David Oyelowo’s name is the talk of the town after Selma premièred at AFI Fest this week. Oyelowo is winning rave reviews for his performance. He also appeared in J C Chandor’s A Most Violent Year, which opened the festival.
His face was already familiar. Last year, he had a pivotal role in The Butler. Here’s everything you need to know about the man who is tipped to earn an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in the film.
- Oyelowo hails from the UK and started his acting career on stage, playing Henry VI. He was the first black actor to portray a Shakespearian King for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- His character in The Butler ages over several decades, Oyelowo employed several aspects to show the aging process, ” I would sleep for 10 hours the night before I had to play a teenager and I’d sleep four or five hours when I had to play older. I’d go to the gym to shed weight very quickly to play the younger character and I’d eat a lot of salty food and drink a lot of water that bloats me out to play the older character. “
- Oyelowo starred in the British TV show, Spooks from 2012-2014, it was known in America as MI-5. Chewitel Ejifor was a classmate at drama school.
- He has starred in over 20 films including, The Paperboy, Jack Reacher, Lincoln, The Help and Rise of The Planet of The Apes.
- Oyelowo makes an appearance in Interstellar as a school principal.
- He filmed Spielberg’s Lincoln and Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise at the same time, and had to face inevitable shooting conflicts. Oyelowo says, “Nobody had told Tom. I was in Richmond, Virginia, with Daniel Day-Lewis and Spielberg having the time of my life and I start getting these calls saying, ‘Tom’s really excited about this car chase tonight’ and I was, ‘What are you talking about? I’m here’ – and I’m not going to be the one to tell Spielberg I’m leaving. Goodness knows what happened behind the scenes but I was on a jet that took me to Pittsburgh and I walked straight into that car chase.”
- On working with fellow Brit Actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, “He is in character all the time. You have to call him ‘Mr President’ or ‘Mr Lincoln’ if you’re going to address him. He was the acting equivalent of a time machine for me – just being around him you sank right into 1865.”
- Oyelowo on reactions from casting agents when they hear his British accent, “I’m never apprehensive [about being a British actor playing an American]. I live in Los Angeles now, and that’s a choice I made to try and work in the industry there. They are still confounded by a black man who talks like the Queen!”
- Why he moved to Los Angeles, “The film industry here [in the UK] is so small, and I aspire to do movies so I had to take my plant and put it in more fertile ground. [Black actors] can’t really do period dramas that have cross-over appeal that we are known to export. I don’t think I would have got to play a fighter pilot if I stayed here.”
- Selma won’t be the first time he’s worked with Oprah, he played her son in The Butler, watch this video of him talking about his mother’s reaction to Oprah playing his mother:
Oyelowo is about to make a splash in Hollywood, watch out. Read Sasha’s review of Selma here.
Selma opens on December 25.
Personally, Bryce, he reminds me of Paul Ryan.
Speaking of Gyllenhaal’s Louis Bloom. I assume much has been written comparing him to Travis Bickle, Mark Lewis from PEEPING TOM, Rupert Pupkin, etc., because I imagine those are the obvious resemblances, but did anyone, like me, get mostly a Daniel Plainview aftertaste when you consider his entire arch? I’d even go as far as saying the film has as much, if not more, in common with THERE WILL BE BLOOD as with those classics.
Perhaps all of the above? Hm.
*resumes editing ‘Narry’ supercut with Riz Ortolani*
luvin’ the heck outta this new trend Ellen Burstyn’s got going.
Selma had a press screening in NYC last night and let’s just say it was a huge hit.
Richard Lawson @rilaws 3m3 minutes ago
Well, I’ve never seen a standing ovation at a press screening before. #Selma
Clayton Davis @AwardsCircuit · 1m 1 minute ago
Ava DuVernay, you’re going to need a pretty dress. Selma is overwhelmingly brilliant. David Oyelowo, you earned that Oscar. @
Edward Turkeyhands @EDouglasWW 3m3 minutes ago
Selma is this year’s Lincoln and Davie Oyelowo just launched himself into the Best Actor race like an atomic bomb.
Mike Ryan @mikeryan 3m3 minutes ago
SELMA is really fantastic.
Kate Erbland @katerbland 32s33 seconds ago
SELMA is a masterpiece.
Clayton Davis @AwardsCircuit 2m2 minutes ago
Standing ovation the minute the credits rolled. Tears, cheers, and a praise that will shoot this to Oscar frontrunner status. #Selma
kateyrich @kateyrich 2m2 minutes ago
Yup, Selma has It. And by It I mean the best lead actor and by FAR the best cinematography I’ve seen all year.
Joanna Langfield @Joannalangfield 4m4 minutes ago
My pic of Ava didn’t fly to Twitter, but @AVAETC’s sweeping Selma sure does. A tremendous picture, essential today.
Mike Ryan @mikeryan 3m3 minutes ago
Yeah, SELMA is the best movie I’ve seen this year. (And, yes, I cried a little.)
Christopher Rosen @chrisjrosen 2m2 minutes ago
“Selma” is fantastic. Everything works. Deepest cast of the year. Bradford Young crushes. Can’t tweet enough good things.
Richard Lawson @rilaws 2m2 minutes ago
Selma is very well done, with a great lead performance. Tears and shivers abound
Mike Ryan @mikeryan 1m1 minute ago
During the SELMA “here’s what happened to everyone” montage, people applauded George Wallace’s comeuppance. At a press screening.
ThePlaylist @ThePlaylist 2m2 minutes ago
Did I undersell? Selma is immense. Don’t wanna talk awards, but the season gets severely tilted in its favor. Oyelowo, Ava, Bradford: huge
Joey Magidson @JoeyMagidson 2m2 minutes ago
Selma is a mostly great film. The supporting players are under served and the pacing could be tighter, but it’s undeniably powerful/timely.
Joey Magidson @JoeyMagidson 6m6 minutes ago
David Oyelowo gives a towering performance as Martin Luther King and Ava DuVernay is on her way to the A list, along with DP Bradford Young.
Jackie ..Stop @HitTheRoad_JACQ 6m6 minutes ago
I encourage everyone to see #Selma when it hits theaters. Truly a job well done. Haven’t been moved like that in a while
Okhela Bazile @OkhelaBazile 5m5 minutes ago Manhattan, NY
So emotional after seeing #Selma great film! Wishing you tons of success @AVAETC @AFFRMMAVERICKS @AFFRM
iamstagram
30 minutes ago
Went to a screening of #Selma tonight & my soul was rocked that so many scenes reminded me of moments in Ferguson. Thank U Selma for reminding me why we do this.. #WeWhoBelieveInFreedom In the name of those who came before us
Oyelowo should get a nomination as should Gyllenhaal for “Nightcrawler”, but Keaton should still win.
I’ve been waiting so many years too! Since mi5 I have been a fan of his! I’m thrilled for his success:)
He has always been such an underrated actor. Seeing him play a gargantuan role like MLK is the sort of thing I’ve been waiting to see.