David Harewood is a talented and versatile actor who has received huge critical acclaim across theatre, television and cinema.
A RADA graduate, David trained as a Shakespearean actor and has played many of the great Shakespearean protagonists on stage including Romeo, the charismatic rebel Hotspur in Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, and a strong yet conflicted Anthony to Vanessa Redgrave's Cleopatra, amongst others.
Already a respected actor, he exploded onto the headlines when he was cast by Sam Mendes as the first black actor to play Othello in the Royal National Theatre's 1997 production, hailed by critics as "gripping, intelligent and emotionally overwhelming". He also appeared as Lord Asriel in the epic and innovative production of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials in 2004-2005.
In addition to his theatrical performances, David also boasts an extensive and impressive film and television career.
He could last be seen starring as a giant of the 20th century, Nelson Mandela, in brand-new drama MRS MANDELA for the BBC. Shot on location in South Africa, the film focuses on the development of the relationship between Winnie (played by Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo) and her husband from their brief courtship in the Fifties to the aftermath of Nelson's release from prison in 1990. It is a subtle exploration of a remarkable relationship set against the backdrop of one of the greatest political struggles of the 20th century. The drama also stars David Morrissey who plays the role of notorious police interrogator Theunis Swanepoel.
David played Freddie Graham in the BBC's compelling five-part thriller Criminal Justice alongside British institution Pete Postlethwaite and Ben Whishaw. The series was named 'Best Serial Drama' at last years BAFTA Television Awards.
David compounds this impressive range of roles with his stunningly chilling performance as Captain Poison in Ed Zwick's Oscar-nominated and raptorously received film Blood Diamond. Both dramatically powerful and politically significant, David starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou to create one of the most terrifying and truly monstrous villains in modern cinema.
David was involved with various exciting projects in 2009. He joined Dominic Minghella's brilliantly revamped Robin Hood as Friar Tuck, which recently completed its hugely successful run on BBC1. He was also on screen alongside Timothy Spall in Gunrush, a one-off thriller for ITV which took us to the heart of Britain's gun crime crisis.
He could be seen on stage wowing audiences as Martin Luther King in the premiere of Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP at the Trafalgar Studios. The production opened to rave reviews at Theatre 503, Dominic Cavendish from the Telegraph described it as "nothing short of a triumph" (*****). The West End transfer of the play opened on 16th July and ran until September.
In December he played Joshua Naismith in the Christmas episodes of 'Dr.Who' on BBC1. The episode was David Tennant's last.
