David Oyelowo – Man for All Seasons!
By Robert Waldman : Any season seems like a good season and reason to catch up on David Oyelowo. This captivating British thespian seems destined to major stardom thanks to two impressive turns in his biggest box office bets yet. Only now are North Americans getting a taste to sample this impressive man’s wears.
Not too often to breakthroughs get made. Back in sports there was Jackie Robinson clawing his way to the top and breaking the baseball colour barrier. Sammy Davis Jr. did the same thing when he opened up Las Vegas to non white performers. Then there was a certain preacher who had a dream and made history, one Dr. Martin Luther King. David Oyelowo continues this winning trend and does deserve credit for being the first Black man to play an English monarch on the British stage live. So impressive as his rendering of Henry VI in parts I, II and III that he won the best newcomer award for his work on this Royal Shakespeare Company theatrical giant. Look for more awards to come this man’s way. Not bad for still a relative newcomer having first appeared on televison back in 1978.
With a Nigerian heritage and parentage, young David came into this world in Oxford, England back on April 1, 1976. Education was always big for this lad as he attended the London Academy of Music and Drama and ultimately won a scholarship before fleeing academia at the behest of a professor. Consider this to have been a good choice based on what has occurred since.
On the big screen Dave starred opposite fellow Brit Clive Owen in the thrilling Derailed. Now he’s taking on even bigger game as a control freak director of a genetics firm having to deal with dangerous apes on the loose in this thrilling Rise of the Planet of the Apes. In between stints on British Television and abroad Oyelowo continues his winning ways with a role on the slave era drama The Help.
My oh my the stars to appear to be shining down on the 5’11 mega watt star. Based on two winning performances in simultaniously released films I’d say young David Oyeloo has a long career ahead of him, indeed.
