African-American Actors Who Are From The UK

As a film buff, I’ve always noticed how many incredibly talented British actors have become major stars in American movies and TV. It’s amazing how seamlessly they often pick up American accents to play these iconic roles! It really shows how global the entertainment industry is now, and just how versatile British training can be. I was thinking about this the other day, and decided to put together a list of some of the most prominent British male actors who’ve really made a name for themselves over here in the States.

Idris Elba

Idris Elba first became widely known for playing Stringer Bell in the popular TV show ‘The Wire’. Since then, the London-born actor has appeared in many successful films, such as ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’ and ‘Pacific Rim’. He’s also famous for starring as the lead detective in the series ‘Luther’, a role that won him several awards. Through his varied work, Elba has become a major star in both British and American cinema.

Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya rose to international fame after starring in the horror film ‘Get Out’. He later won an Academy Award for his performance as Fred Hampton in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’, and also appeared in the popular film ‘Black Panther’ as W’Kabi. Kaluuya began his acting career on British television with appearances in shows like ‘Skins’ and ‘Black Mirror’.

John Boyega

As a film fan, I first really noticed John Boyega in ‘Attack the Block’ – a brilliant British sci-fi comedy. But he truly became a household name playing Finn in the recent ‘Star Wars’ trilogy. What really impressed me, though, was his powerful performance in ‘Detroit,’ where he portrayed a security guard caught up in the 1967 riots. It’s clear he’s an actor who isn’t afraid to tackle complex roles, and I’m excited to see what he does in both smaller independent projects and big blockbuster films.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Ejiofor is a highly acclaimed actor known for his compelling roles in both theater and film. He received an Academy Award nomination for his powerful portrayal of Solomon Northup in ’12 Years a Slave,’ and has also appeared in critically praised films like ‘Children of Men’ and ‘The Martian.’ More recently, he joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing Mordo in ‘Doctor Strange.’ Throughout his career, Ejiofor has consistently taken on diverse and challenging roles, ranging from intense dramas to action-packed adventures.

David Oyelowo

David Oyelowo is best known for his powerful performance as Martin Luther King Jr. in the movie ‘Selma’. He’s also been in other historical films like ‘The Butler’ and ‘Lincoln’. Before becoming a Hollywood star, Oyelowo started his acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in the British TV show ‘Spooks’. He’s now a prominent leading man in dramatic films.

Damson Idris

Damson Idris is an actor most famous for playing Franklin Saint in the TV series ‘Snowfall’. Originally from London, he convincingly plays a young drug dealer in 1980s Los Angeles, mastering an American accent for the role. He’s also been in films like ‘Outside the Wire’ and ‘Farming’, and is quickly becoming a popular and well-known actor.

Regé-Jean Page

Regé-Jean Page quickly became famous for playing the Duke of Hastings in the popular series ‘Bridgerton’. Since then, he’s starred in big action movies like ‘The Gray Man’ and ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’. Before becoming an actor, he grew up in both Zimbabwe and London. Many consider him one of the most exciting up-and-coming actors in the United States.

Kingsley Ben-Adir

Kingsley Ben-Adir is known for brilliantly playing real people on screen, including Malcolm X in ‘One Night in Miami’ and Barack Obama in ‘The Comey Rule’. He’s also appeared in popular shows like ‘Vera’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’, and recently played Ken in the hit movie ‘Barbie’. Critics have consistently praised his talent for convincingly becoming these iconic figures.

David Harewood

David Harewood is a British actor who has become popular with American viewers through his roles in the TV shows ‘Homeland’ (as David Estes) and ‘Supergirl’ (as J’onn J’onzz). He has a long and successful career in British theater and television, and was awarded an MBE for his contributions to the performing arts.

Adrian Lester

Adrian Lester is a well-known and admired actor, famous for his roles in the TV series ‘Hustle’ and the film ‘Primary Colors’. He’s a seasoned performer with the Royal National Theatre, having appeared in many Shakespeare plays. In ‘Primary Colors,’ he played a campaign manager alongside John Travolta. He continues to act in both the UK and the US, working on stage and in film and television.

