Daniel Kaluuya | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kaluuya at the 2017San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | (1989-02-24)24 February 1989 (age 36) Camden Town, London, England |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2006–present |
| Works | Full list |
| Awards | Full list |
Daniel Kaluuya (/kəˈluːjə/; born 24 February 1989) is an English actor. His workencompasses both screen and stage, andhis accolades include anAcademy Award, twoBAFTA Awards, twoScreen Actors Guild Awards, aGolden Globe Award, and aCritics' Choice Award, in addition to nominations for aLaurence Olivier Award and anEmmy Award. In 2021, he was named among the100 most influential people in the world byTime magazine.[1]
Kaluuya began his acting career as a teenager inimprovisational theatre.[2] He playedPosh Kenneth in the first two seasons of the television seriesSkins (2007–2009); he also co-wrote some of the episodes.[3] Kaluuya drew praise for his leading performance inSucker Punch at theRoyal Court Theatre in 2010.[4] He went on to gain attention for his television roles inPsychoville (2009–2011),The Fades (2011), and theBlack Mirror episode "Fifteen Million Merits" (2011).[5] He also had supporting roles in the filmsJohnny English Reborn (2011),Kick-Ass 2 (2013), andSicario (2015).
In 2017, Kaluuya had his breakthrough starring inJordan Peele's horror filmGet Out, which garnered him a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Actor.[6] This was followed by roles inRyan Coogler's superhero filmBlack Panther (2018),Steve McQueen's crime dramaWidows (2018), Peele's horror filmNope (2022), andSony Pictures Animation's animated superhero filmSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023). For his portrayal ofBlack Panther Party leaderFred Hampton in the biopicJudas and the Black Messiah (2021), he won theBAFTA andAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[7][8] He has since co-directed the dramaThe Kitchen (2023).
Kaluuya was born on 24 February 1989[9] in London toUgandan parents. His mother[10][11] raised him on acouncil estate inCamden Town, along with an older sister. His father lived inBalaka, Malawi, and they had no contact until he was 14.[12] Kaluuya attendedTorriano Primary School, andSt Aloysius' College, Highgate.[11] He subsequently tookA-level History, Drama and Biology atCamden School for Girls in its co-educational sixth-form.[13]
Kaluuya wrote his first play at the age of nine, after which he began performingimprovisational theatre.[2] He began acting as a child at his localAnna Scher Theatre School and WAC Arts.[14]
Kaluuya appeared in his first credited acting role in 2006 as Reece in theBBC's controversial dramaShoot the Messenger.[2][11] Kaluuya then joined the original cast ofSkins as Posh Kenneth; he was also a contributing writer on the first two seasons of the series, as well as the head writer of the episodes titled "Jal" and "Thomas".[15]
AfterSkins, Kaluuya appeared as a guest star in many popular television series such asSilent Witness, theDoctor Who special "Planet of the Dead", andLewis. He has also appeared in the sketch showThat Mitchell and Webb Look twice and as fan favourite character "Parking Pataweyo" in the sketch showHarry & Paul. Kaluuya also voiced a character in theBBC Radio 4 sitcomSneakiepeeks.[16] In 2009, he became a regular cast member in the ITV comedyFM. At the end of 2009, theScreen International Magazine picked Kaluuya out in their annual report as aUK Star of Tomorrow.[17]
In 2010, Kaluuya played the lead role inRoy Williams'Sucker Punch at theRoyal Court Theatre in London; Kaluuya won rave reviews for his performance and he won both theEvening Standard Award andCritics' Circle Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer.[18] From 2009 to 2011, he portrayed Michael "Tea Leaf" Fry in the dark BBC comedyPsychoville.[19]
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Between 2011 and 2013, Kaluuya appeared in several short films, most notably inDaniel Mulloy'sBaby, which premiered at theSundance Film Festival,[20] and went on to win the Best Short Film Award at theEdinburgh International Film Festival, as well as the Best Short Film Award at theBritish Independent Film Awards.[18] In 2011, he appeared in the sequel to the 2003 filmJohnny English, titledJohnny English Reborn, as Agent Tucker.[18] Also in 2011, he played the role of Mac Armstrong inBBC3'ssupernatural drama seriesThe Fades.[18] In 2013, he appeared in thesuperherocomedy filmKick Ass 2.[21] In 2015, he portrayed anFBI Agent inDenis Villeneuve's thriller filmSicario.[22][23]
