Paapa Essiedu

Paapa Kwaakye Essiedu () (born 11 June 1990) is an English actor. He started his career in 2012 when he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, acting in numerous production including The Merry Wives of Windsor (2012), Hamlet (2016), and King Lear (2016). His screen breakthrough came in 2020 with his role in the BBC's I May Destroy You, earning nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award and British Academy Television Award. He portrayed George Boleyn in the Channel 5 historical drama Anne Boleyn in 2021, and had starring roles in the AMC+ action series Gangs of London (2020–2022), the science fiction series The Lazarus Project (2020–2023), and Black Mirror: Demon 79 (2023). Essiedu made his feature film acting debut as a policeman in Kenneth Branagh's mystery film Murder on the Orient Express (2017). He took roles in the horror film Men (2022), the fantasy film Genie (2023), and the drama The Outrun (2024). He gained acclaim for his stage roles in Caryl Churchill's play A Number (2022), and Lucy Prebble's play The Effect (2023–2024).

Infobox

Born

Paapa Kwaakye Essiedu (1990-06-11) 11 June 1990 (age 35)Southwark, London, England

Education

Guildhall School of Music and Drama (BA)

Occupation

Actor

Years active

2012–present

Spouse

mw- Rosa Robson (m. 2023)

Tables

· Acting credits › Film

2017

Murder on the Orient Express

Role(s)

Sergeant Campbell

2022

Men

Role(s)

James

2023

Genie

Role(s)

Bernard Bottle

2024

The Outrun

Role(s)

Daynin

TBA

Role(s)

The Scurry

Notes

TBA

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2017	Murder on the Orient Express	Sergeant Campbell
2022	Men	James
2023	Genie	Bernard Bottle
2024	The Outrun	Daynin
TBA	The Scurry	TBA	Post-production

· Acting credits › Television

2013

Utopia

Role(s)

Roy

Notes

2 episodes

2015

Not Safe For Work

Role(s)

Paul

Notes

1 episode

2016

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Role(s)

Demetrius

Notes

Television film

2017

The Miniaturist

Role(s)

Otto

Notes

3 episodes

2018

Kiri

Role(s)

Nate Akindele

Notes

4 episodes

Press

Role(s)

Ed Washburn

Notes

6 episodes

Black Earth Rising

Role(s)

Jaalen

Notes

Episode: "In Other News"

2020–2022

Role(s)

Gangs of London

Notes

Alexander "Alex" Dumani

2020

I May Destroy You

Role(s)

Kwame

Notes

12 episodes

2021

Anne Boleyn

Role(s)

George Boleyn

Notes

3 episodes

2022–2023

Role(s)

The Lazarus Project

Notes

George

2022

The Capture

Role(s)

Isaac Turner

Notes

6 episodes

2023

Black Mirror

Role(s)

Gaap

Notes

Episode: "Demon 79"

2024

Black Doves

Role(s)

Elmore Fitch

Notes

2 episodes

2025

Black Mirror

Role(s)

Unnamed player

Notes

Episode: "USS Callister: Into Infinity"

2027

Harry Potter

Role(s)

Severus Snape

Notes

Main cast

TBA

Role(s)

Falling

Notes

TBA

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2013	Utopia	Roy	2 episodes
2015	Not Safe For Work	Paul	1 episode
2016	A Midsummer Night's Dream	Demetrius	Television film
2017	The Miniaturist	Otto	3 episodes
2018	Kiri	Nate Akindele	4 episodes
2018	Press	Ed Washburn	6 episodes
2018	Black Earth Rising	Jaalen	Episode: "In Other News"
2020–2022	Gangs of London	Alexander "Alex" Dumani	8 episodes
2020	I May Destroy You	Kwame	12 episodes
2021	Anne Boleyn	George Boleyn	3 episodes
2022–2023	The Lazarus Project	George	16 episodes
2022	The Capture	Isaac Turner	6 episodes
2023	Black Mirror	Gaap	Episode: "Demon 79"
2024	Black Doves	Elmore Fitch	2 episodes
2025	Black Mirror	Unnamed player	Episode: "USS Callister: Into Infinity"
2027	Harry Potter	Severus Snape	Main cast
TBA	Falling	TBA	Filming

· Acting credits › Theatre

2013

Black Jesus

Role(s)

Gabriel

Notes

Anders Lustgarten

2014

King Lear

Role(s)

Burgundy

Notes

William Shakespeare

2015

Romeo and Juliet

Role(s)

Romeo

Notes

Tobacco Factory, Bristol

You For Me For You

Role(s)

Wade

Notes

Mia Chung

2016, 2018

Role(s)

