Letitia Wright
Letitia Wright | |
|---|---|
 Wright at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | Letitia Michelle Wright 31 October 1993 |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2011–present |
Letitia Michelle Wright (born 31 October 1993) is a Guyanese-born British actress. Beginning in 2011, she has played in roles in several British TV series, including Top Boy, Coming Up, Chasing Shadows, the Doctor Who episode "Face the Raven", Black Mirror episode "Black Museum", and as Shuri in the culture-shifting, Black Panther.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) named Wright among the 2015 group of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits.[1] Wright is best known for her role as Shuri in Marvel Cinematic Universe's Black Panther and the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War (both 2018).
Early life
Wright was born in Georgetown, Guyana. Her family moved to London when she was seven years old.[2] She attended school in London. Having been brought up in Tottenham she states, "I’ll always be a north London girl".[3]
Career
Wright's interest in acting was inspired when she saw Akeelah and the Bee and found the lead, Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) to be a positive role model. Determined to act, she sent emails to different agents about her acting experience until she was picked for small parts. She starred in My Brother the Devil, where she was recognized by Screen International as one of its 2012 Stars of Tomorrow. Michael Caton-Jones cast her in Urban Hymn which garnered her attention.[2][4] She has played in numerous episodes of British TV series (see table below).
Wright co-starred in Black Panther playing the role of Shuri, King T’Challa’s sister and princess of Wakanda.[5] The film was released worldwide in February 2018 and co-starred Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, and Chadwick Boseman.[6][7] She will reprise the role in the next Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Avengers: Infinity War, scheduled for release in April 2018.[8]
Wright will play Reb in Steven Spielberg's 2018 film adaptation of the novel Ready Player One.[9]
Personal life
Wright has been vocal about her struggles with depression. In 2018 she told Vanity Fair, "I was in the dark going through so many bad things, when the world didn’t know about Shuri and Letitia and whatever is happening now."[10] Wright took a break from acting until 2015 after she encountered Christianity at a London actors' Bible study.[10] On the UK talk show This Morning, she explained, "I needed to take a break from acting, because I really idolized it. So I came off from it and I went on a journey to discover my relationship with God, and I became a Christian."[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Holby City | Ellie Maynard | Episodes: "Tunnel Vision" and "Crossing the Line" |
| 2011 | Random | Girl 3 | TV movie |
| 2011 | Top Boy | Chantelle | 4 episodes |
| 2013 | Coming Up | Hannah | Episode: "Big Girl" |
| 2014 | Glasgow Girls | Amal | TV movie |
| 2014 | Chasing Shadows | Taylor Davis | Episode: "Only Connect" |
| 2015 | Banana | Vivienne Scott | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Cucumber | Vivienne Scott | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Doctor Who | Anahson | Episode: "Face the Raven" |
| 2016 | Humans | Renie | 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Black Mirror | Nish | Episode: "Black Museum" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Victim | Nyla | |
| 2012 | My Brother the Devil | Aisha | |
| 2015 | Urban Hymn | Jamie Harrison | |
| 2018 | The Commuter | Jules Skateboarder | |
| 2018 | Black Panther | Shuri | |
| 2018 | Ready Player One | Reb | |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | Shuri |
References
- ^ "BAFTA and Burberry Reveal 2015 Breakthrough Brits". BAFTA.org. Retrieved 22 February 2018
- ^ a b Alberge, Dalya (4 April 2015). "Letitia Wright, Britain's newest rising screen star, says black actors need more positive roles". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Black Panther' star Letitia Wright: 'I’ll always be a north London girl’. Time Out. Retrieved 22 February 2018
- ^ Wiggan, Dylan. "Rising star Letitia Wright 'Black Actors need more positive roles'". House of Black. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Who is Letitia Wright? The 'Black Panther' breakout star is just getting started". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ Pape, Stefan (26 September 2016). "Exclusive: Letitia Wright on Urban Hymn and working with Spielberg on Ready Player One". heyuguys. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (20 October 2016). "'Black Panther' Adds 'Ready Player One' Actress Letitia Wright (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "'Black Panther': How Letitia Wright Became a Marvel Breakout". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ "5 things to know about Black Panther breakout star Letitia Wright". EW. Retrieved 22 February 2018
- ^ a b Robinson, Joanna. "Black Panther Breakout Letitia Wright Smashes Disney Princess Expectations". HWD. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "'Black Panther' Breakout Star Letitia Wright Shares How Christianity Changed Her Life". RELEVANT Magazine. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
External links
