10 International Actors You Might Not Know Are Nigerians
Many can’t argue the fact that Nigerians are among the most talented people on the face of the earth. Scattered across the globe, they have proven adept in their various fields of endeavors, showing that despite the negative things that are often attributed to them, they are capable of doing good things too.
Hollywood has never lacked for black actors, and among some of these are Nigerians who are doing very well as they continue to distinguish themselves in the industry.
TalkGlitz.tv has compiled a list of some of these individuals you may not know are of Nigerian origin. Some will come as a surprise, others will not. One thing they all have in common is that they have made a name for themselves in Hollywood.
JOHN BOYEGA
If you are aStar Wars fan, the nameJohn Boyega will definitely ring a bell as he played the character of Finn, one of the friends of the protagonist, Rey (Daisy Ridley).
While most people know him as John Boyega, not everyone knows that this talented British star’s real name isJohn Adedayo Bamidele Adegboyega.
Born in the Peckham district of London on March 17, 1992, he is the son ofSamson Adegboyega (a Pentecostal minister) andAbigail Aboderin. His parents are both of Nigerian descent.
At the age of nine, John was noticed byTeresa Early, the artistic director ofTheatre Peckham (a learning theatre for young people living in South London).
John spent his time at the aforementioned theatre outside school hours. His father wanted him to become a minister like himself but was supportive of his theatrical venture.
The life of this young man changed when he was offered a role in the 2011 filmAttack the Block, about a group of juvenile delinquents who are forced to defend their neighborhood when aliens attack it.
John received critical praise for his portrayal of Moses, the leader of the gang of teens in the movie, and since then it has been a steady rise to the top in his movie career.
He got further recognition when he joinedStar Wars: The Force Awakens in April 2014 and critics praised him for his performance.
John reprised the role of Finn in the twoStar Wars sequels, something which established him a bonafide megastar.
While he was raised in the United Kingdom, John identifies with his Nigerian origin and wore anAgbada to the premiere ofStar Wars: Rise of Skywalker.
His involvement in the Black Lives Matter protest in the UK made him win over more fans, showing his selflessness as well.
In the 2020Powerlist, John was named in the Top Most Influential People in the UK of African/African-Caribbean descent.
CYNTHIA ERIVO
This amazing singer and actress was bornCynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo to Nigerian parents in Stockwell, South London.
Trained at theRoyal Academy of Dramatic Arts, she first appeared in roles on British television programs such asChewing Gum andThe Tunnel.
Cynthia made herBroadway debut in the 2015 Broadway revival of the Menier Chocolate Factory production ofThe Color Purple. Among other awards for her performance, she won the 2016Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
In 2018, she was part of the ensemble cast ofDrew Goddard’sBad Times at the El Royale, where she put her unrivaled vocal prowess on display in the role pf a down-on-her-luck singer looking for a big break.
Cynthia played the titular character inHarriet (2019), a biographical film about American abolitionistHarriet Tubman. Her performance earned her a nomination for theGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture.
With several roles in upcoming movie projects, this actress shows no signs of slowing down as she continues to take Hollywood by storm.
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR
Few have made the kind of impact that actorChiwetel Ejiofor has made in the international movie scene.
This Nigerian-born British actor and filmmaker is perhaps best known for bringing theMarvelantagonist Baron Mordo to life in the superhero movieDoctor Strange.
Born on July 10, 1977, Chiwetel’s foray into Hollywood began when he was just 19 years old. After enrolling in theNational Youth Theatre in 1995 and attending theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he was cast by acclaimed directorSteven Spielberg to play a supporting role inAmistad (1997).
He went on to feature in several other notable films, taking on the role ofSolomon Northup in12 Years a Slave (2013). His performance as the black slave earned him rave reviews from critics, and he received anAcademy Award and Golden Globe nominations, along with theBAFTA Award for Best Actor.
Other major projects he has starred in includeThe Martian (2015),Doctor Strange (2016),The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019),Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019), andThe Lion King (2019).
His most recent film isThe Old Guard (2020) in which he stars oppositeCharlize Theron.
DAVID OYELOWO
Known professionally asDavid Oyelowo, this English-American actor and producer is a Nigerian by birth whose middle name isOyetokunbo.
His highest-profile role to date was asMartin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 biographical drama filmSelma.
David was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England to Nigerian parents. His father is from Oyo State, Western Nigeria, while his mother is from Edo State, Southern Nigeria.
He grew up in South London until he was six when his family moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where his father worked for the national airline and his mother for a railway company. His family returned to London when he was fourteen.
David began his stage career in 1999 when he was offered a season with theRoyal Shakespeare Company, playing roles inBen Jonson’sVolpone and Shakespeare’sAntony and Cleopatra.
He is also known for playing MI5 officer Danny Hunter on the British drama seriesSpooks from 2002 to 2004.