Hamlet

Notes

Hamlet

2016

King Lear

Role(s)

Edmund

Notes

Barbican Theatre, West End

2017

Racing Demon

Role(s)

Tony Ferris

Notes

David Hare

2018

Pinter One

Role(s)

Various roles

Notes

Harold Pinter

2019

The Convert

Role(s)

Chilford

Notes

Danai Gurira

2020

Pass Over

Role(s)

Moses

Notes

Antoinette Nwandu

2022

A Number

Role(s)

Michael / Bernard

Notes

Caryl Churchill

2023

The Effect

Role(s)

Tristan

Notes

Lucy Prebble

2024

The Shed, New York City

Death of England: Delroy

Role(s)

Delroy

Notes

Clint Dyer and Roy Williams

Year	Title	Role	Playwright	Notes	Ref.
2013	Black Jesus	Gabriel	Anders Lustgarten	Finborough Theatre, London
2014	King Lear	Burgundy	William Shakespeare	Olivier Theatre, National Theatre
2015	Romeo and Juliet	Romeo	William Shakespeare	Tobacco Factory, Bristol
2015	You For Me For You	Wade	Mia Chung	Royal Court, London
2016, 2018	Hamlet	Hamlet	William Shakespeare	Royal Shakespeare Company Tour
2016	King Lear	Edmund	William Shakespeare	Barbican Theatre, West End
2017	Racing Demon	Tony Ferris	David Hare	Theatre Royal, Bath
2018	Pinter One	Various roles	Harold Pinter	Harold Pinter Theatre, West End
2019	The Convert	Chilford	Danai Gurira	Young Vic, London
2020	Pass Over	Moses	Antoinette Nwandu	Kiln Theatre, London
2022	A Number	Michael / Bernard	Caryl Churchill	Old Vic Theatre
2023	The Effect	Tristan	Lucy Prebble	National Theatre, London
2024	The Effect	Tristan	Lucy Prebble	The Shed, New York City
2024	Death of England: Delroy	Delroy	Clint Dyer and Roy Williams	@sohoplace, London

· Accolades

2012

Ian Charleson Awards

Role(s)

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Notes

Nominated

2016

Hamlet, King Lear

Role(s)

Won

2021

Independent Spirit Awards

Role(s)

Best Ensemble Cast

Notes

I May Destroy You

Black Reel Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Supporting Actor – TV Movie or Limited Series

Notes

Nominated

British Academy Television Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

Nominated

Dorian Awards

Role(s)

Best Supporting TV Performance

Notes

Nominated

Primetime Emmy Awards

Role(s)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Notes

Nominated

2022

Evening Standard Theatre Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

A Number

2023

Broadcasting Press Guild Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

The Lazarus Project, The Capture, Gangs of London

Evening Standard Theatre Awards

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

The Effect

2024

WhatsOnStage Awards

Role(s)

Best Performer in a Play

Notes

Pending

Drama League Awards

Role(s)

Distinguished Performance

Notes

Pending

British Academy Television Award

Role(s)

Best Actor

Notes

The Lazarus Project

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref
2012	Ian Charleson Awards		The Merry Wives of Windsor	Nominated
2016	Ian Charleson Awards		Hamlet, King Lear	Won
2021	Independent Spirit Awards	Best Ensemble Cast	I May Destroy You	Won
	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actor – TV Movie or Limited Series		Nominated
	British Academy Television Awards	Best Actor		Nominated
	Dorian Awards	Best Supporting TV Performance		Nominated
	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie		Nominated
2022	Evening Standard Theatre Awards	Best Actor	A Number	Nominated
2023	Broadcasting Press Guild Awards	Best Actor	The Lazarus Project, The Capture, Gangs of London	Pending
2023	Evening Standard Theatre Awards	Best Actor	The Effect	Nominated
2024	WhatsOnStage Awards	Best Performer in a Play		Pending
	Drama League Awards	Distinguished Performance		Pending
	British Academy Television Award	Best Actor	The Lazarus Project	Nominated

