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Top Black British Actors Who Are Taking Over Hollywood

Top Black British Actors Who Are Taking Over Hollywood

From Cynthia Erivo to Idris Elba, Black UK stars have been showing up and showing out.

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Cynthia Erivo, left; Aaron Pierre, and Idris Elba.
Cynthia Erivo, left; Aaron Pierre, and Idris Elba.
Photo: Ernesto S. Ruscio for The Red Sea International Film Festival; Charley Gallay for GQ; Michael Buckner/Variety (Getty Images)

It’s no secret that Black actors here in America are some of the best artists onstage and onscreen, but we can’t sleep on our melanated brothers and sisters from across the pond in England who are taking over the scene too.

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Whether belting out iconic notes in movie musicals like Cynthia Erivo or fighting supervillains at the end of time like Wunmi Mosaku or breathing new life into a classic like Aaron Pierre—let’s take a look at a handful of Black British actors who taking over Hollywood!

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Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo attends a conversation for “Wicked” at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on December 02, 2024 in New York City.
Cynthia Erivo attends a conversation for “Wicked” at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on December 02, 2024 in New York City.
Photo: Michael Loccisano (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Wicked,” “Harriet,” “Widows”

 

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Aaron Pierre

Aaron Pierre

 Aaron Pierre attends the 2024 GQ Men Of The Year Party at Bar Marmont on November 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Aaron Pierre attends the 2024 GQ Men Of The Year Party at Bar Marmont on November 14, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Olivia Wong/WireImage (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Mufasa: The Lion King,” “Rebel Ridge,” “Genius: MLK/X”



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Damson Idris

Damson Idris

Damson Idris attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala in Partnership with Rolex at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Damson Idris attends the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures 4th Annual Gala in Partnership with Rolex at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Emma McIntyre for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Snowfall,” “Outside the Wire,” “Farming”

 

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Idris Elba

Idris Elba

Idris Elba attends the star-studded GREY GOOSE Altius launch party on May 25, 2024 in Ibiza, Spain.
Idris Elba attends the star-studded GREY GOOSE Altius launch party on May 25, 2024 in Ibiza, Spain.
Photo: Dave Benett for GREY GOOSE Vodka (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Luther,” “The Wire,” “Hijack”



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John Boyega

John Boyega

John Boyega attends day 1 of Tokyo Comic Con 2024 at Makuhari Messe on December 06, 2024 in Chiba, Japan.
John Boyega attends day 1 of Tokyo Comic Con 2024 at Makuhari Messe on December 06, 2024 in Chiba, Japan.
Photo: Jun Sato/WireImage (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “They Cloned Tyrone,” “Attack the Block,” “The Last Jedi”



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Lashana Lynch

Lashana Lynch

 Lashana Lynch participates in the photocall of the film The Day of the Jackal at the Hotel St. Regis Rome (Italy) November 07th, 2024.
Lashana Lynch participates in the photocall of the film The Day of the Jackal at the Hotel St. Regis Rome (Italy) November 07th, 2024.
Photo: Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “The Woman King,” “No Time to Die,” “Captain Marvel”



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Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya attends the European Premiere of “Blink Twice” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 19, 2024 in London, England.
Daniel Kaluuya attends the European Premiere of “Blink Twice” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on August 19, 2024 in London, England.
Photo: Dave Benett/WireImage (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Get Out,” “Nope,” “Judas and the Black Messiah”



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Jodie Turner-Smith

Jodie Turner-Smith

Jodie Turner-Smith at The Fashion Awards 2024 held at the Royal Albert Hall on December 02, 2024 in London, United Kingdom.
Jodie Turner-Smith at The Fashion Awards 2024 held at the Royal Albert Hall on December 02, 2024 in London, United Kingdom.
Photo: Matt Crossick/WWD (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Queen & Slim,” “The Acolyte,” “The Agency”



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David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo attends the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
David Oyelowo attends the Los Angeles premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
Photo: Amy Sussman/WireImage (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Lawman: Bass Reeves,” “Selma,” “The Butler”



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Wunmi Mosaku

Wunmi Mosaku

Wunmi Mosaku attends the “Deadpool & Wolverine” premiere at David H. Koch Theater in New York City on July 22, 2024.
Wunmi Mosaku attends the “Deadpool & Wolverine” premiere at David H. Koch Theater in New York City on July 22, 2024.
Photo: Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Lovecraft Country,” “Loki,” “Luther”



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Lucien Laviscount

Lucien Laviscount

Lucien Laviscount attends The Fashion Awards 2024 Presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall on December 02, 2024 in London, England.
Lucien Laviscount attends The Fashion Awards 2024 Presented by Pandora at the Royal Albert Hall on December 02, 2024 in London, England.
Photo: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Emily in Paris,” “Waterloo Road,” “This Time Next Year”



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Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel

 Michaela Coel arrives for the second annual GQ Global Creativity awards at WSA in New York, April 11, 2024.
Michaela Coel arrives for the second annual GQ Global Creativity awards at WSA in New York, April 11, 2024.
Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “I May Destroy You,” “Chewing Gum,” “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”



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Kingsley Ben-Adir

Kingsley Ben-Adir

Kingsley Ben-Adir arrives for the Time 100 Next event at Current at Chelsea Piers in New York on October 9, 2024.
Kingsley Ben-Adir arrives for the Time 100 Next event at Current at Chelsea Piers in New York on October 9, 2024.
Photo: Leonardo Munoz / AFP (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Bob Marley: One Love,” “Secret Invasion,” “One Night in Miami”

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Regé-Jean Page

Regé-Jean Page

Regé-Jean Page at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala held at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Regé-Jean Page at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala held at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo: Gilbert Flores/WWD (Getty Images)

Notable Projects: “Bridgerton,” “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves,” “The Gray Man”

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