Alfred Enoch

Alfred Enoch first became well-known for his role as Dean Thomas in the ‘Harry Potter’ movies. He then starred as Wes Gibbins in the American TV show ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. The son of actor William Russell, Enoch also has a strong background in theatre and recently appeared in the Apple TV+ science fiction series ‘Foundation’.

Lucien Laviscount

Lucien Laviscount is best known for playing Alfie in the hit show ‘Emily in Paris’. He started acting as a child in British TV programs like ‘Grange Hill’ and ‘Coronation Street’, and has since appeared in American series including ‘Scream Queens’ and ‘Snatch’. He’s now continuing to thrive in both romantic comedies and dramatic roles.

Daryl McCormack

Daryl McCormack has received excellent reviews for his performance in ‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’. He’s also known for his roles in the hit TV series ‘Peaky Blinders’ where he played Isaiah Jesus, and the fantasy show ‘The Wheel of Time’. While originally from Ireland, McCormack has primarily worked in the UK and on international projects.

Malachi Kirby

Malachi Kirby is an acclaimed actor, most recognized for his role as Kunta Kinte in the 2016 reimagining of the classic miniseries ‘Roots’. He’s also known for his work on the ‘Black Mirror’ episode ‘Men Against Fire’, and has been featured in British series such as ‘Small Axe’ and ‘Curfew’. Kirby is particularly praised for his powerful and moving performances in historical dramas.

Aml Ameen

Aml Ameen is an actor who’s appeared in popular projects like ‘The Maze Runner’, ‘Yardie’, and the first season of the Netflix series ‘Sense8’, where he played Capheus. He recently expanded his career to include directing, making his debut with the film ‘Boxing Day’, in which he also acted. Throughout his career, Ameen has worked on both British television dramas and large-scale American movies.

Arinzé Kene

Arinzé Kene is a talented actor and playwright who’s worked on the film ‘I’m Your Woman’ and British TV shows like ‘Informer’ and ‘Flack’. He’s particularly known for his critically acclaimed one-man play, ‘Misty’, which was a hit in London’s West End. Kene successfully juggles acting in films with writing plays.

Paapa Essiedu

I’m a huge fan of Paapa Essiedu! He’s seriously talented – I was so thrilled to see him nominated for an Emmy for ‘I May Destroy You’. You might also recognize him from shows like ‘The Lazarus Project’ and ‘Gangs of London’, which are both fantastic. What’s really cool is that he made history by being the first Black actor to play Hamlet with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He’s quickly becoming one of the biggest names in TV, both here in the UK and in America.

Lennie James

Lennie James is a well-known actor, famous for his role as Morgan Jones in both ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. He’s also a writer and starred in the popular British series ‘Save Me’, and has appeared in films like ‘Snatch’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’. James has enjoyed a successful acting career for many years in both the UK and the US.

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje is a well-known actor, recognized for his roles as Simon Adebisi in ‘Oz’ and Mr. Eko in ‘Lost’. He’s also been in popular movies like ‘The Mummy Returns’ and ‘Suicide Squad’. He recently directed his first film, ‘Farming’, which is a personal story based on his own life experiences. Akinnuoye-Agbaje is admired for his strong physical presence and his talent for portraying complicated characters.

Nonso Anozie

Nonso Anozie is an actor known for his roles in popular series like ‘Game of Thrones’ (where he played Xaro Xhoan Daxos) and ‘Sweet Tooth’ (as Tommy Jepperd). He’s also been in notable films such as ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Grey’. Audiences often recognize him for his powerful voice and commanding presence on screen.

Jimmy Akingbola

Jimmy Akingbola is an actor best known for playing Geoffrey in the recent reboot of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, called ‘Bel-Air’. He’s also been in a number of British TV shows like ‘Holby City’ and ‘Kate and Koji’, and played the villain Baron Reiter on the superhero series ‘Arrow’. Beyond acting, Akingbola co-founded the Triforce Creative Network, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity within the arts.

