John
Boyega

Identity School of Acting

John Boyega is a versatile actor whose rigorous training at top drama school Identity School of Acting has honed his craft across various dimensions of performance. At Identity, John immersed himself in a comprehensive curriculum that included specialised courses in screen acting, audition technique, text & performance, radio plays & audiobooks, monologues, Stanislavski, Meisner, improvisation, and voice training. This diverse training equipped him with a robust set of skills and an adaptable approach to acting. His commitment and talent culminated in a standout performance at the school’s prestigious showcase, where he demonstrated his range and depth as an actor. John’s training also played a crucial role in his auditions, notably for his role as Finn in “Star Wars”. John’s dedication to his art continues to drive his evolving career in the industry.

John Boyega Movies

Boyega’s performance as Leroy Logan in “Red, White and Blue,” part of Steve McQueen’s anthology series “Small Axe” (2020), earned him a Golden Globe Award. He has also starred in the historical action film “The Woman King” (2022) and the mystery film “They Cloned Tyrone” (2023).

Early History

John Boyega trained and studied at Identity Drama School in Hackney (now located in Wood Green, North London). Before his breakthrough role in the 2011 film “Attack the Block,” he appeared in “Six Parties” at the National Theatre and “Category B” at the Tricycle Theatre. In September 2011, HBO announced Boyega’s casting in the boxing drama pilot “Da Brick,” loosely based on Mike Tyson’s life, where he was set to play Donnie, a young man released from juvenile detention on his 18th birthday who begins to explore what it means to be a man. The pilot, written by John Ridley, was not picked up by HBO. In the same year, Boyega played Jamal, a drug dealer, in the film “Junkhearts.”

Recognised as one of Screen International’s “UK Stars of Tomorrow 2011,” Boyega appeared on the cover of the magazine’s July edition alongside two other actors. In March 2012, he was cast in the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel “Half of a Yellow Sun.” On April 29, 2014, it was confirmed that Boyega would play a major character in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” later revealed to be Finn, a stormtrooper who defects from the First Order. The film, released on December 18, 2015, and Boyega’s performance received widespread acclaim.

Recent Achievements

In 2017, Boyega starred in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Detroit,” a film about the 1967 Detroit riots, and reprised his role as Finn in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” In January 2016, he founded his production company, UpperRoom Entertainment Limited, which co-produced the 2018 film “Pacific Rim: Uprising,” where he played the lead role of Jake Pentecost. In 2019, Boyega hinted at a new collaboration with writer/director Sebastian Thiel on a series based on their childhood experiences, with Boyega producing. In November 2018, it was announced that he would star alongside Letitia Wright in a film adaptation of the novel “Hold Back the Stars” and join Steve McQueen’s miniseries “Small Axe.”

Boyega reprised his role as Finn in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019). During filming, he accidentally left his script in a hotel room, which was later retrieved from eBay by a Lucasfilm employee to prevent leaks. In response to a tweet about playing the DC Comics character Static, Boyega expressed that he would be too old for the role but showed interest in portraying Red Hood.

Awards & Important Moments

Listed among the Top 100 most influential people of African/African-Caribbean descent in the UK by Powerlist in 2020 and 2021, Boyega was also named one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2020. Recently, his production company UpperRoom secured a first-look deal with VIS Kids. Boyega walked out of Netflix’s “Rebel Ridge” mid-production due to family issues. In 2022, he starred in Abi Damaris Corbin’s “Breaking” (originally titled “892”) and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s historical epic “The Woman King” alongside Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, and Lashana Lynch. Boyega also led Netflix’s sci-fi comedy “They Cloned Tyrone,” playing multiple characters. In May 2021, it was announced that Boyega would reteam with Joe Cornish for a sequel to “Attack the Block.”