingale’. In 2012, he appeared in ‘Middle of Nowhere’. In the same year he also appeared in the film ‘The Paperboy’. In 2013, he starred in ‘The Butler’. In 2014, he worked with director Ava DuVernay in ‘Selma’. In 2015, he produced and starred in ‘Captive’.

He has also lent his voice to various productions. In 2007, he lent his voice in the autobiography ‘The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano.’ In the same year, he read for John le Carre’s ‘The Mission Song. Audio File’ magazine. In 2015, he portrayed James Bond in ‘Trigger Mortis.’

Awards and achievements

In 2014, David Oyelowo received the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actor for the film ‘Selma.’ He also received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for ‘Selma.’ In the same year, he was awarded the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a movie/ miniseries for his performance in ‘Nightingale.’

Personal life

David Oyelowo married actress Jessica Oyelowo with whom he has four children. They currently live in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. He is a devout Christian. He is presently forty one years old.