David Oyelowo

He was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, to Nigerian parents, of the Yoruba tribe. While a guest on "Fresh Air", David told interviewer Terry Gross that his father was a member of a royal family in Nigeria, and his last name literally means "a king deserves respect". But he also joked, "Now, don't get me wrong. You know, royal families are a dime a dozen in Nigeria. It's more like being the king of Sherman Oaks, really. But you know it's - but still, it carries some weight.".
David made history when he became the first black actor to portray an English monarch for the Royal Shakespeare Company when he played the title role in a production of "Henry VI Parts I, II and III" (2000).
Attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA), his course being paid for by the director Nicholas Hytner.
As of 2015, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Historias cruzadas (2011), Lincoln (2012) and Selma: el poder de un sueño (2014).
His performance in the title role of the RSC's production of "Henry VI Parts I, II and III" earned him the Ian Charleson Award for outstanding performance by a young actor in a classical theatre role (2001).

It's fascinating to work with a company of actors of such different ages, experience and talents. I'm one of a generation brought up on television whose acting is more naturalistic, whereas with some of the older generation it's more heightened. But I think there's room for both styles.
I think it's vital to have something outside your acting to keep you rooted in the real world, and help you fill the vacuum. If you have nothing else, it can be unhealthy. For me, being a Christian has been invaluable: it simply means acting isn't the centre of my life.
[defending Benedict Cumberbatch after he caused outrage for using the term "colored actors" instead of "actors of color"] When you look at what he was actually saying, it's clear that he's a huge supporter of black performers. To attack him for a term, as opposed to what he was actually saying, I think is very disingenuous and is indicative of the age we live in where people are looking for soundbites as opposed to substance.