Having come up through improvisational theatre as a teenager, British actor Daniel Kaluuya first came to wide attention as Posh Kenneth in the first two seasons of the acclaimed teen dramedy Skins. Plaudits for roles in genre TV dare like supernatural thriller The Fades and surreal comedy Psychoville followed, parallel to a very successful career on the London stage. But it was his brilliant turn in Jordan Peele’s acclaimed horror film, Get Out, that propelled him into the stratosphere.
Since then, it’s been a consistent upwards trajectory for Kaluuya, who brings an incredible intensity to whatever role he takes, combined with one of the best stares in the business—his supporting character in Widows became a meme simply on the basis of his glower.
He’ll next be seen as reluctant Hollywood ranch owner O.J. in sci-fi thriller Nope, which reteams him with Peele. But until then, check these out for a dose of Kaluuya cool.
Skins (2007-2009)
Kaluuya is Posh Kenneth, friend to Dev Patel’s Anwar and part of the “first generation” of the Skins cast that also includes Nicholas Hoult and Kaya Scodelario. A wannabe rapper from a privileged background, Kenneth switches between urban slang and Received Pronunciation more dexterously than he rhymes. Kenneth may have been only a supporting character, but he was an integral part of the ensemble, just as Kaluuya was an integral part of the writing team, serving as both a contributing writer for the first two seasons, and head writer on two episodes.
Get Out (2017)
Sporting a flawless American accent, Kaluuya is Chris, a young black man visiting his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time, only to find himself caught in a horrific and craaaaazy-racist conspiracy. Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford get the most attention as the cringey-liberal parents hiding a sinister secret, but Kaluuya has the tougher, less showy job of being our point of view in this off-kilter world, our empathy with his hapless protagonist ratcheting the tension to unbearable heights. Jordan Peele’s debut feature is a modern classic for many reasons, but it wouldn’t work at all without Kaluuya at the centre.
Black Panther (2018)
A pinnacle achievement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther hinges on Chadwick Boseman’s regal turn as the title character, but in a packed ensemble Kaluuya still manages to stand out. As W’kabi, best friend to King T’Challa and the head of security for the nation of Wakanda, he is both fierce and conflicted, torn between his friendship with T’Challa and his loyalty to usurper Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). In a film about dynastic struggles, Kaluuya’s performance as a man on the wrong side for the right reasons is genuinely Shakespearean.
Queen & Slim (2019)
A black couple on a first date find themselves on the run after they kill a cop in self defence during a traffic stop. A racially charged riff on Bonnie and Clyde, Melina Matsoukas’ debut film sees Kaluuya opposite Jodie Turner-Smith as the doomed lovers, bringing incredible pathos to this modern tragedy. The script by Lena Waithe depicts a world constantly riven by racial violence and systemic oppression, but it’s Kaluuya and Turner-Smith who keep us grounded in the emotional truth of the story, ensuring this parable packs a real punch.
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Kaluuya is simply electric as martyred Black Panther Fred Hampton in this compelling account of the young revolutionary’s assassination by the FBI. Our point of view character is not Hampton but William O’Neal (Lakeith Stansfield), the police informant who directly contributed to Hampton’s death. Kaluuya dominates the proceedings as the charismatic firebrand, and the many scenes of him speaking to the public in the grips of an unquenchable righteous fury are the main highlight in a film not short of indelible moments.
