Lucian Msamati
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Lucian Msamati | |
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![]() Msamati in 2010 | |
Born | Lucian Gabriel Wiina Msamati 5 March 1976 London, England |
Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, director and producer |
Children | 2 |
Lucian Gabriel Wiina Msamati (born 5 March 1976) is a British-Tanzanian actor, writer, director and producer in theatre, film, television and radio. His screen credits include the roles of Salladhor Saan in the HBO series Game of Thrones, J.L.B. Matekoni in the BBC/HBO adaptation of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, David Runihura in the Netflix/BBC thriller Black Earth Rising and Ed Dumani in the Sky/AMC series Gangs of London.
Msamati's theatre credits include being the first black actor to play Iago in the Royal Shakespeare Company's acclaimed 2015 production of Othello, Toledo in the National Theatre's Olivier award-winning revival of August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in 2016, Antonio Salieri in the National Theatre's Olivier-award winning revival of Amadeus 2017–2018, Arturo Ui in Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Lyric Hammersmith in 2008 and Kevin/Albert in the multi-award winning Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris at the Royal Court Theatre and The Wyndhams Theatre in the West End 2010–2011.
Msamati is a patron of Lewisham Youth Theatre, WildChild and The Actor's Children's Trust (ACT) and currently serves on the board of trustees at the Donmar Warehouse.
Early life and education
[edit]Msamati[1] was born at St Thomas' Hospital,[2] London[3] on 5 March 1976 and brought up in Zimbabwe by his Tanzanian parents, a doctor and a nurse.[4] After secondary education at Prince Edward School in Harare, he studied towards a BA honours degree in French and Portuguese at the University of Zimbabwe from 1995 to 1997.[1][4][3]
Career
[edit]Theatre
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Lenny_Henry_in_The_Comedy_of_Errors_2011.jpg/220px-Lenny_Henry_in_The_Comedy_of_Errors_2011.jpg)
After university, he took a day-job as an advertising copywriter and freelance radio presenter. He also worked as a voice-over artist, compere and after-dinner speaker.
In 1994, Msamati and school friends Shaheen Jassat (deceased), Craig and Gavin Peter, Kevin Hanssen, Roy Chizivano, Sarah Norman founded what would become Zimbabwe's acclaimed Over the Edge Theatre Company[5] in Harare, later joined by Erica Glyn-Jones, Zane E. Lucas, Chipo Chung, Karin Alexander, and Michael Pearce. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in December 2004, having flown the Zimbabwe flag across Europe, the United States and South Africa. The last few years have seen individual members pursuing other interests. Though not officially disbanded, there are no immediate plans of an Over the Edge reunion. From 1998 to 2001, the company performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland; some plays were written by Msamati.[4]
In November 2010, Msamati was appointed the artistic director of British-African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi,[3] until being succeeded in 2014 by Natalie Ibu.[6] He has continued to work with Tiata Fahodzi, directing Boi Boi is Dead in February–March 2015.[3]
In the spring of 2015, Msamati became the first black actor ever to play Iago in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Othello (with Hugh Quarshie in the title role).[3][7]
From October 2016 to March 2017 and from February to 24 April 2018, he performed in the leading role of Antonio Salieri in Peter Shaffer's play Amadeus at the National Theatre, a performance which Michael Billington, in a four-starred review for The Guardian, described as "excellent".[8][9]
In 2019, he starred as Sam in Master Harold and the Boys at the Royal National Theatre.[10][11]
Msamati has appeared in several other theatrical productions in London, UK, including:
- Fabulation, Tricycle Theatre[5]
- Gem of the Ocean, Tricycle Theatre[5]
- I.D., Almeida Theatre[4]
- Mourning Becomes Electra, Royal National Theatre[5]
- The Overwhelming, Royal National Theatre[5]
- Pericles, Prince of Tyre, played the title role, Royal Shakespeare Company[5]
- President of an Empty Room, Royal National Theatre[5]
- The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Lyric Hammersmith[4]
- Walk Hard, Tricycle Theatre[5]
- Death and the King's Horseman, Royal National Theatre[12]
- Ruined, Almeida Theatre[13]
- Clybourne Park, Royal Court Theatre[14]
Television
[edit]He has also appeared in several television productions, including episodes of the television series Ultimate Force and Spooks. In 2008, he took on his most prominent role, playing JLB Matekoni in the BBC/HBO-produced series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.[15] He has guest starred in episodes of the BBC television series Luther, Ashes to Ashes, Doctor Who, Taboo, and Death in Paradise, as well as playing the part of the pirate Salladhor Saan in the HBO series Game of Thrones.[16][17] He recently appeared as Lord Faa in His Dark Materials on BBC One. In 2020 Msamati appeared as Ed Dumani in Sky Atlantic's Gangs of London[18] and in an episode of the BBC's production of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads.[19]
Film
[edit]Msamati appeared in the film The International (2009). Other film credits include Lumumba (1999), directed by Raoul Peck; the animated feature The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003), directed by Roger Hawkins and Richard II, directed by Rupert Goold.[20]