Paterson Joseph

Paterson Joseph is a well-known actor who’s appeared in popular shows like ‘Peep Show’ and ‘The Leftovers’. He’s a familiar face on British television, with roles in series such as ‘Casualty’ and ‘Timeless’. More recently, he played Arthur Slugworth in the movie ‘Wonka’. Joseph is praised for being able to convincingly perform both comedic and dramatic roles.

Delroy Lindo

As a film lover, I’ve always admired Delroy Lindo. He actually started his life in London before making a name for himself here in the States. He’s become a truly legendary actor, and I especially love his work with Spike Lee – films like ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘Da 5 Bloods’ are just incredible. Beyond that, he was fantastic in ‘The Good Fight’ too. It’s no surprise he’s racked up a ton of awards and nominations over the years, both on screen and on stage.

Ashley Walters

Ashley Walters is a well-known British actor, most famous for playing Dushane in the series ‘Top Boy’. He first became popular as part of the UK garage group So Solid Crew. He’s also starred in films such as ‘Bullet Boy’ and ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and has been a leading presence in British urban dramas for over 20 years.

Micheal Ward

Micheal Ward is a rising star in British film, having won the BAFTA Rising Star Award for his performance in ‘Blue Story’. He’s also known for his roles as Jamie in the series ‘Top Boy’ and in the film ‘Empire of Light’. Additionally, he appeared in Steve McQueen’s acclaimed anthology series ‘Small Axe’, solidifying his reputation as one of the UK’s most promising young actors.

Colin Salmon

Colin Salmon is a well-known actor, famous for his role as Charles Robinson in three James Bond movies. He’s also been on American TV shows like ‘Arrow’ and ‘Limitless’, and has done voice work, including projects for ‘Resident Evil’. Throughout his career, Salmon has worked extensively in British television and films around the world.

Eamonn Walker

Eamonn Walker is a well-known actor, most famous for playing Chief Wallace Boden on the TV show ‘Chicago Fire’. Before that, he appeared in the series ‘Oz’ as Kareem Saïd. Born in London, he’s also been in films such as ‘Unbreakable’ and ‘Lord of War’. Notably, Walker made history as the first Black actor to perform the role of Othello at the Globe Theatre in London.

Nicholas Pinnock

Nicholas Pinnock is an actor best known for playing Aaron Wallace in the TV series ‘For Life’. He’s also appeared in popular British shows like ‘Top Boy’ and ‘Marcella’, as well as the sci-fi series ‘Counterpart’ and ‘Django’. Before acting, Pinnock trained in dance and physical theatre, which continues to influence his performances.

Babou Ceesay

Babou Ceesay is an actor who has appeared in several popular projects, including the limited series ‘Guerrilla’ with Freida Pinto, and the British series ‘Dark Money’ and ‘Wolfe’. He also had roles in the films ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and ‘Eye in the Sky’. Ceesay’s work has earned him a BAFTA nomination for television drama.

Ariyon Bakare

Ariyon Bakare is an actor best known for playing Lord Boreal in the show ‘His Dark Materials’. He’s also been in films like ‘Life’ and ‘Jupiter Ascending’, and had a regular part in the Amazon series ‘Good Omens’. Bakare has a substantial body of work in British TV, particularly in dramas and science fiction.

O-T Fagbenle

O-T Fagbenle is well-known for playing Luke Bankole in the popular series ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and Rick Mason in the Marvel movie ‘Black Widow’. Beyond acting, he’s also a talented musician and director, and he created and starred in the comedy series ‘Maxxx’.

Ricky Whittle

Ricky Whittle is known for playing Shadow Moon in the fantasy series ‘American Gods’. He first became popular on the British soap opera ‘Hollyoaks’ and later appeared in ‘The 100’. He also competed on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Whittle has moved from British TV to become a leading actor in high-quality American dramas.

Jacob Anderson

Jacob Anderson is famous around the world for playing Grey Worm in the hit show ‘Game of Thrones’. He now stars as Louis de Pointe du Lac in the series ‘Interview with the Vampire’. In addition to acting, Anderson is a talented singer and songwriter who performs as Raleigh Ritchie. He’s also been in popular British shows like ‘Broadchurch’ and ‘Doctor Who’.

