All you need to know about David Oyelowo, Biography, and Net Worth

David Oyelowo is a theatrical actor and screenwriter from the United Kingdom who has received classical training. He was born in the United Kingdom and is of Nigerian descent.

David has always been a specialist in his industry and has continued to advance, his portrayal as Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma has succeeded in establishing him as a global presence, earning him a Golden Globe nomination.

There is a lot to know about the skillful actor who has proved himself over the years and here are some facts about him which you may not know.

Bio

David Oyelowo was born in Oxford, England, on April 1, 1976, to Nigerian parents of Yoruba descent. His mother is from Edo State, and his father is from Oyo. They both used to work for the national airline and the train company.

He had a very respectful personality as a kid, which earned him a few knocks and hammerings from the school bullies.

He lived in Nigeria for seven years as a child. His family relocated from Tooting Bec to Nigeria when David was six years old, but returned seven years later when he was fourteen.

He claims that his time in Nigeria aided him in playing Martin Luther King Jr. The British-Nigerian actor is also a member of the royal family, which he discovered while visiting his homeland.

Career in Acting

For David, his passion to become an actor didn’t exactly begin at an early age. But you know, when someone has a gift, they can’t stay hiding for too long before they draw all the attention to themselves. Such is the case with David.

When his tutor pushed him to pursue acting, the British native was a Theater Studies student at City and Islington College.

Following the advice of his tutor, he enrolled in a three-year acting degree at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). It was 1999, and Oyelowo was poised to assume the reins.

David landed theater appearances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, portraying a variety of Shakespearean characters. In the year 2000, he made history as the first black actor to play "The King" in a Royal Shakespeare Company production.

His award-winning lead role in Henry VI, which premiered in 2001, marked the first time a black actor played a king in a Royal Shakespeare Company production.

In 1998, he made his big-screen debut in the series Brothers and Sisters and Maisie Raine. He rose to prominence in the industry after starring in the TV series Spooks, in which he played an MI5 officer.

David has been in a number of television shows, has done a lot of voice acting, and has directed a number of films. He appeared in Mayo (2006), Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008), and Five Days (2007), as well as being the main character in The Passion (2008)

Net Worth

David Oyelowo has an estimated net worth of $6 million. But there is hope for more to come with his achievements in the film industry.

His earnings from television roles account for the majority of his net worth.

Family

Many people may be astonished to learn that he has up to four children. This is due to the actor's ability to keep his private life discreet. In 1998, while still in school, he met his wife Jessica at the National Youth Theater, where they developed a relationship into a romantic connection.

The pair later married on a date that was not made public. They are the parents of three sons and one daughter.

Height and Body Measurements

Oyelowo not only has the talent but also the physique to match. His height of 1.75 meters (5 feet 9) is proportional to his weight of 78 kg.

Facts about David Oyelowo

• His love fantasies were what drew him to acting in the first place. Theater didn't cross David Oyelowo's mind until he was introduced to a youth theater by a girl he liked, as a result of that, theater piqued his interest, and he went.

• He's a devout Christian. It's remarkable to hear a Hollywood actor profess to be a Christian, let alone openly announce his religious conviction. David and his family are devout Christians who follow the Bible's teachings.

• He is one of the few actors who never forgets his roots. And his history has no bearing on the quality of work he produces since he flawlessly interprets all characters.

• Graham and Alice, a BBC romantic comedy-drama about two lonely Londoners who plot to heist a betting store, was also written by him in 2006.

• He had the opportunity to fly in vintage P-51 Mustangs as part of his preparation for his role as a WWII Tuskegee Airman in 2012's Red Tails.

• Working with Steven Spielberg on Lincoln in 2012 fulfilled a lifelong dream.

• In the 2016 New Year Honors, he was made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire).

Awards and recognition

David Oyelowo has received national and worldwide recognition for his work in the industry. Some of which are listed here;

• Scholarship for Excellence, from Nicholas Hytner, 1998

• Best Performance by an Actor under 30 in a Classical Play, Ian Charleson Award, 2001

• Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television, Satellite Award, 2007

• Best Actor, Royal Television Society, 2010

• Spark Award, River Run International Film Festival, 2012

• Spotlight Award, Hollywood Film Awards, 2013

• Image Award, Outstanding Actor in A Motion Picture, 2013

• Breakthrough Performance, ‘The Butler’, Hamptons International Film Festival, 2013

• Best Actor, ‘Selma’, African-American Film Critics Association, 2014

• Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries, Critics’ Choice Television Award, 2014

• Best Actor, ‘Selma’ Black Reel Awards, 2015

• Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture, NAACP Image Award, 2015

• Selma Palm springs International Film Festival, 2015

• Virtuoso Award, ‘Selma’ Santa Barbara International Film Festival, 2015

• Breakthrough Award, Georgia Film Critics Association, (GAFCA), 2015

• Best Actor in a Tv Movie or Limited Series, ‘Nightingale’, Black Reel Award of 2016

• Anthena Leading Man, Anthena Film Industry, 2017

Quotes from David Oyelowo

“I am a father; I am very aware of the things I’m putting out in the world knowing that one day my children will watch the work that I’ve done. I want to be able to stand by it.”

“I do think opportunity breeds bravery. It’s such a competitive profession, no one owes you anything, talent in itself is not enough.”

“We can’t afford to deny our past in a bid to be empowered. But what we can do is contextualize the past.”

“Excellence is the best weapon against prejudice.…You’ve just got to keep on banging out good performance”

“You cannot perpetually stay in that place of blame. Otherwise it’s just a downward spiral”

“If you feel like the beginning of your history is rooted in slavery, that really, I think, messes with your sense of self, self-esteem, and self-worth.”

“I will till the day I die be an advocate for the d-world: diversity.”