Radio
[edit]Msamati appeared as Matthew in the BBC Radio 4 drama Burned to Nothing (2011) by Rex Obano.[21]
Personal life
[edit]Msamati permanently moved to the UK in 2003,[4] and now resides in London.[20] He is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.[2]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | The Legend of the Sky Kingdom | Italiano (voice) | Credited as Wina Msamati |
2009 | The International | General Charles Motomba | |
2016 | Seekers | Yusuf | Short film |
2019 | The Good Liar | Beni | |
2020 | Zog and the Flying Doctors | The Lion (voice) | Short film[22] |
2022 | See How They Run | Max Mallowan | |
2024 | Conclave | Cardinal Adeyemi | Post-production |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | The Knock | Doctor | Series 3, episode 2 Credited as Wina Msamati |
2005 | Ultimate Force | Blessed | Episode: "Never Go Back" |
2006 | Spooks | Manu Buffong | Series 5, episode 4 Uncredited |
2008–2009 | The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency | JLB Matekoni | 7 episodes |
2009 | 10 Minute Tales | Flirty Orderly | |
2010 | Doctor Who | Guido | Episode: "The Vampires of Venice" |
Ashes to Ashes | Tobias Ndbele | Series 3, episode 7 | |
2012 | The Hollow Crown | Bishop of Carlisle | Episode: Richard II |
2012–2014 | Game of Thrones | Salladhor Saan | 3 episodes |
2013 | Death in Paradise | Dr Johnson | Episode: "Murder on the Plantation" |
Doctors | Joseph Segunle | Episode: "Thicker Than Water" | |
Holby City | Dumisani Themba | Episode: "Ask Me No Questions" | |
Luther | Ken Barnaby | 2 episodes | |
2015 | Inspector George Gently | Ellison | Episode: "Son of a Gun" |
Urban Myths | Herbert Muhammed | Episode: "The Greatest. Of All Time." | |
2017 | Taboo | George Chichester | |
Electric Dreams | The Director | Episode: "Crazy Diamond" | |
2018 | Kiri | Tobi Akindele | Miniseries |
Black Earth Rising | David Runihura | ||
2019 | His Dark Materials | John Faa | TV series |
2020 | Talking Heads | Wilfred Paterson | Episode: "Playing Sandwiches" |
2020–2022 | Gangs of London | Ed Dumani | TV series |
2023 | Best Interests | Derek | Miniseries |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Biographies: Wiina Lucian Msamati". Over the Edge Zimbabwe. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Lucian Msamati". London Theatre. 8 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Gilbey, Ryan (28 January 2015). "Lucian Msamati: danger zone". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Edemariam, Aida (21 March 2008). "And now for the good news..." The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Lucian Msamati plays JLB Matekoni" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Hutchison, David (12 November 2014). "Tiata Fahodzi names new artistic director". The Stage. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ Shenton, Mark (12 February 2016), "Lucian Msamati: 'Some people still see the colour, not the actor'". The Stage. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ Billington, Michael (27 October 2016). "Amadeus review – stunning production pits Salieri against God, Mozart and his own orchestra". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ^ "Amadeus 2018". Royal National Theatre. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ ""Master Harold"...and the Boys". Royal National Theatre. 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Cavendish, Dominic (2 October 2019). "'Master Harold… and the Boys, National's Lyttelton Theatre, review: a spellbinding affirmation of the need for humanity at the bleakest moments". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Coveney, Michael (13 April 2009). "Death and the King's Horseman, National Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Billington, Michael (23 April 2010). "Ruined". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Sierz, Aleks (2 September 2010). "Clybourne Park, Royal Court Theatre". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ "Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis collaborate for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (26 August 2011). "'Game of Thrones': Trio Join Sprawling Season 2 Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ Durrant, Nancy (24 September 2019). "Lucian Msamati on Game of Thrones and returning to the National Theatre". The Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (5 December 2018). "'Gangs of London' Cinemax Series Sets Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Alan Bennett's Talking Heads". BBC Media Centre (Press release). 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
- ^ a b "Lucian Msamati". Spotlight. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama – BBC Radio 4". BBC.
- ^ "Zog and the Flying Doctors". BBC One. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
External links
[edit]- 1976 births
- Living people
- 20th-century British male actors
- 20th-century Zimbabwean male actors
- 21st-century British male actors
- 21st-century Zimbabwean male actors
- Actors from Harare
- Actors from the London Borough of Lambeth
- Alumni of Prince Edward School
- Black British male actors
- British male dramatists and playwrights
- British male film actors
- British male stage actors
- British male television actors
- British male voice actors
- English male Shakespearean actors
- English people of Tanzanian descent
- Male actors from London
- University of Zimbabwe alumni
- Zimbabwean dramatists and playwrights
- Zimbabwean male film actors
- Zimbabwean male stage actors
- Zimbabwean male television actors
- Zimbabwean male voice actors