Kobna Kuttah Holdbrook-Smith MBE (born 23 August 1977) is a Ghanaian-English actor. He has played roles in films, including Father Richard Emery in Ghost Stories (2017), Oliver in The Commuter, Templeton Frye in Mary Poppins Returns and Doctor Wren in Gwen (all 2018). He has portrayed Crispus Allen in the superhero film Justice League (2017), part of the DC Extended Universe.
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kobna Kuttah Holdbrook-Smith 23 August 1977[1] Accra, Ghana |
| Alma mater | Guildford School of Acting |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Awards | Laurence Olivier Award, 2019 |
For his performance in Tina in the West End, he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
Early life
editHoldbrook-Smith was born in Accra, Ghana. He grew up in Frimley, Surrey, England, where he lived with his parents, Dr. [Yoku] Henry Andrew Holdbrook-Smith and Tenu Holdbrook-Smith, and his brother, Kofi.[2] He was initially frightened of taking up acting due to his family's disapproval. "I was about 15, I thought, 'I wonder if I could [become an actor]'. I hadn't really suggested it to anyone. It just didn't seem allowed. So there was a slow exploration of [acting] and by the time I was 18, I was resolute."[3]
He attended Guildford School of Acting to study acting,[4] graduating in 2000.[5]
Career
editHoldbrook-Smith began his acting career on television in 2002 when he played Orlando Figes in the Judge John Deed episode "Everyone's Child". Since then, he has had roles in TV series such as Little Britain, Star Stories (from 2006 until 2008), Taking the Flak, Sirens, Holby City, Silk, Father Brown, The Last Panthers, Class, Dark Heart, The Split and Red Election.
His first major theatre lead came in 2005, when he played Ken in Mustapha Matura's Playboy of the West Indies at the Tricycle Theatre.[6] He later starred in their critically acclaimed African-American Season, performing in the European premieres of Walk Hard by Abram Hill, Fabulation by Lynn Nottage and Gem of the Ocean by August Wilson. In interviews he has cited August Wilson's plays as personal favourites.[7] In 2006 he played Levee In Ma Rainey's Black Bottom by August Wilson at the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre, then four years later he appeared as Herald Loomis in Joe Turner's Come and Gone by August Wilson at the Young Vic Theatre.
He first appeared at the Globe in 2007 in Love's Labours Lost, which he also performed later the same year at the National Theatre of Korea, in Seoul. Holdbrook-Smith had his debut at the National Theatre in 2009 and has since starred in four productions there (most notably appearing as Mortimer in Edward II). In 2015 he played Laertes alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre. This play was also broadcast live in cinemas worldwide as part of National Theatre Live.[8]
In 2016 Holdbrook-Smith performed with Benedict Cumberbatch again, this time in Marvel’s Dr Strange.[9] A year later he played the part of Det. Crispus Allen in DC Comics Justice League and also starred as Warden Walker in Paddington 2,[10] and as Father Emery in Ghost Stories. In 2018, he played the role of Oliver in The Commuter and played a dual role of the live-action character Templeton Frye and the animated voice of the Weasel in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns.[11]
Holdbrook-Smith has also performed in BBC Radio dramas, including Judas[12] and On Her Majesty's Secret Service.[13] He has narrated a number of audiobooks,[14] most notably the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch.[15]
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is currently starring in the musical Tina as Ike Turner at the Aldwych Theatre.[16]
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to drama,[17] and was recognised as one of the United Kingdom's most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage when Holdbrook-Smith was included in the 2021 edition of the annual Powerlist.[18]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Rahab | Mill | Short film |
| 2012 | Womack | Dan Tan | Short film |
| 2013 | The Double | Guard / Doctor | Dark Comedy / Drama / Mystery / Sci-Fi / Thriller / Comedy |
| 10ml I.V. | Karl | Short film | |
| 2014 | Trick or Receipt | Martin | Short film |
| 2015 | Hamlet | Laertes | Live in theatres |
| 2016 | Doctor Strange | Physical Therapist | Superhero / Action / Sci-Fi / Adventure / Fantasy |
| 2017 | Ghost Stories | Father Emery | Horror / Drama |
| Justice League | Detective Crispus Allen | Superhero / Action / Sci-Fi / Adventure / Fantasy | |
| Paddington 2 | Warden Walker | Animal Adventure / Comedy / Family | |
| 2018 | The Commuter | Oliver | Conspiracy Thriller / Mystery / One-Person Army Action / Thriller / Action |
| Mary Poppins Returns | Templeton Frye / Weasel (voice) | Supernatural Fantasy / Adventure / Comedy / Family / Musical | |
| Gwen | Doctor Wren | Folk Horror / Drama / History / Mystery / Horror | |
| 2021 | Zack Snyder’s Justice League | Detective Crispus Allen | Superhero / Action / Sci-Fi / Adventure / Fantasy |
| 2023 | Sumotherhood | Shotti | |
| Wonka | Officer Affable | Supernatural Fantasy / Adventure / Comedy / Family / Musical | |
| 2026 | Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie | TBA | Filming |
Television