References

"Paapa Essiedu Interview | Hamlet"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnElb4VrCJg
"Actor Paapa Essiedu | Breakthrough Brits 2018"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYKpkRjzVM4
TV Insider
https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paapa-essiedu/
Royal Shakespeare Company
https://www.rsc.org.uk/blogs/pathways-to-shakespeare/paapa-essiedu
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/jun/11/paapa-essiedu-grief-boris-johnson-i-may-destroy-you-michaela-coel
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/sep/08/bbc-press-star-paapa-essiedu-the-word-diversity-doesnt-mean-anything
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/mar/13/paapa-essiedu-hamlet-royal-shakespeare-theatre-stratford-interview
I May Destroy You
https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/i-may-destroy-you-hbo-paapa-essiedu-kwame.html
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/jan/23/actor-loses-voice-stage-king-lear-sam-mendes-national
Hawkins, Helen (11 June 2017). "Paapa Essiedu wins the Ian Charleson award 2016" . Sunday Times.
https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/the-ian-charleson-award-2016-paapa-essiedu-wsdrr9b2k
BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06zj5g7
Drama
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081ld38
National Theatre
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/artists/paapa-essiedu/
Time Out
https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/the-convert-review
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/07/anne-boleyn-comes-to-channel-5-as-thriller-told-through-queens-eyes
The Evening Standard
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/a-number-review-old-vic-theatre-paapa-essiedu-lennie-james-b980144.html
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2021/01/paapa-essiedu-tom-burke-sky-joe-barton-extinction-1234678301/
GQ
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/black-mirror-season-6-episode-6-demon-79
National Theatre
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/the-effect/
The Shed
https://www.theshed.org/program/392-the-effect
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2023/12/2024-sundance-film-festival-lineup-movies-1235652869/
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2025/03/harry-potter-series-mcgonnagall--casting-1236313232/
Cinebreak
https://cinebreak.com.br/series-tv/paapa-essiedu-pode-ser-o-professor-na-nova-serie-de-harry-potter/
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/harry-potter-cast-hbo-1236189812/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jul/28/paapa-essiedu-is-this-part-harder-than-hamlet-yeah-its-different-gravy-mate-death-of-england-delroy-soho-theatre
Bustle
https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/who-is-paapa-essiedu-dating-rosa-robson-is-also-an-actor
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2023/01/paapa-essiedu-joins-melissa-mccarthy-in-peacock-christmas-film-1235240587/
Deadline Hollywood
https://deadline.com/2023/12/berlin-film-festival-saoirse-ronan-danielle-deadwyler-paapa-essiedu-panorama-1235667699/
Screen Daily
https://www.screendaily.com/news/ella-purnell-joins-craig-roberts-killer-squirrel-comedy-the-scurry-exclusive/5193437.article
press.wbd.com
https://press.wbd.com/na/media-release/hbo-original-harry-potter-series-casts-john-lithgow-janet-mcteer-paapa-essiedu-nick
rts.org.uk
https://rts.org.uk/article/filming-begins-jack-thorne-drama-falling
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/oct/03/black-jesus-review
Abouttheartist
https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/71588-king-lear-at-olivier-theatre-january-14-march-25-2014
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/mar/09/romeo-juliet-tobacco-factory
Royalcourttheatre
https://royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/you-for-me-for-you-2/
Royal Shakespeare Company
https://www.rsc.org.uk/news/archive/hamlet-national-tour
Abouttheartist
https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/111103-king-lear-at-the-royal-shakespeare-theatre-and-others-2016
The Financial Times
https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/theatre-review-racing-demon-theatre-royal-bath-pn06xr8x7
Abouttheartist
https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/119854-pinter-one-one-for-the-road-slash-the-new-world-order-slash-mountain-language-slash-ashes-to-ashes-slash-the-dot-dot-dot-2018
Young Vic
https://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/the-convert
Pass Over
https://playbill.com/article/uk-premiere-of-pass-over-finds-its-cast
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/feb/02/a-number-review-lennie-james-and-paapa-essiedu-scintillate-as-father-and-sons
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-effect-london-national-theatre-lyttelton-2023
The Effect
https://playbill.com/article/lucy-prebbles-the-effect-to-play-limited-run-at-the-shed
www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/whats-on/death-of-england-the-plays/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/jul/31/death-of-england-the-plays-review-brexit-voting-bailiff-electrifies-this-post-boris-revamp
Snow, Georgia (6 June 2017). "Paapa Essiedu wins 2016 Ian Charleson award" Archived 22 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine.
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/paapa-essiedu-wins-2016-ian-charleson-award
"Ian Charleson Awards 2016" Archived 6 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine. WestEndTheatre.com. 6 June 2017.
http://www.westendtheatre.com/52653/awards/ian-charleson-awards-2016/
BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56903795
Rolling Stone
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/2021-emmy-nominations-the-crown-i-may-destroy-you-hacks-mare-of-easttown-1196665/
WhatsOnStage
https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/nominations-in-full-24th-annual-whatsonstage-awards_1554633/
Theatermania
https://www.theatermania.com/news/2024-drama-league-award-nominations-announced_1737887/
BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68614794