# Kingsley Ben-Adir

Kingsley Ben-Adir (born 20 November 1986) is a British actor. His credits include playing pathologist Marcus Summer in ITV's Vera (2014–2018), private detective Karim Washington on Netflix's The OA (2019), Colonel Ben Younger in the BBC drama Peaky Blinders (2017–2019), and Gravik in the superhero miniseries Secret Invasion (2023).
He starred as Malcolm X in the Amazon Studios film One Night in Miami... (2020), for which he won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer, and as Bob Marley in Bob Marley: One Love (2024).

## Early life and education

Ben-Adir was born in Kentish Town, London, England. His maternal grandparents were from Trinidad and Tobago. His paternal grandparents were born in England; his surname is Hebrew, meaning son of the strong or mighty. He attended Rhyl Street Primary School in Kentish Town, London.
He attended secondary school at William Ellis School in Gospel Oak, Northwest London. He graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2011.

## Career

In 2011, Ben-Adir performed in Gillian Slovo's play The Riots at the Tricycle Theatre. In 2012, he played Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
In 2013, he played Borachio in Mark Rylance's production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Vic in London and also played in God's Property at the Soho Theatre.
In 2014, Ben-Adir performed in the play We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915 at the Bush Theatre in London. The play received positive reviews.
From 2017 to 2019, Ben-Adir appeared in series four and five of the BBC One television series Peaky Blinders, playing Colonel Ben Younger. He played private detective Karim Washington on Netflix's The OA (2019),
In 2020, Ben-Adir starred as Malcolm X in the Amazon Studios film One Night in Miami... directed by Regina King. In February 2022, Ben-Adir was cast as Bob Marley in the biopic Bob Marley: One Love, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and released on 14 February 2024.
In April 2022, he joined the ensemble cast of Barbie. In 2023, he appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Secret Invasion as Gravik, a Skrull rebel plotting to conquer Earth.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2012 | City Slacker | Thug | |
| 2013 | World War Z | Officer Hawkins | Uncredited |
| 2016 | Trespass Against Us | Sampson | |
| 2017 | King Arthur: Legend of the Sword | Wet Stick | |
| 2018 | The Commuter | Agent Garcia | |
| 2019 | Noelle | Jake Hapman | |
| 2020 | One Night in Miami... | Malcolm X | |
| 2023 | Barbie | Basketball Ken | |
| 2024 | Bob Marley: One Love | Bob Marley | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2013 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Errol | 1 episode |
| 2014–2018 | Vera | Dr. Marcus Summer | Main role, 16 episodes |
| 2016 | Midsomer Murders | Bartholomew Hines | 1 episode |
| 2016 | Ordinary Lies | Jake | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Death in Paradise | Irie Johnson | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Diana and I | Russell | Television film |
| 2017–2019 | Peaky Blinders | Col. Ben Younger | Main role, 5 episodes |
| 2018 | Deep State | Khalid Walker | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | The OA | Karim Washington | Main role, 6 episodes |
| 2020 | High Fidelity | Russell McCormack | Recurring role, 7 episodes |
| 2020 | Love Life | Grant | 1 episode |
| 2020 | The Comey Rule | Barack Obama | Miniseries, 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Soulmates | Franklin | 1 episode |
| 2023 | Secret Invasion | Gravik | Miniseries, main role, 6 episodes |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
| 2011 | The Riots | Performer | Tricycle Theatre, London |
| 2012 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Demetrius | Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London |
| 2013 | Much Ado About Nothing | Borachio | The Old Vic, London |
| 2013 | God's Property | | Soho Theatre, London |
| 2014 | We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as Southwest Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884–1915 | Actor 2 | Bush Theatre, London |
| 2024 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | Brick | Almeida, London |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2021 | British Academy Film Awards | Rising Star Award | Himself | Nominated |
| 2021 | Cannes Film Festival | Trophée Chopard of Male Revelation | Himself | Won |
| 2021 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture | One Night in Miami | Nominated |
| 2021 | Independent Spirit Award | Robert Altman Award | One Night in Miami | Won |
| 2020 | Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Actor | One Night in Miami | Won |
| 2020 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Performer | One Night in Miami | Nominated |
| 2020 | San Francisco Film Awards | Outstanding Ensemble | One Night in Miami | Won |
| 2020 | Atlantic Film Critics Circle | Breakthrough Performer | One Night in Miami | Won |
| 2020 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actor | One Night in Miami | Nominated |
| 2020 | Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Actor | One Night in Miami | Nominated |