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 actor, writer, director, and producer. He is from Zimbabwe and has worked in many areas like theatre, film, television, and radio. You might know him from his roles as Salladhor Saan in the TV series Game of Thrones or J.L.B. Matekoni in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. He also played David Runihura in Black Earth Rising and Ed Dumani in Gangs of London.

In theatre, Lucian Msamati made history in 2015. He was the first Black actor to play the character Iago in a play called Othello. He has also taken on other important roles. These include playing Antonio Salieri in Amadeus and Arturo Ui in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. He also played Kevin/Albert in Clybourne Park.

Msamati supports several youth and arts charities. He is a patron for Lewisham Youth Theatre, WildChild, and The Actor's Children's Trust (ACT). He also helps guide the Donmar Warehouse theatre as a trustee.

Early Life and Education

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

After finishing secondary school at Prince Edward School in Harare, he went to the University of Zimbabwe. From 1995 to 1997, he studied for a degree in French and Portuguese.

Lucian Msamati's Career Journey

Starting in the Arts

After university, Lucian Msamati worked in advertising as a copywriter. He also worked as a freelance radio presenter. He used his voice for voice-overs and hosted events. He even gave speeches after dinners.

In 1994, Msamati and some friends from school started a theatre group. They called it the Over the Edge Theatre Company in Harare. This company performed for ten years. They traveled to Europe, the United States, and South Africa. From 1998 to 2001, they performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Lucian Msamati wrote some of the plays they performed. The company is not officially closed, but its members are now working on other projects.

In 2010, Msamati became the artistic director of a British-African theatre company called Tiata Fahodzi. He held this role until 2014. He still works with them and directed their play Boi Boi is Dead in 2015.

Theatre Performances

Msamati (left) and Lenny Henry in the Royal National Theatre production of The Comedy of Errors in 2011

In 2015, Lucian Msamati made history. He was the first Black actor to play Iago in a Royal Shakespeare Company show of Othello. Hugh Quarshie played Othello in the same production.

From 2016 to 2018, he played the main role of Antonio Salieri in the play Amadeus. This was at the Royal National Theatre. A famous critic, Michael Billington, called his performance "excellent."

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

Lucian Msamati has been in many other plays in London. Some of these include:

• Fabulation
• Gem of the Ocean
• I.D.
• Mourning Becomes Electra
• The Overwhelming
• Pericles, Prince of Tyre (he played the main character)
• President of an Empty Room
• The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui
• Walk Hard
• Death and the King's Horseman
• Ruined
• Clybourne Park

Television Roles

Lucian Msamati has appeared in many TV shows. He was in Ultimate Force and Spooks. In 2008, he got a big role as JLB Matekoni in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This show was made by BBC and HBO.

He has also been a guest star in popular BBC shows. These include Luther, Ashes to Ashes, Doctor Who, Taboo, and Death in Paradise. He is also known for playing the pirate Salladhor Saan in Game of Thrones.

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

Film Appearances

Msamati has acted in several films. He was in The International (2009). Other films include Lumumba (1999) and the animated movie The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003). He also appeared in Richard II (2012).

Radio Work

Lucian Msamati also performs on the radio. He played Matthew in the BBC Radio 4 drama Burned to Nothing in 2011.

Personal Life

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

Filmography

Film

Television