David’s talent opened doors for him and he got further movie roles, including the lead role inA United Kingdom, the role of a chess coach inDisney’sQueen of Katwe (2016), and supporting roles in the filmsRise of the Planet of the Apes (2011),Lincoln (2012),Jack Reacher (2012), andThe Butler (2013).
He is anOmoba(or prince) of the kingdom ofAwe, Nigeria, a part of the Nigerian chieftaincy system.
SOPHIE OKONEDO
This pretty lady is a theatre and television actress, the daughter of Joan, a Jewish pilates teacher, and Henry Okonedo, a British Nigerian.
Sophie was raised in the Chalkhill Estate, part of the Wembley Park district in the London Borough of Brent.
She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has worked in a variety of media, including film, television, theatre, and audio drama.
Sophie was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress for her role inHotel Rwanda (2004), and nominated for a Golden Globe Award for a Lead Actress in a Miniseries for her work inTsunami: The Aftermath (2006).
Her other film roles includeAeon Flux (2005),Skin (2008),The Secret Life of Bees (2008), andChristopher Robin (2018).
ADEWALE AKINNUOYE-AGBAJE
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was born in Islington, London to Nigerian parents of Yoruba origin, who were students in the UK. When he was six weeks old, his parents gave him up to a white working-class family in Tilbury, Essex. His foster parents had at least ten African children (including his two sisters).
When he was eight years old, he was brought back to Nigeria but as he was unable to speak the Yoruba language and forbidden by his parents to speak English, he was returned to Tilbury shortly thereafter.
While in the university, Adewale became a model, and this led to his movie career.
His best-known acting roles have been as the convict Simon Adebisi in the 1990sHBO prison seriesOz and as Mr. Eko onABC’sLost.
Other films in which he has acted areThe Bourne Identity,The Mummy Returns,G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,Thor: The Dark World, andSuicide Squad.
He made his directorial debut in 2018 with the movieFarming, about his troubled childhood. It earned the actor rave reviews from critics.
NONSO ANOZIE
This gigantic star was born on November 17, 1978, in London, England. He is of Igbo descent.
Nonso graduated from theCentral School of Speech and Drama in 2002, and in the summer of the same year, he played the title role inWilliam Shakespeare’sKing Lear, winning theIan Charleson Award in 2004 for his performance inOthello.
He played small roles inGuy Ritchie’s filmRocknRolla and inJoe Wright’sAtonement.
Nonso was introduced to worldwide audiences in 2011 when he played a close friend ofJason Momoa’s Conan in the action-adventure filmConan the Barbarian That same year, he was cast as Xaro Xhaon Daxos in theHBO seriesGame of Thrones.
Since then, he has appeared in a series of major movies, which includeEnder’s Game (2013),Cinderella (2015),Guava Island (2019), andArtemis Fowl (2020).
HAKEEM KAE-KAZIM
Hakeem Kae-Kazeem is a British Nigerian actor best known for his work in theStarz TV seriesBlack Sails.
He was born in Lagos, Nigeria where he spent his early years before his family relocated to London, England. His interest in acting began in school plays and the National Youth Theatre, where he discovered he had a love for acting.
Hakeem’s role as Georges Rutaganda in the critically-acclaimed filmHotel Rwanda brought him to international attention. This made him relocate to Los Angeles as more movie roles came his way.
He went on to appear alongsideSean AstininSlipstream, andThe Front Line before starring in the successfulPirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End as Captain Jocard.
Kazeem also had a brief role in the blockbuster superhero movieX-Men Origins: Wolverine.
He has appeared in various television shows, includingLost,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, andCriminal Minds.
UZO ADUBA
Uzoamaka Nwanneka Aduba is a Nigerian-born American actress known for her role as Suzanne ‘Crazy Eyes’ Warren on theNetflix original seriesOrange Is The New Black (2013-2019).
She was born in Boston, Massachusetts to parents who are from Nigeria. She first garnered recognition for her acting in 2003 when her performance inTranslations of Xhosa earned her a nomination for aHelen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play.
Her other movie credits includeAlvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2016),Candy Jar (2018),Beats (2019), andReally Love (2020).
CARMEN EJOGO
Not many know thatCarmen Elizabeth Ejogo (born October 22, 1973) is the daughter of a Scottish mother, Elizabeth, and a Nigerian father, Charles Ejogo.
Carmen began her career as the host of theSaturday Disney morning show from 1993 to 1995.
She is best known for her roles in such films asThe Avengers (1998),Love’s Labour’s Lost (2000),Boycott (2001), andFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald (2018).
Carmen has also starred in theNBC crime drama seriesKidnapped (2006-2007), theABC thriller seriesZero Hour (2013), and the Netflix limited seriesSelf Made(2020).