David Oyelowo

Having become the first black actor to play an English king in a major Shakespearean production as Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2001, David Oyelowo earned the prestigious Ian Charleson Award the same year. Graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) in 1998, and receiving a ‘Scholarship for Excellence’ from Nicholas Hytner, Oyelowo commenced his stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1999. His transition to screen brought significant early roles, including the BAFTA Award-winning British drama series ‘MI-5’ / ‘Spooks’ where he starred as MI5 officer Danny Hunter from 2002 to 2004. Oyelowo continued to garner critical acclaim, winning the Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor for ‘Small Island’ (2009).

Through his production company, Yoruba Saxon, founded with his wife Jessica Oyelowo, Oyelowo secured a first-look deal with Disney in 2021 and a subsequent first-look deal with Apple TV+ in 2023, creating value-based content. Further expanding his impact, Oyelowo established the David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship in association with The Geanco Foundation in 2015, supporting girls affected by terrorism in Nigeria. Most recently, he stars in and co-produces the highly anticipated series ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves’ (2023), showcasing his continued dedication to powerful narratives.