Edwin De La Renta

Edwin De La Renta is an English actor, model and dancer, best known for his performances in films such as The Informer (2019), The Last Faust (2019), and Bharat (2019). He also gained recognition for his role as Francis in the critically acclaimed television series Ted Lasso on Apple TV+.
==Early life and educatio==
Edwin De La Renta was born in Stonebridge Park and raised in Tottenham, north London, with part of his childhood spent in Accra, Ghana. He attended St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green, North London. Although initially interested in pursuing a career in athletics and marine biology, De La Renta developed an interest in the arts during his late teens. He later attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where his passion for dance emerged.
==Career==
===Early career===
De La Renta began his entertainment career as a professional dancer, appearing in music videos for artists such as Alicia Keys ("Girlfriend"), Craig David ("All The Way"), and Jay Sean ("Dance With You"). After touring as a backing dancer, he pursued further studies in Sociology at Goldsmiths College.
===Transition to acting and modelling===
While studying, he was streetcast for a photoshoot with Face Magazine, which led him to start a career in fashion modeling. Following his graduation, De La Renta moved to New York, where he studied acting at The Actors Corner in Hell's Kitchen and continued his career as a model. His work in acting began with various short films and community theatre performances.
===Film===
De La Renta's breakthrough in film came in 2019 when he starred as Smiley Phelps in The Informer, alongside Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Ana de Armas, Common, and Clive Owen. Later that year, he portrayed the dual android roles of ParisMUMa 17/Homunculus in the arthouse film The Last Faust, a modern retelling of the Faust legend. He also made his Bollywood debut in Bharat (2019), starring opposite Salman Khan as the pirate leader Mikhael.
===Television===
In 2021, De La Renta joined the cast of Ted Lasso for its second season, playing Francis, the assistant to Ghanaian billionaire Edwin Akufo (portrayed by Sam Richardson). He reprised this role in the third season of the series. He also appeared in Deceit (2021), which depicts the honeytrap scandal during the Rachel Nickell murder investigation.
==Achievements==
De La Renta's performances have been recognized in various media outlets, including features in the Financial Times and recognition at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.
==Filmography==
===Film===
 Film
Year	Film 	Role 	Type
2014	Alberto Goes To Rio 	Muhammed 	Short Film
2015	Taken Out 	Met 	Short Film
2015	Rise Of The Footsoldier 2 	Crackhead 	Film
2015	Flying South For The Summer	Mark 	Short Film
2016	The Dead Sea 	Malik 	Short Film
2019	The Informer 	Smiley Phelps 	Film
2019	Bharat 	Mikhael 	Film
2019	The Last Faust 	Paris Android Muma 17/Homonculus	Film
2020	Tap Boy 	Silas 	Short Film
2021	The Como Connection 	Agent November 	Short Film
2022	Pretty Red Dress 	Fletcher 	Film
TBA 	Breezy 	Ezra 	Film
===Television===
 Television
Year 	Television Show	Role 	Episodes
2014 	Grass Roots 	Justin Rose 	1 episode
2021-2023	Ted Lasso 	Francis 	3 episodes
2021 	Deceit 	Mark (Kash) Bailey	1 episode
==Personal life==
In his youth, De La Renta was a highly ranked 110m hurdler, competing for Haringey and Barnet. He also competed as an amateur boxer.
Category:Living people
Category:English actors
Category:English dancers