David Oyelowo is a British actor, born on April 1, 1976, in Oxford, England, to Nigerian parents. He is known for his performances in both films and TV. His interest in acting developed at a young age, leading him to study theatre. He joined theatre studies at City and Islington College, where his teacher advised him to pursue acting. He took admission at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and completed his 3-year training. He began his career in theater and gained popularity for his stage work, including his role as King Henry VI in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production.
He made his TV debut in 1998 with a small role in Maisie Raine. He became well known for his role as Danny Hunter in the British show Spooks (MI-5) (2002-2004). Oyelowo’s breakthrough role came in 2014 when he played Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the historical drama film Selma. He has also starred in other notable films such as The Butler (2013), Interstellar (2014), Queen of Katwe (2016), and A United Kingdom (2016). Apart from acting, let’s take a look at David Oyelowo’s family.
Who are David Oyelowo's parents?
David was born to Nigerian parents. His father's name is Stephen, but his mother's name is not publicly known. Stephen worked different jobs, including in the national airline and as a driver, showing a work ethic that inspired David. In an interview with the Independent, David talked about his father and said, “Like a lot of immigrants, he was all about work, work, work. Having that modelled for me served me well in the early part of my career. Personally, I found I had to work very hard to get to a place that I felt was commensurate with what I hoped for myself. It wasn’t a given, shall we say.”
In the same interview, he also shared that his mother had a prophecy about him that he would walk with kings. He said, “It’s definitely panned out that way, whether you look at the fact that I’ve played a few kings or I’ve found myself in a room with kings.” He has always talked about his parents’ influence in his life and gave them credit for their upbringing. He said, “Whether consciously or subconsciously – most probably subconsciously – I am cognisant of carrying myself a certain way.”
Who are David Oyelowo's wife and children?
David met his wife, Jessica, when they were teenagers at the National Youth Theatre. Jessica is a British actress, director, producer, and singer, born on December 24, 1978. They both shared a passion for the arts, which sparked a connection. They quickly started dating, despite their young age, and they felt a strong bond and decided to marry. After 5 months of dating in 1998 and a short engagement, David and Jessica got married. Together with David, she co-founded the production company Yoruba Saxon, through which they have produced many films and shows.
In an Instagram post on their anniversary in 2024, Jessica expressed her love for him. She wrote, “It’s not possible to know or love you any more than I do right now because I love you so much and feel like I know you so well, then we break the barrier again and again and discover that there is more to know and more to love.” The couple has 4 children- sons Asher, Caleb, and Penuel, and daughter Zoë. According to People, as parents, David and Jessica focus on family time. They made a rule to never be apart for more than two weeks due to work commitments.
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FAQs about David Oyelowo
A. David Oyelowo's nationality is British.
A. David Oyelowo is 48 years old.
A. David Oyelowo has been nominated for 2 Primetime Emmy Awards.
