Netflix’s Beast of No Nation, starring Idris Elba, received a lot of attention before its premiere, not only because of Elba but also because of the movie’s director, Cary Fukunaga. The film tells the fictional tale of young guerrilla soldiers under the tutelage of Elba’s character. But for many folks who have seen the movie, one actor stood out and, some say, outshone Elba.
Fourteen-year-old Abraham Attah’s life has drastically changed as a result of the movie. Before being picked to star opposite Elba, the Ghanaian teenager was a street vendor. Now he’s on his way to being a star. And an educated one at that.
Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, head of content acquisition, is making sure that Abraham receives his education, and according to Fukunaga, he’s reaching into his own pocket to pay for it.
“Ted Sarandos has said that he would pay for [Abraham's] private education through senior year of high school,” Fukunaga told Business Insider.
Abraham is currently attending a boarding school in Ghana, and although he’s gotten a late start in his education, Fukunaga said that he’s making strides.
“Technically he's in seventh grade, but I think there’s a lot to be caught up on, including reading comprehension, and that’s essential to his script reading if he wants to do more acting in the future,” Fukunaga said. “We found a private school that starts in the seventh grade; a lot of the private schools don’t start until eighth or ninth grade. And it’s a school that can cater to his specific needs and help him get caught up.”
Abraham isn’t giving up on acting. He’s already landed his second role and is continuing his education on the set by using a private tutor.
If you haven’t seen Beasts of No Nation yet, it’s definitely a must-see film. It’s also sure to capture a few nods this award season.