Unlike the expected celebrity interviews, Ovation TV’s Inside the Actor’s Studio not only has renowned actors interviewing their peers but also offers student actors a rare opportunity to pick the brains of top professionals in the industry. In Jane Lynch‘s interview with David Oyelowo, audiences will be immersed in his informative journey as an actor and how he reached the heights of success. His career shows that when you believe in what you have to offer, you’ll find others who do as well.
The following are a few highlights from Oyelowo’s captivating interview. In the beginning, he followed his father’s wishes by attending the University of Oxford to study law. Yet this wasn’t what he wanted for himself. A theater study professor encouraged him to become an actor. She helped him with auditions and his applications to drama schools. He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and received a Scholarship for Excellence from Nicholas Hytner (an English theatre director, film director, and film producer) in 1998.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 09: David Oyelowo and Jane Lynch interact with the audience during Ovation’s Inside The Actors Studio at Sheen Center on April 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ovation TV)
He got his start with stage acting by starring in The Suppliants at The Gate Theatre as King Palasgus. Afterward, he played the titular role of Henry IV at The Royal Shakespeare Company in 2000, making him the first black actor to play an English king. In 2002, he transitioned to film acting and played Danny Hunter in Spooks.
His acting career reached a halt in the UK when he had difficulty finding acting roles that he felt suited him. Oyelowo took a leap of faith and moved with his young family to Los Angeles. At one point, his wife was the only one working, and they had two children with another on the way. He only had three dollars in his wallet. In desperate times such as these, he was reminded of what truly mattered in life. Despite the challenges, his move from the UK to Los Angeles paid off, and he was rewarded with many great acting opportunities. His career as a film actor began to flourish. Today, he is widely known for his role as Martin Luther King, Jr. in the historical drama Selma.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 09: Jane Lynch (R) interviews David Oyelowo for Ovation’s Inside The Actors Studio at Sheen Center on April 9, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ovation TV)
Inside the Actor’s Studio’s David Oyelowo interview airs October 20th, 10 pm ET on Ovation TV.
