Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya (born 24 February 1989)[1] is a British actor and writer.[2] Kaluuya began his career as a teenager in improvisational theatre.[3] He subsequently appeared in the first two seasons of the British television series Skins, in which he co-wrote some of the episodes.[4] Playing the lead role in Sucker Punch at the Royal Court Theatre in London, Kaluuya was particularly praised for his performance and he won both the Evening Standard Award and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer.[5]

Daniel Kaluuya
Kaluuya at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1989-02-24) 24 February 1989
London, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation
  • Actor
  • writer
Years active2006–present
AwardsFull list

He played Michael "Tealeaf" Fry in the BBC dark comedy series Psychoville and Michael "Mac" Armstrong in the BBC Three horror drama series The Fades.[6] He gained further acclaim for his performance as Bingham "Bing" Madsen in the Black Mirror episode "Fifteen Million Merits". Kaluuya appeared as Agent Colin Tucker in the 2011 film Johnny English Reborn and portrayed Black Death in the 2013 film Kick-Ass 2. In 2015, he had a supporting role in Denis Villeneuve's film Sicario. In 2017 Kaluuya starred in Get Out which garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. In 2018, he portrayed W'Kabi in Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster film Black Panther and appeared in Steve McQueen's heist film Widows.[7] He received acclaim for his portrayal of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in Judas and the Black Messiah.

Early life

Kaluuya was born in London, to Ugandan parents. His mother, Damalie,[8][9] raised him on a council estate in Kentish Town, along with an older sister. His father lived in Uganda, and rarely visited due to UK visa regulations.[10] Kaluuya attended St Aloysius College, London.[9] He lives in West London.[11] Kaluuya is an ardent supporter of Arsenal F.C., to the extent of referring to Arsenal's North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur F.C., as the "team who must not be named" and the "Voldemort of the League".[12]

Career

Kaluuya wrote his first play at the age of nine, after which he began performing improvisational theatre.[3] He began acting as a child at his local Anna Scher Theatre School and WAC Arts.[13] His early roles included Reece in the BBC's controversial drama Shoot the Messenger.[3] Kaluuya then joined the original cast of Skins as Posh Kenneth; he was also a contributing writer on the first two seasons of the series, as well as the head writer of the episodes titled "Jal" and "Thomas".[14]

After Skins, Kaluuya appeared as a guest star in many popular television series such as Silent Witness, the Doctor Who special "Planet of the Dead", and Lewis. He has also appeared in the sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look twice and as fan favourite character "Parking Pataweyo" in the sketch show Harry and Paul. Kaluuya also voiced a character in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Sneakiepeeks.[15] In 2009, he became a regular cast member in the ITV comedy FM. At the end of 2009, the Screen International Magazine picked Kaluuya out in their annual report as a UK Star of Tomorrow.[16]

In 2010, Kaluuya played the lead role in Roy Williams' Sucker Punch at the Royal Court Theatre in London; Kaluuya won rave reviews for his performance and he won both the Evening Standard Award and Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer.[17] From 2009 to 2011, he portrayed Michael "Tea Leaf" Fry in the dark BBC comedy Psychoville.[18]

Between 2011 and 2013, Kaluuya appeared in several short films, most notably in Daniel Mulloy's Baby, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival,[19] and went on to win the Best Short Film Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival, as well as the Best Short Film Award at the British Independent Film Awards.[17] In 2011, he appeared in the sequel to the 2003 film Johnny English, titled Johnny English Reborn, as Agent Tucker.[17] Also in 2011, he played the role of Mac Armstrong in BBC3's supernatural drama series The Fades.[17] In 2013, he appeared in the superhero comedy film Kick Ass 2.[20] In 2015, he portrayed an FBI Agent in Denis Villeneuve's thriller film Sicario.[21][22]

