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David Oyelowo Biography

Birth Name:David Oyelowo

Birth Place:Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Profession Actor, Producer, Director, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

  • In 2010, he won a Royal Television Society Award for best actor for his performance in "Small Island․"
  • Won a Spotlight Award at the 2013 Hollywood Film Festival for "The Butler․"
  • Was named breakthrough performer at the 2013 Hamptons International Film Festival for "The Butler․"
  • Received the title of Order of the British Empire in 2016
  • Studied drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
  • Got married to actress Jessica Watson in 1998
  • First became interested in acting as a youth only because the girl he had a crush on took him to the children's theater to which she belonged
  • Quote: "I think it's vital to have something outside your acting to keep you rooted in the real world ․․․ For me being a Christian has been invaluable: it simply means acting isn't the center of my life․"
  • Quote: "It's fascinating to work with a company of actors of such different ages, experiences and talents․"
  • Made his way onto American screens with roles in such programs as the HBO miniseries "Five Days․"
  • Became the first black actor to portray a British royal for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2000 as Henry VI

Awards

  • 2007Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2010BAFTA TV Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2010RTS Television Award-Actor - Male: winner
  • 2013Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2013Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
  • 2013Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2013Breakthrough Performer-: winner
  • 2013Spotlight Award-: winner
  • 2013Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2014Hollywood Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2014Hollywood Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2014AAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2014ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2014BFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2014BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2014Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2014CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2014Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2014ICP Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2014PCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2014SDFCS Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2014VVFP Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2014WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2014WAFCA Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2015Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, Motion Picture: winner
  • 2015Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2015COFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2015Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Movie/Limited Series: winner
  • 2015Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
  • 2015GAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015Breakthrough Award-: winner
  • 2015GAFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2015Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: winner
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
  • 2015Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2015ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015INOCA TV-Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie: nominated
  • 2015INOCA-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015MTV Movie Award-Breakthrough Performance: nominated
  • 2015National Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2015Breakthrough Performance Award-: winner
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2015Virtuoso Award-: winner
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2016Black Reel-Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series: winner
  • 2016Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2016Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: nominated
  • 2016Vision Award-Best Performance - Drama: nominated
  • 2016Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2017AMAA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2017BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a Television Series in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2017Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2017ALFS Award-British/Irish Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2017National Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2018BTVA Television Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series: nominated
  • 2018Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
  • 2022Black Reel-Outstanding Independent Film: nominated
  • 2022Black Reel-Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie/Limited Series: nominated
  • 2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie: nominated
  • 2024Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series: winner
  • 2024Critics Choice Award-Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: nominated
  • 2024Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2025Black Reel-Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2026Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated