---
name: "David Oyelowo"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-oyelowo"
fi1m_id: "david-oyelowo"
imdb_id: "nm0654648"
tmdb_id: 35013
wikidata_id: "Q218800"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 April 1976"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 15
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 14
updated: "2026-10-23T21:11:03.770901+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Oyelowo

## Identity

David Oyelowo

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-oyelowo
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-oyelowo
- **IMDb ID:** nm0654648
- **TMDB ID:** 35013
- **Wikidata ID:** Q218800
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Oyelowo, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218800, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0654648/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/35013

Actor. Born 1 April 1976 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 April 1976, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
- **Active:** 2002–present
- **Also known as:** David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 15: 14 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Forest Whitaker](https://film.one/person/forest-whitaker.md), [Jeremy Lovering](https://film.one/person/jeremy-lovering.md), [Peter Hoar](https://film.one/person/peter-hoar.md), [Ruth Wilson](https://film.one/person/ruth-wilson.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 14 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 71 (4), 2010s 77 (8), 2020s 63 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 68 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Crime 4, Science Fiction 3, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, History 2
- **Screen time:** 21 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,025m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Oyelowo, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218800, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0654648/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/35013

## Coming up

- *Clarissa* (2026-12-11), as Peter

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*A Most Violent Year*](https://film.one/film/a-most-violent-year.md) (77), [*Five Days*](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md) (76)
- **Netflix:** [*Selma*](https://film.one/film/selma.md) (84)
- **Apple TV:** [*Spooks*](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md) (77)
- **Disney+:** [*See How They Run*](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md) (70)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Butler*](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md) (66)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Oyelowo

> David Oyelowo is at his most persuasive when he lets a commanding man hesitate. We rate the patience and attention he brings to *Selma*: the speeches matter, but the listening tells us more.

As Martin Luther King in *Selma* (2014), David Oyelowo listens to an objection and weighs how firmly to answer. He does not turn each quiet moment into a display of suffering, or ask us to admire restraint for its own sake. We believe him because he gives the other person enough attention to suggest that the answer might change. It is a fine performance, and the private conversations are where we find it most compelling.

Early television prominence as Danny Hunter in *Spooks* (2002–2004) was followed by supporting film roles, including *The Butler* (2013), before *Selma* put him at the centre. He has often been cast as historical figures with moral authority, and he has the vocal precision for the public speeches. What we value in *Selma* is how little he relies on those speeches to explain the man. He allows uncertainty into the conversations without making King seem incapable of deciding.

Ava DuVernay helps by keeping the people around King present, even while he is speaking. Carmen Ejogo's Coretta Scott King has her own reserve and independence, and Oyelowo has to respond to it. We were moved by their quieter exchanges because his confidence seemed less secure in her company. Some of the film's dialogue sounds too prepared, a real limitation in a drama that asks us to listen so closely. The strength of his performance is that we can still follow the effort of choosing an answer beneath the polished words.

His later television parts include Sheriff Holston Becker in *Silo* (2023) and Bass Reeves in the Western series *Lawmen: Bass Reeves* (2023). We would be wary of any script that asked him simply to look dignified. DuVernay gives him people worth hearing and decisions that need thought, and we would like him to keep getting that sort of writing. There is more to explore when another actor can make his character reconsider an answer. Start with *Selma*, and pay particular attention when Ejogo is in the scene.

## Biography

David Oyelowo is a British actor, director and producer. Born on 1 April 1976 in Oxford, he trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began his career on stage and in British television.

He rose to prominence playing MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the BBC series *Spooks* (2002–2004). His film roles include supporting parts in *The Last King of Scotland* (2006), *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* (2011), *The Help* (2011), *Lincoln* (2012) and *Jack Reacher* (2012). He portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in *Selma* (2014).

Oyelowo has received a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards, with nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA Award. He was appointed OBE in 2016 for services to drama. On television he has appeared in *Les Misérables* (2018), *Silo* (2023) and *Lawmen: Bass Reeves* (2023), and stars as Long John Silver in the series *Treasure Island* (2026).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, variety.com.*

