archytele The Vault

Paapa Essiedu

Acting Born Jun 11, 1990 Southwark, London, England, UK 44 credits

Biography

Paapa Kwaakye Essiedu is a British actor born on 11 June 1990. He started his career in 2012 when he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, acting in numerous productions including The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hamlet, and King Lear. Essiedu has won an Independent Spirit Award and a Laurence Olivier Award. He has been nominated for numerous other accolades, including a British Academy Television Award, a Dorian Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. His screen breakthrough came in 2020 with a role in BBC One's I May Destroy You, earning nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award and British Academy Television Award.

Advertisement

Ask the Vault

Ask anything about Paapa Essiedu.

Known for

Black Doves

as Elmore Fitch
Film

The Outrun

as Daynin

The Lazarus Project

as George Addo
Film

Men

as James
Film

Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 2

as George Boleyn

Gangs of London

as Alexander Dumani

I May Destroy You

as Kwame Acheamong

The Capture

as Isaac Turner MP

The Capture

as Isaac Turner
Film

Murder on the Orient Express

as Young Policeman

The Miniaturist

as Otto

Utopia

as Roy

Frequent co-stars

Holliday Grainger 1 shared title
Ron Perlman 1 shared title
Ben Miles 1 shared title
Lia Williams 1 shared title
Nigel Lindsay 1 shared title
Ginny Holder 1 shared title
Indira Varma 1 shared title
Tessa Wong 1 shared title
Daisy Waterstone 1 shared title
Cavan Clerkin 1 shared title

Career timeline

Harry PotterFinding Harry: The Craft Behind the MagicFallingBabiesNational Theatre Live: All My Sons
LaundreamsNational Theatre Live: Death of England: Delroy
Black DovesThe OutrunNational Theatre Live: The Effect
Genie
The Lazarus ProjectMen
Anne BoleynFemmeThe Exit Plan
Gangs of LondonI May Destroy YouUnsaid Stories
The CaptureThe CaptureStand Still
Black Earth RisingKiriPressPrince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70
Murder on the Orient ExpressThe MiniaturistThe MiniaturistCanned
RSC Live: King LearA Midsummer Night's DreamShakespeare Live! From the RSCRSC Live: Hamlet
Not Safe for Work
National Theatre Live: King Lear
Utopia
Black Mirror
The Graham Norton Show

Full filmography

  • Harry Potter (2026) as Severus Snape
  • Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic (2026) as Self
  • Falling (2026) as David
  • Babies (2026) as Stephen
  • National Theatre Live: All My Sons (2026) as Chris Keller
  • Finding Harry: The Craft Behind The Magic (2026) as Himself
  • The Name of Action (2026) as Self
  • Laundreams (2025) as Danny
  • National Theatre Live: Death of England: Delroy (2025) as Delroy
  • Black Doves (2024) as Elmore Fitch
  • The Outrun (2024) as Daynin
  • National Theatre Live: The Effect (2024) as Tristan
  • Genie (2023) as Bernard Bottle
  • The Lazarus Project (2022) as George Addo
  • Men (2022) as James
  • Anne Boleyn (2021) as George Boleyn
  • Femme (2021) as Jordan
  • The Exit Plan (2021) as Zeke
  • Gangs of London (2020) as Alexander Dumani
  • I May Destroy You (2020) as Kwame Acheamong
  • Unsaid Stories (2020) as Michael
  • The Capture (2019) as Isaac Turner MP
  • The Capture (2019) as Isaac Turner
  • Stand Still (2019) as David
  • Black Earth Rising (2018) as Jaalen
  • Kiri (2018) as Nate Akindele
  • Press (2018) as Ed Washburn
  • Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 (2018) as Narrator
  • Murder on the Orient Express (2017) as Young Policeman
  • The Miniaturist (2017) as Otto
  • The Miniaturist (2017) as Otto
  • Canned (2017) as Charlie
  • RSC Live: King Lear (2016) as Edmund
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016) as Demetrius
  • Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) as Hamlet
  • RSC Live: Hamlet (2016) as Hamlet
  • Not Safe for Work (2015) as Paul
  • National Theatre Live: King Lear (2014) as The Duke of Burgundy
  • Utopia (2013) as Roy
  • Black Mirror (2011) as Gaap
  • The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
  • Tyrant
  • The Scurry
  • Sweet Dreams as Billy