Paapa Essiedu
Paapa Essiedu | |
|---|---|
 Paapa Essiedu (middle) at the 2016 Hay Festival | |
| Born | 1990 (age 33–34) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2012–present |
Paapa Essiedu (/ˈpɑːpə ˌɛsiˈeɪduː/;[1][2] born 1990) is an English actor. He is known for his work in theatre, film and television, including in the 2020 television series I May Destroy You (2020). He won the 2016 Ian Charleson Award for his title role in Hamlet and Edmund in King Lear, both at the Royal Shakespeare Company.[3][4][5]
Early life
Born in 1990, Essiedu grew up in East London with his mother, who was a fashion and design teacher. His family comes from Ghana, where he has a half-brother and half-sister. He won a scholarship to Forest School, Walthamstow and despite being active in sports teams and theatrical productions his ambition as he grew older was to become a doctor.[6] Essiedu became more involved with Shakespeare when he was accepted into the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he met and worked with Michaela Coel.[7] He takes inspiration from his favourite actors: Mark Rylance, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Simon Russell Beale, David Thewlis, and Gary Oldman.
Career
Essiedu joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2012 to play Fenton in Phillip Breen's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor. Afterwards, he went to the National Theatre, playing Burgundy and understudying Edmund in Sam Mendes’ production of King Lear. When Sam Troughton lost his voice during a performance, Essiedu stepped in and played the role to critical acclaim.[8] He has acted in Outside on the Street (Pleasance Theatre), Black Jesus (Finborough Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Tobacco Factory), You For Me For You (Royal Court), and most recently the title role in Hamlet and Edmund in King Lear, both at the (Royal Shakespeare Company). The judges described his Hamlet as one the audience listened to "completely still", and they noted that as an actor he could turn on a sixpence – sweet, playful and flirtatious one minute, and fiercely intelligent the next. "Like all great actors", a judge noted, he "made all the lines his own". His Edmund in King Lear was noted for his chilling contempt and cynicism.[3]
In 2020, Essiedu appeared in the BBC series I May Destroy You.[7]
Performances
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Black Jesus | Gabriel |
| 2014 | King Lear | Burgundy |
| 2015 | Romeo and Juliet | Romeo |
| 2015 | You For Me For You | Wade |
| 2016 | Hamlet | Hamlet |
| 2016 | King Lear | Edmund |
| 2018 | Hamlet – RSC Tour | Hamlet |
| 2018 | Pinter One | Various |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Utopia | Roy | - Episode #1.4 (2013)
- Episode #1.1 (2013) |
| 2015 | Not Safe For Work | Paul | - Episode #1.5 (2015) |
| 2016 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Demetrius | |
| 2017 | Murder on the Orient Express | Young Policeman | |
| 2017 | The Miniaturist | Otto | |
| 2018 | Kiri | Nate Akindele | |
| 2018 | Press | Ed Washburn | Miniseries |
| 2018 | Black Earth Rising | Jaalen | - Episode #1.1 |
| 2020 | Gangs of London | Alex Dumani | 8 episodes |
| 2020 | I May Destroy You | Kwame | 12 episodes |
Radio
Paapa appeared as Tunde in the BBC Radio 3 drama As Innocent As You Can Get (2016) by Rex Obano.[9]
References
- ^ "Paapa Essiedu Interview | Hamlet". Royal Shakespeare Company. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Actor Paapa Essiedu | Breakthrough Brits 2018". BAFTA. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ a b Hawkins, Helen. "Paapa Essiedu wins the Ian Charleson award 2016". Sunday Times. 11 June 2017.
- ^ Snow, Georgia. "Paapa Essiedu wins 2016 Ian Charleson award". The Stage. 6 June 2017.
- ^ "Ian Charleson Awards 2016". WestEndTheatre.com. 6 June 2017.
- ^ Kellaway, Interview by Kate (13 March 2016). "Paapa Essiedu: You can't live with your heart on your sleeve". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ a b "I May Destroy You's Paapa Essiedu on Going to Drama School With Michaela Coel". Vulture. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (23 January 2014). "Actor loses voice on stage during Sam Mendes's King Lear". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
- ^ "As Innocent As You Can Get, Drama on 3 - BBC Radio 3". BBC.
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