Calvin Demba
{{Short description|British actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Calvin Demba
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Calvin Demba in Urban Myths - Madonna & Basquiat 2019 (cropped-J1).png
| image_size =
| caption = Demba in Urban Myths: Madonna and Basquiat 2019
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Stepney, London, England
| citizenship =
| education =
| occupation = Actor, writer, director
| years_active = 2011–present
| notable_works = Supacell, Killed by My Debt, Kingsman: The Golden Circle
| website =
}}
Calvin Arron A. Demba is an English actor, writer and director. He is known for his roles in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks (2011–2012), the E4 series Youngers (2013–2014), and the BBC One drama Life (2020).
Early life
Demba was born in Stepney, East London and grew up in Bethnal Green. He is of Gambian and Scottish descent.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.voice-online.co.uk/article/we-might-be-typecast-we’re-getting-cast|title='We Might Be Typecast, But We're Getting Cast'|website=The Voice|first=Davina|last=Hamilton|date=1 October 2013|accessdate=4 July 2023}} From the age of 17, Demba attended The Half Moon youth theatre in Limehouse, before signing with an acting agency in Hoxton.{{cite web|url=https://i-d.co/article/actor-calvin-demba-says-fuck-that-take-me-back-to-the-old-and-golden-days/|title=actor, calvin demba, says "fuck that, take me back to the old and golden days"|website=i-D|last=Boyd-Wallis|first=Rebecca|date=8 December 2015|access-date=23 November 2022}}
Career
Demba first came to prominence in 2011, when he was cast as Scott Sabeka in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.{{cite web|url=http://www.pridemagazine.com/interview-with-calvin-demba/|title=Interview With…Calvin Demba|website=Pride|date=20 December 2011|access-date=23 November 2022}} Demba stayed in the role for a year, filming 82 episodes as Sabeka.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2012/0716/438824-hollyoaks/|title=Demba announces Hollyoaks exit|website=RTE|date=16 July 2012|access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4f4bb4a7034ce|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013102040/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4f4bb4a7034ce|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2019|title=Calvin Demba|website=BFI|access-date=23 November 2022}}
In 2013, Demba made his theatrical debut, in the play Routes, portraying Kola. The play was staged at the Royal Court Theatre in London.{{cite web|url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/hollyoaks-demba-debuts-in-routes-195186/|title=Hollyoaks' Demba debuts in Routes|website=Official London Theatre|date=19 August 2013|access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/routes-royal-court-upstairs-theatre-review-8841052.html|title=Routes, Royal Court Upstairs - theatre review|website=Evening Standard|date=26 September 2013|access-date=23 November 2022}}
From 2013 to 2014, Demba portrayed Jay{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a466824/youngers-the-stars-of-e4s-new-drama-speak-to-digital-spy-video/|title='Youngers': The stars of E4's new drama speak to Digital Spy - video|website=Digital Spy|date=19 March 2013|access-date=23 November 2022}} in the E4 comedy-drama series Youngers.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-ynizox/youngers/episodes/|title=Youngers (TV series)|website=Radio Times|access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/videos/entertainment/youngers-cast-on-new-series-idris-elba-and-1d-cameo-30252166.html|title=Youngers cast on new series, Idris Elba and 1D cameo|website=Independent IE|date=7 May 2014|access-date=23 November 2022}} In an interview with The National Student, Demba shared, "I’m hoping shows like this will open up the doors for more young black actors and this will be good for that reason alone. It conveys young people in a positive way and as goal-orientated which is not always done. There are no drug references, no sex and not even any swearing. I feel like we’re going in the right direction with this because it shows we’re not all drug-taking people without hope. There are diamonds in the rough."{{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalstudent.com/Entertainment/2013-03-12/Interview_Calvin_Demba.html|title=Interview: Calvin Demba|website=The National Student|last=Findlater|first=Deborah|date=12 March 2013|access-date=23 November 2022}}
