Born in Peckham, South London, John Boyega found a passion for acting in Oliver Primary School. At the age of nine, Teresa Early, the artist director at Theater Peckham, noticed him and his talent. With a busy schedule and low finances, Boyega continued to follow his love of acting.
After appearing in small roles here and there, Boyega was offered the opportunity of a lifetime, to star in the next installment of the Star Wars trilogy! This was a childhood dream come true for Boyega, having grown up watching Star Wars films at an early age. What would have been considered a success to some, others saw in a different light. For the first time in the trilogy, an African American male was taking a lead