David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo (pronounced – "oh-yellow-oh"), a classically trained stage actor who is working successfully and simultaneously in film, television and theater, has quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and received the "Scholarship for Excellence" from Nicholas Hytner in 1998.

Oyelowo worked on NINA, a biographical drama focused on late musician, Nina Simone (played by Zoe Saldana) and her relationship with her manager, Clifton Henderson (Oyelowo). He also starred in the upcoming thriller, DEFAULT. Directed by Simon Brand, the film follows an American news crew whose plane is hijacked by Somali pirates.

Oyelowo was seen in Steven Spielberg's Oscar nominated drama LINCOLN, with Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. The film received countless accolades including nominations for "Best Picture" at the most recent Oscars, Golden Globes and SAG Awards, in addition to many others. He also starred in the critically acclaimed independent drama, THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, which earned rave reviews at the 2012 Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals. Oyelowo received nominations for "Best Supporting Actor" at the 2013 NAACP Image Awards and Independent Spirit Awards for his work in the film. Last winter, he was also seen opposite Tom Cruise in JACK REACHER, a drama based on a book in Lee Child's popular crime series. The film tells the story of a homicide investigator who digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who has shot five random victims. He co-starred in Lee Daniels' THE PAPERBOY, opposite Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron. The film received a standing ovation following its premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. On television, he starred in the British made for television movie, COMPLICIT, which aired in the UK last winter.

Additional film credits include George Lucas' produced bio-pic, RED TAILS, which won "Best Motion Picture" at the 2013 NAACP Image Awards, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, alongside James Franco and Frieda Pinto, the Academy Award nominated drama THE HELP, 96 MINUTES, which premiered at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, Kevin MacDonald's THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND opposite Forest Whitaker and James MacAvoy, WHO DO YOU LOVE, in which he played the iconic Muddy Waters, A SOUND OF THUNDER for Warner Bros, DERAILED for Miramax, THE BEST MAN for Redbus, and his most challenging screen role to date, the acclaimed BBC2 film SHOOT THE MESSENGER.

Oyelowo first impressed audiences on the stage when he starred in THE SUPPLIANTS at the Gate Theatre playing King Palasgus, for which he received the Ian Charleson award commendation. Following this he played the title role of HENRY VI, becoming the first black actor to play an English king for the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company). The role won him The Ian Charleson Award and an Evening Standard award nomination. Other theatre credits include an acclaimed performance in Richard Bean's THE GOD BOTHERERS at the Bush Theatre and the title role in Aeschylus' PROMETHEUS BOUND, which was off-Broadway for which Oyelowo received rave reviews.

Beyond theatre, Oyelowo starred in the BAFTA award winning series SPOOKS/MI:5 playing Danny Hunter. MI:5 also aired in the US on BBC America. Additionally, he won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor and was also nominated for a BAFTA for the same role for his work on SMALL ISLAND. Oyelowo also starred in the BBC1 original television movie BORN EQUAL opposite Colin Firth. As well as ABC's 2008 production of A RAISIN IN THE SUN alongside Sanaa Lathan and Sean Combs.

Oyelowo made his US debut in two HBO productions. First starring in the Kenneth Branagh directed AS YOU LIKE IT in which he played Orlando opposite Bryce Dallas Howard, which aired in August 2006. In October of the same year he was again seen on HBO as the lead in the mini-series FIVE DAYS, for which he won the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his performance. In 2008, Oyelowo starred in the acclaimed adaptation of the Alexander McCall Smith novel THE NO.1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY directed by the late Anthony Minghella.

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