O-T Fagbenle

O-T Fagbenle

Actor
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Life Story

Named one of backstage magazines 30 actors to watch, this year O-T Fagbenle has gone on to be cast as series regular Luke, opposite Elisabeth Moss, on HULU's The Handmaid's Tale, also starring Joseph Fiennes and directed by Reed Morano. This will be the second time that O-T has worked with Reed, after first collaborating together on HBO's Looking.

Earlier this year in London, O-T lead a National Theatre cast to an Olivier Award for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and starred as the male lead in the BBC's movie adaptation of Zadie Smith's novel, NW.

O-T was cast as the lead in American crime writer Harlan Coben's original drama series The Five which first aired in April 2016 on Sky 1, soon after playing the titular role in a BBC flagship show for which he won Best Male Actor for this performance at the MViSA awards.

Born in London and raised across London, Spain, and Nigeria, Fagbenle was a world traveler at a young age. As a child, music was his passion and he played the saxophone in bands across Europe, performing at the Edinburgh Festival, Wembley Arena, the Royal Albert Hall, and even touring Spain. When he was 16 years old, Fagbenle landed his first proper role in a Nigerian adaptation of the William Shakespeare play Macbeth. Originally hired to play the saxophone, Fagbenle was also given several lines in the play, and he knew at that moment that acting was his calling. The director was so impressed by Fagbenle's work, by the second revival of the play he had secured the lead role. Fagbenle went on to attend the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating early in 2001 and joining alumni such as Sean Bean, Ralph Fiennes, and Anthony Hopkins. Theatre became his passion, as he appeared in dozens of plays across the UK, working in notable productions including the national tours of shows such as Ragamuffin, Romeo & Juliet [as Mercutio], and the West End debut of Porgy and Bess, the musical. Fagbenle was soon offered his first lead role for the stage, in John Guare's award winning play Six Degrees of Separation. His work was met by outstanding reviews, and a M.E.N. Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. While Fagbenle's career flourished on the theatre front, he also made his break into film and television.

Family

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Trivia

He is Luti Fagbenle's older brother.
He trained at the Royal Academy of dramatic arts
He was chosen to appear on the R.A.D.A 100 faces of R.A.D.A including Anthony Hopkins and Richard Attenborough
In 2004 O-T won a M.E.N Theatre Award for best actor in a leading role for his portrayal of Paul Poitier in '6 Degrees of Separation' at the Royal Exchange Theatre.
He was in the same year at R.A.D.A as Laurence Fox and Leo Bill
Plays the saxophone and performed at the Edinburgh Festival when he was 11 with the South Coast Jazz Band
He won the sportsman of the year award in his final year of high school
Originated the role of 'Sportin Life' in Porgy and Bess the musical in the U.Ks West End.
Of Anglo-Nigerian parents he was brought up in Nigeria, Spain and Germany.
He has played multiple leading roles for the BBC world service and BBC Radio 4, including Paul in 6 degrees of separation, Harpo inThe Color Purple and playing Marvin Gaye in the BBC radio biography.
In 2012, London England, O-T took on the role of Slupianek, (originated by Alan Cumming) in 'The Conquest of the South Pole', at the Arcola and Rose Theatres. Fagbenle went on to be Panel nominated for 'Best Male Performance' at the prestigious Off West End Awards.

 

Personal Quotes 

"My full name is Olatunde Olateju Olaolorun and so my first two names, Olatunde and Olateju, O-T became kind of an abbreviation of both names. A lot of people assume it was what I was called when I was a kid and a lot of people assume that it's because people found it hard to say my name but it's a Nigerian name and they just abbreviate it with Ola or Tunde, but I was just given the moniker and nickname of O-T and it stuck." --From a February 2014 interview by Jim Halterman on newnownext.com

 

Filmography

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