- Lupita Nyong’o
Origin: Kenya
Quote: There are few actresses as instantly recognizable as 32-year-old Lupita Nyong’o, who took on the role of the slave girl Patsey in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave while a student at Yale—and went on to win an Oscar in 2014. In one fell swoop Lupita conquered Hollywood, seduced the fashion world, and found herself shouldering the dreams of an entire continent. – Plum Sykes, Vogue – September 2015.
Movies
- 12 Years a Slave
- Star Wars: Episode VIII
- The Queen of Katwe
- The Jungle Book
- Edi Gathegi
Origin: Kenya
Quote: “With a name like Edi Gathegi, there’s no doubt that the…star has a connection to Kenya. But while Edi was born here and raised American, this dynamic actor has much more to offer than lineage – he’s an incredible talent and absolutely mesmerising on screen.” – EA Destination Magazine – October 2013.
Shows
- House
- Lincoln Heights
- Nikita
- CSI Miami
- Beauty and the Beast
- Red widow
- The Blacklist
Movies
- Gone Baby Gone
- Twilight Series
- X – Men First Class
- My Bloody Valentine
- Criminal activities
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
Origin: Nigerian
Quote: “Ejiofor, born in Britain and of Nigerian descent, mostly works in the States, and he brings his profound sense of worldliness to these two parts.” – Anna Tatarska, Slant Magazine – September, 2013.
Movies
- Half of a Yellow Sun
- 12 Years a Slave
- Children of Men
- Four Brothers
- Salt
- American Gangster
- The Martian
- Dr Strange
- Djimon Hounson
Origin: Benin
Quote: “Born in Cotonou, Benin on April 24, 1964, Djimon Gaston Hounsou emigrated from West Africa to Paris at the age of 13 with his brother Edmund.” – Kam Williams, AAlBC.com
Movies
- Blood Diamond
- Gladiator
- Fast and furious 7
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Adewalle Akinnuoye – Agbaje
Origin: Nigeria
Quote: “The name Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is not one that slips easily off the tongue but it’s worth mastering because we’re likely to be hearing a lot more of it in the future.” – Andrew Anthony, The Guardian – May 2012
Shows
- Game of Thrones
- Lost
- Oz
Films
- Pompeii
- Thor: The Dark World
- The Mummy Returns
- Bourne Identity
- GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra
- Suicide Squad
- Peter Mensah
Origin: Ghana
Quote: “Peter Mensah was born in Ghana, grew up in England, and now lives in Canada. This tendency toward perpetual motion is one which is also evident with his work as an actor, which has taken him from Morocco to New Zealand, even into space…” – Will Harris, Bullz-Eye – July, 2011.
Shows
- Sleepy Hollow
- Fringe
- Spartacus
Movies
- 300
- Tears of the Sun
- Avatar
- The Incredible Hulk
- Charlize Theron
Origin: South Africa
Quote: “Charlize Theron, the South African-born former model famed for her looks…” – Jonathan Dean, GQ – May 2016.
Movies
- Monster
- Snow White and the Huntsman
- The Huntsman: Winter’s War
- The Italian Job
- A Million Ways to Die in the West
- Prometheus
- Mad max: Fury Road
