Ncuti Gatwa

Mizero Ncuti Gatwa was born on October 15, 1992, in Nyarugenge, Kigali, Rwanda. His family later sought refuge in Scotland, settling first in Edinburgh and then Dunfermline, following the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Gatwa pursued his passion for acting, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013. Prior to his screen breakthrough, he honed his craft on stage at the Dundee Repertory Theatre, earning a commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards in 2014 for his performance as Mercutio in “Romeo and Juliet.”

Gatwa achieved widespread recognition for his role as Eric Effiong in the Netflix comedy-drama series “Sex Education,” which premiered in 2019. His portrayal of Eric garnered critical acclaim, distinguished by its avoidance of stereotypical representations of queer and Black characters. This role led to multiple accolades, including a BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor in Television in 2020 and three consecutive BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Male Comedy Performance from 2020 to 2022. During this period, Gatwa also faced personal challenges, including a period of homelessness before his success with “Sex Education.”

In 2022, Gatwa was announced as the new incarnation of the Doctor in the iconic British science fiction series “Doctor Who,” a historically significant casting as the first Black actor and the first actor born outside the United Kingdom to lead the series. His debut as the Fifteenth Doctor occurred in December 2023, receiving significant praise from critics for his energetic and charismatic performance. Concurrently, he expanded his filmography with a role as Artist Ken in Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film “Barbie,” further solidifying his presence in both television and film.