Black British Hollywood

Idris Elba, Parminder Nagra, Archie Panjabi, Adrien Lester, Chiwetal Ejiofor, Eamonn Walker. Al successful British Black actors yes, but what else do they all have in common?

The answer is that they emigrated to the US to make a career for themselves because of the dearth of opportunities that were presented to them on this side of the Channel.

Between them they’ve been nominated and/or have won Oscars, Emmys, Tonys and Golden Globes; all prestigious awards for those working on the stage, small screen and big screen.

It’s a shame that so much Black British talent goes abroad to find work. Although there’s no doubting that if you want to be a big fish in a big pond there’s no alternative to America and Hollywood, the disproportionate number of Black actors that make this migration reveals that a successful career in the UK frequently eludes them.

Therefore, it’s great to see that Stoke Newington actor and playwright, Femi Oguns establish the first Black drama school in the UK with a satellite school in Birmingham and partner links with talent agencies in Covent Garden and L.A. identity School of Drama (IDS) has over 300 pupils who are trained in classical and contemporary styles, as well as TV and Film theory.

Oguns says that the role of the school and programme is to

challenge the lack of positive roles for BME actors, but also to not have identity inhibit the roles that actors aspire to and audition for."

A first big win has come early, with John Boyega of the UK’s 2011 independent action comedy satire Attack of the Blocks fame funded by Film Four. Boyega was recently cast in a main and possibly reoccurring role in Disney’s Star Wars franchise reboot. Apparently, the role was cast for a white actor, but Boyega’s persistence, confidence and education from his time at IDS won over the producers and casting team.

With more casting successes like Boyega and IDS’s Oguns we might just soon start seeing a reversal of the talent flight from Black British acting professionals.

OBV Staff Reporter