Kaluuya played one of the lead characters opposite Jessica Brown Findlay in "Fifteen Million Merits", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror, for which he received positive reviews from critics.[23] The episode originally premiered on Channel 4 in 2011, but gained popularity after it was subsequently released on Netflix in the United States.[24] It was his performance in Black Mirror that attracted the attention of Jordan Peele, who later cast him in Get Out, which proved to be his breakthrough role.[25][26] Kaluuya's performance in Get Out, which was released in cinemas on 24 February 2017 (his 28th birthday),[27] attracted significant critical acclaim.[28][29] Steven Gaydos of Variety wrote that “the terror, tension, humor, and fury of this powerfully effective cinematic balancing act all rests on the shoulders of this brilliant young British actor who communicates universal anxieties without ever losing the essential home address of his beleaguered African-American hero."[29] Richard Lawson of Vanity Fair called Kaluuya's performance a "masterful, telling piece of acting."[30] For his performance, he received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He also received nominations for a BAFTA Award,[31] a Golden Globe,[32] a SAG Award,[33] and a Critics' Choice Award for his role.[34] In 2018 he received the BAFTA Rising Star Award.[35]

In December 2016, Kaluuya was cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther.[36] The film was released on 16 February 2018, in the United States.[37] Kaluuya also had a large role in the heist film Widows (2018), and starred in the road trip/crime movie Queen & Slim (2019), opposite Jodie Turner-Smith.

In October 2019, it was announced that Kaluuya is set to produce a feature film based on the children's television show Barney & Friends through his newly formed production company 59%, alongside Mattel Films. According to Kaluuya, the Barney film will "surprise audiences and subvert expectations."[38]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Shoot the Messenger Reece
2008 Cass Young Cass Pennant
2010 Chatroom Mo
Baby Thief short film
2011 Johnny English Reborn Agent Colin Tucker
2013 Welcome to the Punch Juka Ogadowa
Kick-Ass 2 Black Death
2015 Sicario Reggie Wayne
2017 Get Out Chris Washington
2018 Black Panther W'Kabi
Widows Jatemme Manning
2019 Queen & Slim Slim
2020 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Present (voice)
2021 Judas and the Black Messiah Fred Hampton

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2007 The Whistleblowers School Bully Episode: "No Child Left Behind"
Comedy: Shuffle Dean Episode: "Brendon Burns"
2007–2009 Skins Posh Kenneth 11 episodes
Also wrote 2 episodes
2008 Delta Forever Roger Episode: "Pilot"
Silent Witness Errol Harris 2 episodes
2008–2009 That Mitchell and Webb Look Various 2 episodes
2009 Doctor Who Barclay Episode: "Planet of the Dead"
Lewis Declan Episode: "Counter Culture Blues"
FM Ades 4 episodes
The Philanthropist Episode: "Nigeria Part II"
10 Minute Tales Soldier #2 Episode: "The Three Kings"
2009–2011 Psychoville Michael "Tealeaf" Fry 12 episodes
2010 Comedy Lab[39] Various Episode: "Happy Finish"
2010–2012 Harry and Paul Parking Pataweyo 5 episodes
2011 Coming Up[40] Micah Episode: "Micah"
The Fades Michael "Mac" Armstrong 6 episodes
Black Mirror Bingham "Bing" Madsen Episode: "Fifteen Million Merits"
Random Brother Television film
2014 Babylon Matt Coward 7 episodes
2018 Watership Down Bluebell (voice) Miniseries

Short film
Year Title Role Notes
2007 Much Ado About a Minor Ting Shocker
2010 Baby[41] Damon
2012 Beginning Stanley
2013 Jonah Mbwana

Theatre
Year Title Role Location Notes
2010 Sucker Punch Leon Royal Court Theatre, London
2013 Trelawny of the Wells Tom Wrench Donmar Warehouse, London
A Season in the Congo Joseph Mobutu Young Vic, London
2016 Blue/Orange Christopher

Awards and nominations
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Daniel Kaluuya