## On Fi1m (15)

### Performed in (14) — the average rests on these

- *Silo* (2023), Fi1m 75, as Sheriff Holston Becker — [page](https://film.one/tv/silo.md)
- *See How They Run* (2022), Fi1m 70, as Mervyn Cocker-Norris — [page](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md)
- *Chaos Walking* (2021), Fi1m 44, as Aaron — [page](https://film.one/film/chaos-walking.md)
- *A Most Violent Year* (2014), Fi1m 77, as D.A. Lawrence — [page](https://film.one/film/a-most-violent-year.md)
- *Interstellar* (2014), Fi1m 79, as School Principal — [page](https://film.one/film/interstellar.md)
- *Selma* (2014), Fi1m 84, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md)
- *The Butler* (2013), Fi1m 66, as Louis Gaines — [page](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), Fi1m 82, as Corporal Ira Clark — [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* (2011), Fi1m 80, as Steven Jacobs — [page](https://film.one/film/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *The Help* (2011), Fi1m 66, as Preacher Green — [page](https://film.one/film/the-help.md)
- *Small Island* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Gilbert — [page](https://film.one/tv/small-island.md)
- *Five Days* (2007), Fi1m 76, as Matt Wellings — [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *Spooks* (2002), Fi1m 77, as Danny Hunter — [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *Tomorrow La Scala!* (2002), Fi1m 59, as Charlie — [page](https://film.one/film/tomorrow-la-scala.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *13th* (2016), Fi1m 84, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/13th.md)

## Complete filmography (94)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Clarissa* (2026), as Peter
- *Treasure Island* (2026), series, as Long John Silver — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/tv/treasure-island.md)
- *Newborn* (2026), as Chris Newborn · Producer
- *The American Revolution* (2025), series, as Olaudah Equiano / Sam (voice)
- *American Solitaire* (2025), Executive Producer
- *Government Cheese* (2025), series, as Hampton Chambers · Executive Producer
- *National Theatre Live: Coriolanus* (2025), as Coriolanus
- *Big Cats, Small World* (2024), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Becoming King* (2024), Producer
- *The After* (2024), as Dayo · Producer
- *The Book of Clarence* (2024), as John the Baptist
- *Role Play* (2023), as Dave
- *Lawmen: Bass Reeves* (2023), series, as Bass Reeves · Executive Producer
- *Silo* (2023), series, as Sheriff Holston Becker — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/tv/silo.md)
- *The Tiger Who Came to Tea* (2022), as The Tiger (voice)
- *See How They Run* (2022), as Mervyn Cocker-Norris — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/see-how-they-run.md)
- *Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire* (2022), as Narrator
- *The Bastard King* (2022), as The Bastard King
- *The Girl Before* (2021), series, as Edward Monkford
- *5150* (2021), Executive Producer
- *Ferguson Rises* (2021), Producer
- *Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway* (2021), as Nigel Basil-Jones
- *Night of the Kings* (2021), Executive Producer
- *Chaos Walking* (2021), as Aaron — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/chaos-walking.md)
- *The Midnight Sky* (2020), as Adewole
- *Come Away* (2020), as Jack Littleton · Producer
- *The Water Man* (2020), as Amos Boone · Producer, Director
- *Home Movie: The Princess Bride* (2020), series, as Prince Humperdinck
- *Don't Let Go* (2019), as Detective Jack Radcliff · Executive Producer, Producer
- *Brave Girl Rising* (2019), as Narrator
- *Les Misérables* (2018), series, as Javert · Executive Producer
- *A Wrinkle in Time* (2018), as The It (voice)
- *Gringo* (2018), as Harold Soyinka
- *The Cloverfield Paradox* (2018), as Kiel
- *Family Feud* (2018), as 2148 Descendant
- *August 28: A Day in the Life of a People* (2017), Actor
- *The Lion Guard: The Rise of Scar* (2017), as Scar (voice)
- *A United Kingdom* (2016), as Seretse Khama · Producer
- *13th* (2016), Thanks — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/13th.md)
- *Queen of Katwe* (2016), as Robert Katende
- *Five Nights in Maine* (2016), as Sherwin · Producer
- *Nina* (2016), as Clifton Henderson
- *The Lion Guard* (2016), series, as Scar
- *Captive* (2015), as Brian Nichols · Producer
- *Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal* (2015), as Agent Kallus (voice)
- *A Most Violent Year* (2014), as D.A. Lawrence — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/a-most-violent-year.md)
- *Selma* (2014), as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/selma.md)
- *Interstellar* (2014), as School Principal — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/interstellar.md)
- *Default* (2014), as Atlas
- *Star Wars Rebels* (2014), series, as Agent Kallus (voice)
- *Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion* (2014), as Agent Kallus (voice)
- *Nightingale* (2014), as Peter Snowden · Executive Producer
- *9 Kisses* (2014), as Customer
- *The Butler* (2013), as Louis Gaines — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-butler.md)
- *Complicit* (2013), as Edward Ekubo
- *Jack Reacher* (2012), as Det. Emerson
- *Lincoln* (2012), as Corporal Ira Clark — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Middle of Nowhere* (2012), as Brian
- *The Paperboy* (2012), as Yardley Acheman
- *Rahab* (2012), as Cen
- *Red Tails* (2012), as Joe 'Lightning' Little
- *96 Minutes* (2011), as Duane
- *The Help* (2011), as Preacher Green — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/the-help.md)
- *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* (2011), as Steven Jacobs — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/rise-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Blood And Oil* (2010), series, as Keme Tobodo
- *Small Island* (2009), series, as Gilbert — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/small-island.md)
- *Rage* (2009), as Homer
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Judge Edward Weldon — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Glenn Martin, DDS* (2009), series, Actor
- *Big Guy* (2009), Director, Producer
- *Who Do You Love* (2008), as Muddy Waters
- *Sweet Nothing in My Ear* (2008), as Leonard Grisham
- *The Passion* (2008), series, as Joseph of Arimathea
- *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008), as Joseph Asagai
- *Five Days* (2007), series, as Matt Wellings — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/five-days.md)
- *Born Equal* (2006), as Yemi
- *American Blend* (2006), as Mercury
- *The Last King of Scotland* (2006), as Dr. Thomas Junju
- *As You Like It* (2006), as Orlando De Boys
- *Shoot the Messenger* (2006), as Joseph Pascale
- *Mayo* (2006), series, as Eddie Barton, 'Sexy' M.P.
- *Derailed* (2005), as Patrol Officer
- *The Best Man* (2005), as Graham
- *A Sound of Thunder* (2005), as Marcus Payne
- *Tomorrow La Scala!* (2002), as Charlie — Fi1m 59, [page](https://film.one/film/tomorrow-la-scala.md)
- *Spooks* (2002), series, as Danny Hunter — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/spooks.md)
- *Dog Eat Dog* (2001), as CJ
- *Maisie Raine* (1998), series, as Sonny McDonald
- *As Time Goes By* (1992), series, as Patrick
- *Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Affair*, as Reverend Elijah Grant
- *Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun*, Producer
- *Othello*, as Othello · Director, Producer
- *Heist of Benin*, as Producer
- *The Return of the Rocketeer*, as The Rocketeer