Joseph Marcell

Joseph Marcell is best known for playing Geoffrey the butler on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. However, he’s also a highly skilled Shakespearean actor with a long history performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Born in Saint Lucia, he moved to the UK when he was young. Today, Marcell continues to act in theatre and television productions in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

David Gyasi

David Gyasi is an actor known for his work in popular projects like the films ‘Interstellar’ and ‘Cloud Atlas’, and the series ‘Containment’ and ‘Carnival Row’. He recently appeared in the Netflix drama ‘The Diplomat’ and is particularly praised for his compelling performances in both science fiction and dramatic roles.

Richard Ayoade

Richard Ayoade is best known for playing Maurice Moss in the hit comedy series ‘The IT Crowd’. He’s also a film director, with credits including ‘Submarine’ and ‘The Double’. Beyond acting, Ayoade does voice work – you might recognize him from ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Bad Guys’. He’s a popular comedian and TV host in the UK.

Noel Clarke

Noel Clarke is famous for playing Mickey Smith in ‘Doctor Who’. He’s also the creator and star of the ‘Kidulthood’ film series. Beyond that, he’s appeared in movies like ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ and has worked extensively as a director and producer in British cinema.

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is an award-winning actor, best known for his Olivier Award-winning performance as Ike Turner in ‘Tina The Tina Turner Musical’. He’s also appeared in popular films like ‘Mary Poppins Returns’, ‘Paddington 2’, and the Marvel movie ‘Doctor Strange’. Beyond film, he’s a highly respected performer with a strong background in both musical theatre and classic plays.

Charles Venn

Charles Venn is a British actor who’s been a familiar face on TV for years. He’s best known for his roles in popular shows like ‘Casualty’ and ‘EastEnders’, and he even appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Dark Knight’ as a bodyguard. He’s also starred in the series ‘Dream Team’ and ‘Footballers’ Wives’.

Tosin Cole

Tosin Cole is an actor who gained recognition for his role as Ryan Sinclair on ‘Doctor Who’. He’s also appeared in the TV series ’61st Street’ and the film ‘Till’, and more recently played Tyrone Downie in ‘Bob Marley One Love’. Cole’s career began with roles in British shows like ‘The Cut’ and ‘Hollyoaks’.

Abubakar Salim

Abubakar Salim is an actor best known for playing Father in the sci-fi show ‘Raised by Wolves’. He also brought the character Bayek to life in the video game ‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ through both his voice and movements. More recently, he appeared as Alyn of Hull in ‘House of the Dragon’. In addition to acting, Salim is also a video game developer and founded his own studio, Silver Rain Games.

David Jonsson

David Jonsson has received praise for his performance in ‘Rye Lane’ and is also known for his role as Gus Sackey in the series ‘Industry’. He recently appeared in the horror film ‘Alien Romulus’ as Andy. Many consider Jonsson to be one of the rising stars in British and American cinema.

Ncuti Gatwa

Ncuti Gatwa first became well-known for playing Eric Effiong in the popular Netflix show ‘Sex Education’. He’s now taking on the iconic role of the Fifteenth Doctor in the classic series ‘Doctor Who’, and also appeared as one of the Kens in the hit movie ‘Barbie’. Gatwa is an award-winning actor, praised for his ability to excel in both comedic and dramatic roles.

Toheeb Jimoh

Toheeb Jimoh is an actor who gained popularity for playing Sam Obisanya in the hit comedy series ‘Ted Lasso’. He’s also appeared in ‘The Power’ on Amazon Prime Video, and even received an Emmy nomination for his work on ‘Ted Lasso’. He’s quickly become well-known on television shows around the world.

Kola Bokinni

Kola Bokinni is an actor who’s appeared in popular shows like ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘Top Boy’, and an episode of ‘Black Mirror’ called ‘Men Against Fire’. He’s worked on both dramas in the UK and comedies for international audiences, and is continuing to take on exciting new roles in television.

Share your favorite performances from these talented actors in the comments.

2026-02-10 09:27