# David Gyasi

David Kwaku Asamoah Gyasi (/ˈdʒæsi/; born 2 January 1980) is a British actor. His films include Cloud Atlas (2012) and Interstellar (2014). On television, he is known for his roles in the BBC series White Heat (2012) and Troy: Fall of a City (2018), the CW miniseries Containment (2016), the Amazon Prime series Carnival Row (2019–2023), and the Netflix political thriller The Diplomat (2023).

## Early life

Gyasi was born 2 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, one of seven children to Ashanti Ghanaian parents who had arrived in England in 1966. They divorced when he was young. Gyasi grew up in Fulham and Hayes. He attended Bishopshalt School and completed his A Levels at East Berkshire College. He went on to study Drama at Middlesex University.

## Career

Gyasi landed his first main television role as Jeremy Hands in the 2005 ITV comedy Mike Bassett: Manager, a follow-up to Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001), and his first major film role that same year in Michael Caton-Jones' Shooting Dogs. Gyasi appeared alongside Kit Harington in the 2008 National Theatre production of War Horse.
In 2012, Gyasi starred in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas as a Moriori slave called Autua; his inaccurate casting caused controversy for perpetuating false stereotypes about Moriori people. He then played young Victor (played by Hugh Quarshie later in the character's life) in the BBC Two historical drama White Heat. This was followed by roles in the BBC One television film The Whale (2013) and Christopher Nolan's Interstellar (2014), the latter of which earned him a Black Reel Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. Gyasi was cast as the lead of The Interceptor, also on BBC One, but had to drop out due to a heel injury. The role was taken over by O. T. Fagbenle.
Gyasi starred as Major Alex "Lex" Carnahan in 2016 the CW miniseries Containment. He went on to portray Achilles in the 2018 BBC and Netflix adaptation of The Iliad, titled Troy: Fall of a City. From 2019 to 2023, he starred as Agreus in the Amazon Prime fantasy series Carnival Row. He also led the Western film Hell on the Border and appeared in Cold Blood, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, and Come Away. He had a recurring role as Ben Chambers in series 3 of The A Word.

## Personal life

Gyasi began dating his wife Emma (née Llaudes) during sixth form at East Berkshire College. They had their first child, a daughter Elèna, who is now an actress. The couple married that year and later had their second child, a son Nathaniel. The family settled in a Buckinghamshire village. Gyasi is a practising Anglican.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2003 | What a Girl Wants | Ian's Band Member |
| 2005 | Shooting Dogs | François |
| 2006 | Shoot the Messenger | Timothy |
| 2012 | Red Tails | Corporal |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Skinny Prisoner |
| 2012 | Cloud Atlas | Autua / Lester Rey / Duophysite |
| 2014 | Interstellar | Romilly |
| 2018 | Annihilation | Daniel |
| 2018 | Hunter Killer | The Chief of the Boat of USS Arkansas |
| 2019 | Cold Blood | Malcolm |
| 2019 | Maleficent: Mistress of Evil | Percival |
| 2019 | Hell on the Border | Bass Reeves |
| 2020 | Come Away | Captain Hook |
| 2021 | Ear for Eye | US Dad |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Goal | Joe Saunders | 1 episode |
| 2003–2004 | Casualty | Bryce | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Murder City | Reporter | 1 episode |
| 2004 | William and Mary | Policeman | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Sea of Souls | Lucas Hegarty | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Dream Team | Marlon | 1 episode |
| 2005 | No Angels | Leonard | 1 episode |
| 2005 | The Brief | DS Kitson | 1 episode |
| 2005 | Mike Bassett: Manager | Jeremy Hands | 5 episodes |
| 2005 | The Bill | Jason Fielding | 1 episode |
| 2005–2007 | Doctors | Joe Fisher / Sean Foster | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Torchwood | Hospital Patient | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Coming Up | Marlon | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Silent Witness | DS Ian Cross | 1 episode |
| 2008 | Waking the Dead | Charlie Ayanike | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Apparitions | Father Daniel | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Demons | Physics Teacher | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Law & Order: UK | Lennie Gaines | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Murderland | Will | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Holby City | Moses Abebe | 1 episode |
| 2012 | White Heat | Victor | Main role; 6 episodes |
| 2012 | Doctor Who | Harvey | 1 episode |
| 2013 | The Whale | Peterson | Television film |
| 2016 | Containment | Lex Carnahan | Lead role |
| 2017 | Man in an Orange Shirt | Steve | Episode 2 |
| 2018 | Troy: Fall of a City | Achilles | 8 episodes |
| 2019–2023 | Carnival Row | Agreus | Main role |
| 2020 | The A Word | Ben | 5 episodes |
| 2022 | The Sandman | The Grey Cat (voice) | Episode: "Dream of a Thousand Cats" |
| 2022 | The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself | Marcus Edge | 3 episodes |
| 2023-present | The Diplomat | Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison | Main role |

## Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Much Ado About Nothing | Claudio | Library Theatre, Manchester |
| 2008–2009 | War Horse | Lieutenant Stewart / Rudi | Royal National Theatre, London |