Kaluuya played one of the lead characters oppositeJessica Brown Findlay in "Fifteen Million Merits", an episode of theanthology seriesBlack Mirror, for which he received positive reviews from critics.[24] The episode originally premiered onChannel 4 in 2011, but gained popularity after it was subsequently released onNetflix in the United States.[25] It was his performance inBlack Mirror that attracted the attention ofJordan Peele, who later cast him inGet Out, which proved to be his breakthrough role.[26][27]
Kaluuya's performance inGet Out, which was released in cinemas on 24 February 2017,[28] attracted significant critical acclaim.[29][30] Steven Gaydos of Variety wrote that "the terror, tension, humor, and fury of this powerfully effective cinematic balancing act all rests on the shoulders of this brilliant young British actor who communicates universal anxieties without ever losing the essential home address of his beleaguered African-American hero."[30]Richard Lawson ofVanity Fair called Kaluuya's performance a "masterful, telling piece of acting."[31] For his performance, he receivednumerous accolades, including anAcademy Award nomination forBest Actor. He also received nominations for aBAFTA Award,[32]Critics' Choice Award,[33]Golden Globe Award,[34] andSAG Award[35] for his role. In 2018, he received theBAFTA Rising Star Award.[36]
In December 2016, Kaluuya was cast in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmBlack Panther.[37] The film was released on 16 February 2018, in the United States.[38] Kaluuya also had a large role in the heist filmWidows (2018), and starred in the road trip/crime movieQueen & Slim (2019), oppositeJodie Turner-Smith.
In 2018, he joined the voice cast of the BBC and Netflix's miniseriesWatership Down.[39]
In October 2019, it was announced that Kaluuya was to produce a feature film based on the children's television showBarney & Friends through his newly formedproduction company 59%, alongsideMattel Films. According to Kaluuya, theBarney film would "surprise audiences and subvert expectations."[40] In February 2025, it was announced thatAyo Edebiri was in talks to star in and write the film forA24.[41]
In 2020, Kaluuya was announced to produce and star in an adaptation ofFemi Fadugba's debut novelThe Upper World atNetflix. In 2021, he starred asrevolutionary socialistFred Hampton in the biographical dramaJudas and the Black Messiah. His performance in the film was lauded by critics,[42] winning theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor,BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role,Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor,Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture andScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role;[43][44] becoming the only performer that year to winall five major film awards. At age 32, Daniel Kaluuya became theseventh-youngest Academy Award Best Supporting Actor winner.
In early 2021, Kaluuya was cast in Peele's sci-fi horrorNope, alongsideKeke Palmer andSteven Yeun. The film released on 22 July 2022 to positive reviews.[45][46][47] Due to scheduling conflicts withNope, it was announced that Kaluuya will not be reprising his role asW'Kabi inBlack Panther sequel,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.[48] In April, Kaluuya hosted an episode ofSaturday Night Live, with musical guestSt. Vincent.[49] Kaluuya was also included inTime's 2021 list of the100 most influential people in the world.[50]
In March 2022, it was revealed that Kaluuya was writing adystopian drama forNetflix, titledThe Kitchen, withKibwe Tavares set to direct.[51] The drama will starKane Robinson and Jedaiah Bannerman, and is being co-written by Joe Murtagh, and executive-produced byMichael Fassbender.[52] In August 2023, theBritish Film Institute announced that the film would have its premiere as the closing gala of the 67thLondon Film Festival on 15 October 2023.[53]The Kitchen released onNetflix on 19 January 2024.[54]
In May 2022, it was announced that Kaluuya was the narrator forAmazon Prime's sportsdocuseriesAll or Nothing: Arsenal, which followed EnglishPremier League sideArsenal behind the scenes throughout their2021–22 season.[55][56] In November 2022, Kaluuya was confirmed to portrayHobart "Hobie" Brown / Spider-Punk inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.[57]
In October 2024, a statue of Kaluuya was erected in London to honour his work inGet Out.[58]
In July 2025, it was reported that Kaluuya would co-write the screenplay for an animated Spider-Punk spin-off film.[59]
