Lucian Msamati facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lucian Msamati
Msamati in 2010
Born	Lucian Gabriel Wiina Msamati (1976-03-05) 5 March 1976 (age 49) London, England
Occupation	Actor, writer, director and producer
Children	2

Lucian Gabriel Wiina Msamati, born on March 5, 1976, is a talented English Tanzanian actor, writer, director, and producer. He is well-known for his work in plays, movies, and TV shows.

You might recognize him from his roles in popular TV series. He played Salladhor Saan in the HBO series Game of Thrones. He was also J.L.B. Matekoni in the BBC/HBO show The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Other notable roles include David Runihura in the Netflix/BBC thriller Black Earth Rising and Ed Dumani in the Sky/AMC series Gangs of London. In movies, he played Cardinal Adeyemi in Conclave.

In theatre, Msamati made history as the first Black actor to play Iago in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2015 production of Othello. He has also performed in other important plays. These include Toledo in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Antonio Salieri in Amadeus at the National Theatre. He also played Arturo Ui in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Kevin/Albert in Clybourne Park.

Msamati supports several youth and arts organizations. He is a patron of Lewisham Youth Theatre and The Actor's Children's Trust (ACT). He also serves on the board of trustees at the Donmar Warehouse.

Early Life and Education

Lucian Msamati was born in London, England, on March 5, 1976. He grew up in Zimbabwe with his parents, who were both from Tanzania. His father was a doctor, and his mother was a nurse.

He went to Prince Edward School in Harare for his secondary education. After that, he studied French and Portuguese at the University of Zimbabwe from 1995 to 1997.

Career Highlights

Theatre Work

Msamati (left) and Lenny Henry in The Comedy of Errors in 2011

After university, Msamati worked as an advertising writer and a radio presenter. He also did voice-overs and hosted events.

In 1994, Msamati and some friends from school started the Over the Edge Theatre Company in Harare. This company became very successful. It toured in Europe, the United States, and South Africa. From 1998 to 2001, they performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Msamati even wrote some of the plays.

In November 2010, Msamati became the artistic director of Tiata Fahodzi, a British-African theatre company. He held this role until 2014. He continued to work with them, directing Boi Boi is Dead in 2015.

In 2015, Msamati achieved a significant milestone. He was the first Black actor to play Iago in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Othello.

He also played the main role of Antonio Salieri in the play Amadeus at the Royal National Theatre. He performed this role from October 2016 to March 2017, and again from February to April 2018. Critics praised his performance.

In 2019, he starred as Sam in Master Harold and the Boys at the Royal National Theatre.

Msamati has appeared in many other plays in London, UK. Some of these include Fabulation, Gem of the Ocean, and I.D.. He also performed in Mourning Becomes Electra, The Overwhelming, and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. He played the main role in Pericles. Other plays include President of an Empty Room, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, and Walk Hard. He also appeared in Death and the King's Horseman, Ruined, and Clybourne Park.

Television Roles

Msamati has appeared in many television shows. He was in episodes of Ultimate Force and Spooks. In 2008, he got a very important role as JLB Matekoni in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

He has also been a guest star in several BBC shows. These include Luther, Ashes to Ashes, Doctor Who, Taboo, and Death in Paradise. He played the pirate Salladhor Saan in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

More recently, he appeared as Lord Faa in His Dark Materials on BBC One. In 2020, Msamati played Ed Dumani in Sky Atlantic's Gangs of London. He also appeared in an episode of the BBC's Talking Heads.

Film Appearances

Msamati was in the movie The International (2009). His other film roles include Lumumba (1999), directed by Raoul Peck. He also voiced a character in the animated movie The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003). He appeared in Richard II (2012).

Radio Work

Msamati played Matthew in the BBC Radio 4 drama Burned to Nothing (2011).

Personal Life

Msamati moved to the UK permanently in 2003. He now lives in London. He is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.

Filmography

Film

Television