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John Boyega            

British Actor Known for "Star Wars"

John Boyega is a British actor. He is best known for playing Finn in the Star Wars franchise.

Boyega was born in Peckham, London, to Nigerian parents. His first role was that of a leopard in a play at his primary school at age five. He later took part in various school productions and attended classes at Theatre Peckham. He was a performing arts student at South Thames College and was active in theatre productions there, including the lead in Othello in 2010.

Boyega trained at the Identity Drama School in Hackney, and appeared in the plays Six Parties at the National Theatre and Category B at the Tricycle Theatre prior to being offered a role in the 2011 film "Attack the Block." In September 2011, HBO announced that Boyega had been cast in the boxing drama pilot "Da Brick," loosely based on Mike Tyson's life. Boyega was expected to play Donnie, who is released from a juvenile detention centre on his 18th birthday and begins to examine what it means to be a man. The pilot was written by John Ridley, but was not picked up by HBO.

Also in 2011, he played in the film "Junkhearts" in which he portrayed a drug dealer who found some guns and tried to sell them. In March 2012, Boyega was cast in the film version of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's book "Half of a Yellow Sun."

Boyega played Finn in the 2015 film "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and its 2017 sequel "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." In 2018, he had a leading role in "Pacific Rim: Uprising."

In 2020, Boyega partnered with Netflix through his UpperRoom Productions shingle to develop non-English language films centered on West and East Africa. In February 2021, Boyega won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for portraying Leroy Logan in the anthology "Small Axe."

News


John Boyega to Produce South African Thriller 'God Is Good' – Variety
John Boyega will executive produce South African crime thriller “God Is Good” and oversee the movie's soundtrack through his recently minted UpperRoom ...
'Star Wars' John Boyega To Narrate BBC & Discovery's 'Serengeti ...
Is John Boyega the new David Attenborough? The Star Wars actor is to narrate forthcoming BBC natural history series Serengeti.
John Boyega to Star in Legal Drama 'Naked Singularity' – Variety
"Star Wars" actor John Boyega is in talks to star in the legal drama "A Naked Singularity" with Ridley Scott on board to produce.
Star Wars: Episode VIII Bigger Than Force Awakens, John Boyega ...
John Boyega said "Star Wars: Episode VIII" is darker and bigger than "The Force Awakens."
'Force Awakens' One Year Later: John Boyega and Daisy Ridley's Post
Sunday marked one year since the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which means it's also been a year since John Boyega and Daisy Ridley were ...
John Boyega on Carrie Fisher's Death: My Heart Is Heavy | E! News
"My heart is heavy but I'm grateful that I got to know her," he tweeted Wednesday. "I'll cherish the memories, conversations and her consistent support. Rest well.
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John Boyega on Carrie Fisher's Death: My Heart Is Heavy | E! News
"My heart is heavy but I'm grateful that I got to know her," he tweeted Wednesday. "I'll cherish the memories, conversations and her consistent support. Rest well.
'Star Wars' Star John Boyega Takes Lead In 'Pacific Rim' Sequel ...
EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Pictures has set Star Wars: The Force Awakens star John Boyega for the lead role for the second installment of its Pacific Rim franchise.
Force Awakens star John Boyega clarifies awards speech about diversity
Shortly after winning a Screen Nation award on Saturday and speaking out about diversity in film, John Boyega took to Twitter to clarify and expand on his comments.
International Star You Should Know: John Boyega | Variety
Boyega, 21, starred in 2011's Brit cult hit “Attack the Block,” which grossed $4 million in the U.K., and recently made a splash at Sundance as the star of “ Imperial ...
'Attack the Block' Star John Boyega Joins '24: Live Another Day ...
John Boyega, star of 2011 British monster movie “Attack the Block,” is set to join Fox's event series “24: Live Another Day” in a recurring arc.
Where Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and the New Cast of 'Star Wars ...
The cast of the new "Star Wars" film has been announced. In addition to the original stars, a slew of newcomers will appear in "Star Wars: Episode VII." According ...
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