Malachi Kirby檢視原始碼討論檢視歷史
 |
Malachi Kirby (born September 20, 1989) is a British actor and writer known for his powerful performances across film, television, and theater. He gained international prominence through his lead role as Kunta Kinte in the 2016 remake of Roots and won a British Academy Television Award (BAFTA) for his performance in Steve McQueen's Small Axe: Mangrove (2020) .
目錄
Early Life
Kirby was born in London, England, and grew up as an only child on the Patmore Estate in Battersea, South London . His parents were born in London, and his grandparents had emigrated from Jamaica . His father, a mechanic and welder, passed away when Kirby was six years old—a formative loss that would later deepen his emotional approach to acting . His mother, a government worker, raised him and encouraged his creative pursuits .[1]
Originally shy and introverted, Kirby discovered acting at age fourteen through a course at the Battersea Arts Centre, where his mother had enrolled him . Prior to this, he had been drawn to literature, enjoying fantasy novels such as The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Philip Pullman's works . He attended Southfields Academy and later studied at Richmond upon Thames College .
In 2007, Kirby was admitted to the Identity School of Acting in London, where he trained alongside a notable cohort that included John Boyega, Letitia Wright, and Damson Idris . Michaela Coel was in the year above him .
Career
Theater
Kirby describes himself as a theater actor "at heart," having begun his career on the stage . In 2011, he was shortlisted for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for his performance in Mogadishu, a critically acclaimed play about a school incident involving a black student and a white teacher .
He wrote his first play, Level Up, which premiered at the Bush Theatre in 2019 after years of development during his time at the Battersea Arts Centre .
Television Breakthrough
Kirby's early television work included guest roles in BBC procedurals such as Casualty (2008) and Silent Witness (2008), as well as a recurring role as Wayne Ladlow in the long-running soap opera EastEnders (2014) . His first leading role came in the BBC television film My Murder (2012), based on a true-life crime story .
2016 marked Kirby's international breakthrough. He starred as Kunta Kinte in the History Channel's remake of Roots, the landmark miniseries based on Alex Haley's novel . The role required immense emotional and physical demands, including scenes of shackling, assault, and a harrowing flogging sequence filmed on a former plantation . His performance drew widespread critical acclaim, with critics praising his depth and intensity .
Later that year, he appeared in the Black Mirror episode "Men Against Fire," directed by Jakob Verbruggen, portraying a soldier grappling with the psychological effects of futuristic warfare technology .
BAFTA Win and Critical Acclaim
In 2020, Kirby starred as Darcus Howe in Mangrove, the first film in Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology . The role marked the first time he had portrayed an explicitly Caribbean character, allowing him to connect with his Jamaican heritage . For this performance, he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2021 .
Recent and Upcoming Work
Kirby starred opposite Stephen Graham in the critically acclaimed kitchen drama Boiling Point (2021) . He also appeared in Wicked Little Letters (2023) .
In 2025, he took on the lead role of Hezekiah Moscow in Steven Knight's period drama A Thousand Blows, set in the bare-knuckle boxing underworld of 1880s London . The series, which streams on Disney+, reunites him with Stephen Graham and has been praised for its brutal, thrilling portrayal of Victorian-era crime. A second season has already been filmed .
Upcoming projects include the Amazon Prime adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys, in which Kirby will play both Charlie and Spider—the dual roles of Mr. Nancy's sons . He is also set to appear in the video game Squadron 42 as Joachim Steiger .
Selected Filmography
Film
Year Title Role
2023 Wicked Little Letters Bill
2021 Boiling Point Tony
2016 Fallen Roland Sparks
2015 Dough Shaun
2014 Kajaki Snoop
2014 The Last Showing Clive
2013 Gone Too Far! Yemi
2012 My Brother the Devil J-Boy
2012 Offender Harry
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2025 A Thousand Blows Hezekiah Moscow Main role
2022 My Name Is Leon Tufty Burrows Television film
2020 Small Axe: Mangrove Darcus Howe BAFTA winner
2020 Devils Oliver Harris Main role
2019 Curfew Michael Garwick Main role
2016 Roots Kunta Kinte Miniseries
2016 Black Mirror Stripe Episode: "Men Against Fire"
2015 Doctor Who Gastron Episode: "Hell Bent"
2014 EastEnders Wayne Ladlow 8 episodes
Upcoming
Year Title Role Notes
TBA Anansi Boys Charlie / Spider Amazon Prime series
TBA Squadron 42 Joachim Steiger Video game
Awards and Nominations
Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
2021 British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Small Axe: Mangrove Won
2017 Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Male Performance in TV Roots Won
2016 Screen Nation Film and Television Awards Rising Star Jekyll & Hyde, Dough Won
2017 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series Roots Nominated
2017 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actor in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Roots Nominated 2011 Evening Standard Theatre Awards Outstanding Newcomer Mogadishu Shortlisted
Personal Life
Kirby was not raised religious but became a Christian as an adult; he belongs to a Christian fellowship in East London . He is known for his introspective nature and avoids social media, citing discomfort with the concept of fame . He was named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow in 2013 .
A former 400-meter track athlete in his youth, Kirby brings physical discipline to his roles . He has spoken openly about the emotional challenges of portraying trauma on screen and is an advocate for therapy and mental health support within the acting profession .
References
Wikipedia. "Malachi Kirby." Wikimedia Foundation.
PeoplePill. "Malachi Kirby: English Actor (1989-)."
Plex. "Malachi Kirby." Watch.plex.tv.
Square Mile. "Malachi Kirby: 'I went on a journey, a very long one.'" February 17, 2025.
Fandango. "Malachi Kirby Biography."
Kiddle Encyclopedia. "Malachi Kirby Facts for Kids."
British Film & TV. "Malachi Kirby Films and TV Series."
The Independent. "Malachi Kirby: 'Forest Whitaker held me. The cameras were off but I was shaking.'" January 9, 2026.
FilmGator. "Malachi Kirby."
- ↑ Malachi KirbyIMDb