References
  1. "Today in History, February 24: The calendar gets a massive makeover". The Tennessean. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. Bahr, Lindsey (16 February 2018). "Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya is on a roll". Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. Getz, Dana. "Who Is Daniel Kaluuya? The 'Get Out' Star Is Multi-Talented". Bustle. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. "Teen writers show their 'Skins'". The Independent. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. "The London Film Critics' Circle Hands Out Nominations To Regina King, Cynthia Erivo And Daniel Kaluuya". shadowandact.com. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  6. Adewunmi, Bim (1 April 2017). "Why I love… actor Daniel Kaluuya". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  7. Greeley, Shakeil (13 March 2017). "'Get Out' Star Daniel Kaluuya: "I Resent That I Have to Prove I'm Black"". GQ. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  8. Collin, Robbie (13 February 2018). "Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya: 'Nobody says a word when a white actor goes to LA'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  9. "Daniel Kaluuya's Journey from the Streets of London to Hollywood". Vice. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. Sulcas, Roslyn (2018). "Daniel Kaluuya Isn't Waiting for Your Approval". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  11. "Table Manners with Jessie Ware Episode 3: Joe Dempsie and Daniel Kaluuya". acast.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  12. ODE (12 February 2018). "Black Panther: Daniel Kaluuya gets emotional over support". YouTube. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  13. Osley, Richard (19 February 2018). "Daniel Kaluuya thanks north London arts centres as he wins BAFTA". Camden New Journal.
  14. Green, Chris (11 February 2008). "Teen writers show their 'Skins'". The Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  15. "Sneakiepeeks - Radio 4 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  16. "Daniel Kaluuya". Screen Daily. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  17. "Daniel Kaluuya". Film Independent. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  18. Adewunmi, Bim (1 April 2017). "Why I love… actor Daniel Kaluuya". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  19. Zakheim, Landon (27 January 2011). "Short Shot: Daniel Mulloy". Sundance Institute. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  20. Obenson, Tambay A. (1 April 2013). "Characted Poster For Black Death (Played By Daniel Kaluuya) In 'Kick-Ass 2'". IndieWire. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  21. "Exclusive: Daniel Kaluuya Talks 'Sicario,' 'Black Mirror,' and His Favorite Role". The Knockturnal. 18 September 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  22. "'Skins' Star Daniel Kaluuya to Co-Star in Denis Villenueve's 'Sicario' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  23. Wollaston, Sam (11 December 2011). "TV review: Black Mirror; Piers Morgan's Life Stories: Peter Andre; This is Justin Bieber". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  24. "Actors on Actors: Timothee Chalamet and Daniel Kaluuya". Variety. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  25. Clark, Ashley (18 March 2017). "Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya: 'This is 12 Years a Slave: The Horror Movie'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  26. Baron, Zach (4 December 2017). "Daniel Kaluuya Realized 'Get Out' Was a Big Deal When Nas Instagrammed It". GQ. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  27. Pederson, Erik (4 October 2016). "'Get Out': Universal Dates Jordan Peele's Blumhouse Chiller & Unleashes Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  28. Friedlander, Whitney (4 October 2017). "10 Actors to Watch: Daniel Kaluuya Goes From 'Get Out' to 'Black Panther'". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  29. Chuba, Kirsten (21 December 2017). "Daniel Kaluuya to Receive Creative Impact in Acting Award at Palm Springs Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  30. Lawson, Richard (23 February 2017). "Get Out Is Thrilling, Terrifying, and Timely". Variety.
  31. "The Shape of Water leads Bafta nominations". BBC News. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  32. Rubin, Rebecca (11 December 2017). "Golden Globe Nominations: Complete List". Variety. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  33. "2018 SAG Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  34. "Critics' Choice Awards: 'The Shape of Water' Leads With 14 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  35. "Bafta Film Awards 2018: The winners in full". BBC News. 18 February 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  36. "Forest Whitaker, Daniel Kaluuya and Florence Kasumba join Black Panther". Empire. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  37. "Reactions from the Black Panther premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. 29 January 2018.
  38. "'Barney' Movie in the Works From Mattel, Daniel Kaluuya". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  39. "Happy Finish - C4 Sketch Show". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  40. "Coming Up - Episode Guide". Channel 4. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  41. "Baby (2010) Movie Review". Eye for Film. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
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