David Oyelowo’s fame seems like it came from nowhere. But like any success story with years of time and effort in the making, his journey to Hollywood began 18 years ago in 1998 when he landed his first role on a British drama TV series. That's not what makes his career remarkable, though.
His highest profile role to date has been as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma (which generated $66 million worldwide) and since then, the British-Nigerian actor and producer snagged roles left and right including a now celebrated performance in Queen of Katwe alongside Lupita Nyong’o. Each role he plays, you'll notice, follows a particular theme: His characters and the stories they tell matter. As a Christian in Hollywood, Oyelowo is drawn to roles that are inspiring, redemptive, important.
We recently talked with him about Queen of Katwe, his career, his faith and what's next.