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Judge John Deed | Orlando Figes | Episode: "Everyone's Child" |
| 2003 | Casualty | PC Riddock | Episode: "Never Judge a Book" |
| Absolute Power | Journalist No. 1 | Episode: "Burn and Crash" | |
| 2004 | Little Britain | 2 episodes | |
| Holby City | Lee Holden | Episode: "One More Chance" | |
| 2005 | Family Affairs | Officer Kennedy | 1 episode |
| According to Bex | Vox Pops | Recurring | |
| Mike Bassett: Manager | Carlton Dawes | Main cast | |
| 2006 | Pulling | Joe's Father | 1 episode |
| 2006–2008 | Star Stories | Various | 8 episodes |
| 2007 | The Bill | Bruno Hammond | Episode: "Code of Silence" |
| The Whistleblowers | Male Nurse | Episode: "Pandemic" | |
| Katy Brand's Big Ass Show | 1 episode | ||
| 2009 | Whatever It Takes | Nifemi | TV movie |
| Taking the Flak | Joyful Sifuri | Main cast | |
| PhoneShop | Graham | Episode: "New Man: Pilot" | |
| Sorry I've Got No Head | Various | Season 2 only | |
| 2010 | Whites | Barnaby | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Roadkill | Tommy | TV movie |
| Sirens | Ryan Bailey | Recurring | |
| Holby City | Paul James | 2 episodes | |
| 2012 | Silk | Paul McGovern | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Frankie | Max Hall | 1 episode |
| The Café | Jason | Recurring | |
| 2014 | Turks & Caicos | Colin Maitlis | TV movie |
| Crackanory | Commander | Episode: "In Space No One Can Hear You Clean & the Weather Man" | |
| Agatha Raisin | Rev. Jez Bloxby | Episode: "The Quiche of Death" | |
| 2015 | Father Brown | Marvin Morris | Episode: "The Invisible Man" |
| Midsomer Murders | Rob Mead | Episode: "The Dagger Club" | |
| The Last Panthers | James Davis | Miniseries; main cast | |
| Capital | Mashinko | Miniseries | |
| 2016 | Class | Jasper Adeola | Episode: "Nightvisiting" |
| Dark Heart | DS Dave Pulford | 1 episode | |
| 2018 | The Split | Glen Peters | Recurring |
| 2019 | Motherland | Nick | Recurring |
| 2021 | Superworm | Wizard Lizard (voice) | TV movie |
| Red Election | Levi Nichols | Main cast | |
| 2022 | His Dark Materials | Balthamos | Recurring |
| 2023 | Accused | David Mingo | Episode: "Kendall's Story" |
| 2024 | The Veil | Johnson | |
| Mr Loverman | Tony | [19] |
Stage
edit| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Hamlet | Laertes (Hamlet) | Barbican Centre |
| 2018 | Tina: The Tina Turner Musical | Ike Turner | Aldwych Theatre |
| 2023 | The Effect | Toby | Lyttelton Theatre |
Awards and nominations
editStage
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Laurence Olivier Award[20] | Best Actor in a Musical | Tina: The Tina Turner Musical | Won |
| Black British Theatre Award[21] | Best Male Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| WhatsOnStage Award[22] | Best Actor in a Musical | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Kobina Kuttah HOLDBROOK-SMITH - Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "Dramatic Need". Dramatic Need. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Ositelu, Tola (27 May 2017). "Dramatic Chameleon: An Interview with Kobna Holdbrook-Smith". Soul Culture. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Star Guests Lead Change Through the Arts Careers Event at GSA". gsauk.org. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Alumni: Kobna Holdbrook-Smith". Guilford School of Acting. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ Scott, Adam (14 December 2004). "Playboy of the West Indies, Tricycle Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Williams, Karla (3 June 2010). "Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Joe Turner's Come and Gone". Afridiziak Theatre News. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ www.kbgroupuk.com. "Hamlet". barbican.org.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Doctor Strange (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Paddington 2 (2017)". IMDb. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Marshall, Rob (25 December 2018). "Mary Poppins Returns". IMDb. Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Episode 1, Judas, 15 Minute Drama – BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Saturday Drama – BBC Radio 4". BBC. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Kobna Holdbrook Smith on GoodReads". GoodReads. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ "Rivers of London audiobook by Ben Aaronovitch – Rakuten Kobo". Rakuten Kobo. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "CAST & CREATIVE". Tina Turner Musical Limited. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "No. 63135". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B22.
- ^ Lavender, Jane (17 November 2020). "Lewis Hamilton ends incredible year top of influential Black Powerlist 2021". mirror. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Mr Loverman is a life-affirming story about family, love, and being true to yourself". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan (5 March 2019). "2019 Olivier Award Nominations: London's Company and Come From Away Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Longman, Will (19 September 2019). "Shortlist for first Black British Theatre Awards 2019 announced". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "Shortlisted nominees announced for 2019 WhatsOnStage Awards". West End Wilma. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2020.