## Gallery

- ![David Oyelowo](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-a512f2bff0bd.jpg) David Oyelowo — Tyler Boye, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/David_Oyelowo_Golden_Globes.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ambassador and Mrs Emerson welcome Ava DuVernay the director and actor David Oyelowo from the film Selma to the reception (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-ef7b2fca7770.jpg) Ambassador and Mrs Emerson welcome Ava DuVernay the director and actor David Oyelowo from the film Selma to the reception (2015) — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Ambassador_and_Mrs_Emerson_welcome_Ava_DuVernay_the_director_and_actor_David_Oyelowo_from_the_film_Selma_to_the_reception_%2816476251386%29.jpg/1280px-Ambassador_and_Mrs_Emerson_welcome_Ava_DuVernay_the_director_and_actor_David_Oyelowo_from_the_film_Selma_to_the_reception_%2816476251386%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-08d488f9e091.jpg) Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma (2015) — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_Febrauary_2015.jpg/1280px-Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_Febrauary_2015.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-d47ba5fbbeea.jpg) Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma (2015) — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_from_the_film_Selma_%2815882070453%29.jpg/1280px-Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_from_the_film_Selma_%2815882070453%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Oyelowo](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-e0ad8467693e.jpg) David Oyelowo — Image via TMDB
- ![David Oyelowo](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-be8925b85e11.jpg) David Oyelowo — Image via TMDB
- ![Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma with the Emerson family (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-e35503c136ab.jpg) Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma with the Emerson family (2015) — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_from_the_film_Selma_with_the_Emerson_family_%2816314443947%29.jpg/1280px-Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_from_the_film_Selma_with_the_Emerson_family_%2816314443947%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma with the Emerson family (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/95888/gallery-745d0e83b962.jpg) Ava DuVernay, David Oyelowo and Colman Domingo from the film Selma with the Emerson family (2015) — usbotschaftberlin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_from_the_film_Selma_with_the_Emerson_family_%2816315947269%29.jpg/1280px-Ava_DuVernay%2C_David_Oyelowo_and_Colman_Domingo_from_the_film_Selma_with_the_Emerson_family_%2816315947269%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-oyelowo