Ten Things You Should Know About John Boyega
Get to know the Star Wars VII star before he blows up.
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John Boyega - Three years after his attention-grabbing debut in the cult sci-fi film Attack the Block, this British actor has landed the role of a lifetime in the upcoming installment of the Star Wars franchise. Though his star is rising in Hollywood, most film fans don't know much about this UK import. Here are 10 things you should know about John Boyega.(Photos from left: Ian Gavan/Getty Images, LucasFilm)
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He's From Across the Pond - Boyega was born in the Peckham neighborhood of London to Nigerian parents. He showed an aptitude for acting at an early age, taking part in school plays. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
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His First Love Is Theater - Boyega landed his first major role when he was a performing arts student at South Thames College, where he played the lead in Othello in 2010. Boyega trained at Hackney’s Identity Drama School and performed in various theater productions around London. (Photo: John Boyega via Instagram)
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He's One in 1,500 - After auditioning over 1,500 kids to star in his 2011 pulp sci-fi invasion film Attack the Block, director Joe Cornish found his leading man in Boyega. The actor, then 17, had no experience performing in front of the camera. “I was just blown away by [his] talent and commitment and passion and enthusiasm and sense of humor,” Cornish said. (Photo: Liam Daniel/Screen Gems)
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Spike's a Fan - Spike Lee immediately became a fan of Boyega's after seeing the young actor in Attack the Block. Lee cast Boyega to play a boxer, inspired by Mike Tyson, in his HBO series Da Brick. Unfortunately, the project never went into production. (Photo: Getty Images)
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