John Boyega was born in London, grew up in Nigeria, and raised his children in a home within the UK that feels like home.
“When we walked into the house, it was Lagos and Nigeria for us,” Boyega said in a recent interview. rice field.”
In other words, he was always told that he was going to work hard, that education was a priority, and that Bible study was on Tuesdays and church was on Sundays. played and his father was a pastor.
“Other ministers were telling the story of Noah’s Ark in a simple way,” he said. “But my father gave the animals character and broke the story down for you to relate to. He acted things out.”
Boyega inherited his father’s talent for storytelling and was drawn to acting. But Hollywood seemed far away. “Growing up in inner-city London, American cinema felt like another world to me,” he said. “We didn’t even have the same accent.”
America’s Star Wars franchise catapulted Boyega to international stardom as stormtrooper-turned-resistance-fighter Finn in its latest trilogy, culminating in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker There is nothing bigger. This month, Boyega will star in the movie Breaking as the father of an ex-Marine who robs banks to avoid homelessness.
Here he talks about the movies that have influenced his career, the music that brings him closer to home, and the chicken he eats very spicy.
1. Burnaboy He is one of the most prolific leaders to bring Afrobeat to the forefront. The lyrics, melody, soul and spirit of his music contain what we know as African and what we know as Nigerian. His song “Time Flies” is like an emotional letter to me. i love his music
2. “MJ The Musical” I think Michael Jackson was one of the main things that got me into action. It was the music video for me, the energy of imagination, dance moves and performance. Going to see “MJ The Musical” on Broadway recently was a blast. The lead actor, Miles Frost, was great.
3. “Coming to America” This movie is a lifelong classic in my family. The first time we saw it, my father walked in during the scene where the woman says to him, “The royal penis is beautiful, Your Highness.” It was really nasty. At least once a year he watches it for a little laugh. There are always new discoveries.
4. Young Vic Theater Especially for me, having grown up on the theater scene, The Young Vic in London has always been a place where I could see new writers and directors come in and put on some really great plays. , I actually worked at the Old Vic a few yards away.
5. New Africa Shrine: I visited Fela Kuti for the first time in 2017 to see his son Seung Kuti in concert. It was my first time in Nigeria with his sons. we had a great night. Now I come back every time I go to Nigeria. For me, he’s one of the most prolific cultural hubs, especially if you’re into Afrobeat and want to hear the same strain of music from the great Fela Kuti, the King of Afrobeat.
6. “Half of the Yellow Sun” After getting an offer to act in a movie, I read a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie set against the backdrop of the Nigerian Civil War. As she read, she found out she would be in a feature film, so she got closer to a history she didn’t know about her own culture.
7. Hans Zimmer I listen to any film music by Hans Zimmer. We don’t always listen to music that tells us what to think. In a movie score, a song can change your mood and mean something entirely different, especially if you’re an avid listener. I also like to practice to his song “Don’t Think Now Is the Best Time”. At over 10 minutes long, it will get you through a lot of workouts.
8. “Childhood” I never thought I would appear in an American movie. But when I saw “Kidulthood” with a black British guy, I thought he could be a great actor. I’m pretty sure the accent there was from a place I knew in London. My eyes were opened to know that there is British cinema and that there is a chance for black actors in British cinema.
9. Cha Cha Chicken This is one of my favorite places to go in Santa Monica. It’s a really grounded, Jamaican/Caribbean inspired restaurant. The food is delicious. I get the half cha cha chicken (very spicy) plantains, rice and beans, and a salad on the side.
10. “Star Wars: Battlefront” This is the video game I play the most. I started playing Finn before he was even an idea, long before he was in the movie. Now, as Finn, I sometimes play against people I don’t know. So being a fan of it and still participating, it’s something I’ve always kept private.
