O-T Fagbenle
From bringing characters to life on screen, writing, producing and directing, award-nominated actor O-T Fagbenle has become one of the most in-demand talents in the entertainment industry today. In 2022, Fagbenle will star in a handful of television event series that will further put him on the map as the most versatile actor in Hollywood.
Fagbenle can currently be seen starring as Barack Obama on Showtime’s anthology series “The First Lady” opposite Viola Davis as Michelle Obama. Gillian Anderson and Michelle Pfeiffer also star. The limited series is a reframing of American leadership told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House.
Simultaneously, Fagbenle can be seen starring in the Apple TV+ drama “WeCrashed” opposite Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway. Inspired by actual events, the series follows the rise and fall of one of the world’s most valuable startups, WeWork, which grew into a global brand worth $47 billion in under a decade; then in less than a year, its valuation dropped $40 billion. Fagbenle is a scene-stealer as Cameron Lautner, a partner at a powerful investment firm who is tasked with trying to instill discipline at WeWork bringing him into conflict with Adam Neumann (Leto).
Fagbenle may be best known for his starring role as Luke in Hulu’s groundbreaking, award-winning drama series “The Handmaid’s Tale” opposite SAG and Emmy® Award winner Elisabeth Moss. In 2021, Fagbenle garnered his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his heartbreaking and moving portrayal of Luke, June Osborne’s (Moss) husband from the previous unrepressed world. The cast of “The Handmaid’s Tale” has been continuously recognized for their powerful performances, securing dozens of nominations and wins over the years including Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards, Best Drama Series at the Critic’s Choice Television Awards, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Best International Programme at the BAFTA Television Awards.
In 2020, Fagbenle made history by becoming the first person to create, write, direct, compose, executive produce and star in the pilot of a television series broadcast on a major network with his original comedy series “Maxxx.” The quick and witty six-episode series debuted on Channel 4 in the UK, before being acquired by Hulu for distribution in the U.S.
In film, Fagbenle joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021 starring as Mason opposite Scarlett Johansson in “Black Widow.” The film premiered May 7, 2021, and grossed over $379 million at the worldwide box office, despite being in the midst of a global pandemic.
Additional film and television credits for Fagbenle include the HBO film “Looking,” completing his memorable characterization of Frank from the network’s cult dramedy series of the same name; the BBC’s critically acclaimed features “NW” by Zadie Smith and “Walter’s War” as Walter Tull; a biopic of the first mixed heritage officer in the British Army; “Breaking and Entering” (Miramax) opposite Jude Law, Robin Wright and Juliette Binoche; and “I Could Never Be Your Woman” (The Weinstein Co) alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd and Saoirse Ronan. Fagbenle also starred in the television series “Thorne,” an adaptation of the Mark Billingham novels “Sleepyhead and Scaredy Cat.” Directed by “24” producer Stephen Hopkins, the six one-hour episodes also starred Sandra Oh and David Morrissey, and was sold to over 100 countries. In Europe, Fagbenle recently held lead roles in two flagship UK series: Harlan Coben’s “The Five” on Netflix and “The Interceptor” for the BBC.
In theater, Fagbenle led the National Theatre cast of August Wilson’s New York Drama Critic Circle award-winning play, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” to the prestigious Olivier Award. Fagbenle was also nominated for Best Actor (alongside his colleague Ralph Fiennes) for the illustrious Evening Standard Awards.
Born in London and raised across London, Spain and Nigeria, Fagbenle was a world traveler from a young age. Music was his passion as a child, and he played the saxophone in bands across Europe, performing at the Edinburgh Festival, Wembley Arena, the Royal Albert Hall, and even touring Spain. At 16 years old, he landed his first proper role in a Nigerian adaptation of the William Shakespeare play “Macbeth.” He 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. Theater 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.” His work was met by outstanding reviews and multiple awards and nominations including an off-West End nomination for Best Actor for his leading role as Suplianek in “The Conquest of the South Pole” and taking home the M.E.N. Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his part in the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award nominated play “Six Degrees of Separation.”
When not on set, Fagbenle loves to play basketball, volunteers at numerous schools providing free drama and music classes for kids, and launched the charity organization ABC Foundation which is dedicated to providing tech opportunities to young women in Africa. Fagbenle currently splits his time between Los Angeles, Atlanta, London, Tanzania and Toronto.