Kaluuya lives inWest London.[60] He is a supporter ofArsenal F.C., to the extent of referring to Arsenal's North London rivals,Tottenham Hotspur F.C., as the "team who must not be named" and the "Voldemort of the League".[61] In August 2022, Kaluuya featured as narrator inAll or Nothing: Arsenal, thedocuseries aboutArsenal's2021–22 season.[62] He is aChristian and acknowledged his faith during hisOscar speech.[63] He is thegodfather of the son of his formerSkins castmateKaya Scodelario.[64]
In February 2022, it was reported that Kaluuya had "abruptly" fired hisagents at theCreative Artists Agency as well as hispersonal stylist,publicist and multiple assistants. It was reported that he was influenced in these decisions by a person known as "Heir Holiness" who described herself as Kaluuya's "personal manager" and "life strategist" as well as the "Head Mistress" of "The International Alma Mater, Blessed University."[65][66] She has further claimed to have degrees inholistic health and "Parapsychic Science" from the American Institute of Holistic Theology. Sources toldPage Six andMatthew Belloni that she was on set during the filming ofNope and her behavior "caused people on set to be concerned about her influence over" Kaluuya. However, in a March 2022 article, she denied to Page Six that she knew Kaluuya.[66]
| † | Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Shoot the Messenger | Reece | First Credit |
| 2008 | Cass | Young Cass Pennant | |
| 2010 | Baby | Damon | Short film[67] |
| Chatroom | Mo | ||
| 2011 | Johnny English Reborn | Agent Colin Tucker | |
| 2013 | Welcome to the Punch | Juka Ogadowa | |
| Kick-Ass 2 | Black Death | ||
| 2015 | Sicario | Reggie Wayne | |
| 2017 | Get Out | Chris Washington | |
| 2018 | Black Panther | W'Kabi | |
| Widows | Jatemme Manning | ||
| 2019 | Queen & Slim | Ernest "Slim" Hines | Also executive producer |
| 2020 | A Christmas Carol | Ghost of Christmas Present (voice) | |
| 2021 | Judas and the Black Messiah | Fred Hampton | Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 2022 | Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. | — | Producer |
| Nope | Otis "OJ" Haywood Jr. | ||
| 2023 | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Hobart "Hobie" Brown / Spider-Punk (voice) | |
| The Kitchen | — | Co-director, co-writer, and producer | |
| 2027 | Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse † | Hobart "Hobie" Brown / Spider-Punk (voice) | In production |
| TBA | Untitled Chris Rock film † | Filming[68] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Whistleblowers | School Bully | Episode: "No Child Left Behind" |
| Comedy: Shuffle | Dean | Episode: "Brendon Burns" | |
| 2007–2009 | Skins | Posh Kenneth | 11 episodes; Also contributing writer and head writer for 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Delta Forever | Roger | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Silent Witness | Errol Harris | 2 episodes | |
| 2008–2009 | That Mitchell and Webb Look | Various | |
| 2009 | Doctor Who | Barclay | Episode: "Planet of the Dead" |
| Lewis | Declan | Episode: "Counter Culture Blues" | |
| FM | Ades | 4 episodes | |
| The Philanthropist | Episode: "Nigeria Part II" | ||
| 10 Minute Tales | Soldier #2 | Episode: "The Three Kings" | |
| 2009–2011 | Psychoville | Michael "Tealeaf" Fry | 12 episodes |
| 2010 | Comedy Lab[69] | Various | Episode: "Happy Finish" |
| 2010–2012 | Harry & Paul | Parking Pataweyo | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | Coming Up[70] | Micah | Episode: "Micah" |
| The Fades | Michael "Mac" Armstrong | 6 episodes | |
| Black Mirror | Bingham "Bing" Madsen | Episode: "Fifteen Million Merits" | |
| Random | Brother | Television film | |
| 2014 | Babylon | Matt Coward | 7 episodes |
| 2018 | Watership Down | Bluebell (voice) | Miniseries[39] |
| 2021 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Daniel Kaluuya/St. Vincent" |
| 2022 | All or Nothing: Arsenal | Narrator | Docuseries |
| Year | Title | Role | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2009 | Oxford Street | Royal Court Theatre,London | [71][72] | |
| 2010 | Sucker Punch | Leon | ||
| 2013 | Trelawny of the 'Wells' | Tom Wrench | Donmar Warehouse, London | |
| A Season in the Congo | Joseph Mobutu | Young Vic, London | ||
| 2016 | Blue/Orange | Christopher |
AmongKaluuya's accolades, he has been nominated for twoAcademy Awards, threeBritish Academy Film Awards, twoGolden Globe Awards, aPrimetime Emmy Award, fourScreen Actors Guild Awards, and aLaurence Olivier Award.
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