In 2015, Demba was nominated for the Evening Standard 'Emerging Talent' Award for his performance in Patrick Marber's The Red Lion at the National Theatre, London.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/evening-standard-theatre-awards-stars-of-the-future-take-the-spotlight-a3110956.html|title=Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Stars of the future take the spotlight|website=Evening Standard|last=Curtis|first=Nick|date=10 November 2015|access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/london-theater-review-patrick-marbers-the-red-lion-1201517288/|title=London Theater Review: Patrick Marber's 'The Red Lion'|website=Variety|last=Trueman|first=Matt|date=11 June 2015|access-date=23 November 2022}}
In 2020, Demba starred as Andy Okonkwo in the BBC drama Life, alongside Alison Steadman, Victoria Hamilton, and Adrian Lester.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/life-bbc-cast-characters/|title=Meet the cast of BBC drama Life|website=Radio Times|last=Bley Griffiths|first=Eleanor|date=27 October 2020|access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/cast-life-bbc-before/|title=Who is in the cast of Life and where have you seen them before?|website=Heart|date=29 September 2020|access-date=23 November 2022}}
In 2022, Demba wrote and directed a short film, Babydolls, his directing debut, and a project backed by the BFI.{{cite web|url=https://filmlondon.org.uk/profile/film-london-lodestars-calvin-demba|title=FILM LONDON LODESTARS: Calvin Demba|website=Film London|access-date=23 November 2022}} Demba was one of four writers honoured at the 2022 Film London Lodestars; the ceremony honours innovative creators and practitioners to watch.{{cite web|url=https://britishcinematographer.co.uk/film-london-announce-2022-lodestars/|title=Film London announce 2022 Lodestars|website=British Cinematographer|date=4 July 2022|access-date=23 November 2022}}
Demba has a leading role in the Netflix superhero television drama series, Supacell, released in June 2024.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/filmmaker-rapman-picks-61st-street-star-tosin-cole-to-supercharge-netflix-superhero-drama-supacell-1235089143/|title=Netflix's 'Supacell': '61st Street' Star Tosin Cole To Lead 'Blue Story' Creator Rapman's Superhero Drama|website=Deadline|last=Bamigboye|first=Baz|date=11 August 2022|access-date=23 November 2022}}
Personal life
{{as of|April 2023}} Demba is in a relationship with Irish actress Louisa Harland.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.inkl.com/news/i-love-london-but-i-miss-home-so-much-derry-girls-star-louisa-harland-on-life-love-and-her-latest-project|title='I love London but I miss home so much' – Derry Girls star Louisa Harland on life, love and her latest project|journal=Irish Independent|first=Julie Ann|last=Trainor|date=23 April 2023|accessdate=19 August 2023}}{{subscription required}}
Credits
=Film=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2012
| Twenty8k | Inmate 1 | |
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| Alec | |
| Shakespeare on Death
| The Speaker | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| Marshall | |
| Rue Boy
| Callum | Short film; also writer |
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| Alex | |
| Kingsman: The Golden Circle
| Brandon | |
| The Vest
| Macman | Short film |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| Yardie | Sticks | |
| Brixton Rock
| Brenton Brown | Short film |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| Wyatt Hughes | |
| Last Christmas
| Nathan | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2011
| Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me | Terry | Television film |
| 2011–2012
| Regular role; 82 episodes |
| 2012
| Casualty | Danny Beresford | Episode: The Blame Game |
| 2013–2014
| Youngers | Jay | 16 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Sherlock | Isaac Whitney | Episode: His Last Vow |
| Babylon
| Jason Delgado | Episode: Maze Hill |
| 2018
| Nat Rogers | Television film |
| 2019
| Urban Myths{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-03-15|title=Urban Myths Series 3 line-up|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/5241/urban_myths_series_3/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB}} | Basquiat | Episode: Madonna and Basquiat |
| 2020
| Life | Andy Okonkwo | 6 episodes |
| 2021
| Freddie Samson | Episode: The Dutiful Child |
| 2022
| Babydolls | | Short film; Writer and director; directing debut |
| 2023
| The Rig | Baz | 6 episodes ; Prime Video |
| 2024
| Kurt Henderson | Episode: #13.8 |
| 2024
| Supacell | Rodney | Regular role; 6 episodes Netflix |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|4694127}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Demba, Calvin}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Black British male actors
Category:English people of African-American descent
Category:English people of Gambian descent
Category:English people of Scottish descent
Category:English television actors
Category:Male actors from London