Draft:Edwin De La Renta

Edwin De La Renta was born in Stonebridge Park and raised in Tottenham, north London, with part of his childhood spent in Accra, Ghana. He attended St Thomas More Catholic School in Wood Green, North London. Although initially interested in pursuing a career in athletics and marine biology, De La Renta developed an interest in the arts during his late teens. He later attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where his passion for dance emerged.

De La Renta began his entertainment career as a professional dancer, appearing in music videos for artists such as Alicia Keys ("Girlfriend"), Craig David ("All The Way"), and Jay Sean ("Dance With You"). After touring as a backing dancer, he pursued further studies in Sociology at Goldsmiths College.

While studying, he was streetcast for a photoshoot with Face Magazine, which led him to start a career in fashion modeling. Following his graduation, De La Renta moved to New York, where he studied acting at The Actors Corner in Hell's Kitchen and continued his career as a model. His work in acting began with various short films and community theatre performances.{{Cite web |title=The Tower Theatre Podcast Season 2 Episode 4 |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-tower-theatre-podcast-season-2-episode-4/id1506752270?i=1000496620548 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Tower Theatre Company : One Man, Two Guvnors |url=https://www.archive.towertheatre.org.uk/archive/2015/one_man.htm |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.archive.towertheatre.org.uk}}

De La Renta's breakthrough in film came in 2019 when he starred as Smiley Phelps in The Informer, alongside Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Ana de Armas, Common, and Clive Owen. Later that year, he portrayed the dual android roles of ParisMUMa 17/Homunculus in the arthouse film The Last Faust,{{Cite web |date=2019-09-12 |title=Profile: Edwin De La Renta - Hommunculus / Paris (Android-C02JK0TVDTY4Z-2-27) |url=https://philipphumm.art/profile-edwin-de-la-renta-hommunculus-paris-android-c02jk0tvdty4z-2-27/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Philipp Humm |language=en-US}} a modern retelling of the Faust legend. He also made his Bollywood debut in Bharat (2019), starring opposite Salman Khan as the pirate leader Mikhael.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-01 |title=British Actor, Edwin De La Renta On 'The Informer' And Social Responsibility Within Film |url=https://www.bondofficial.com/culture/bondofficial/edwindelarenta |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Bond Official |language=en-US}}

In 2021, De La Renta joined the cast of Ted Lasso for its second season, playing Francis, the assistant to Ghanaian billionaire Edwin Akufo (portrayed by Sam Richardson).{{Cite web |title=Edwin De La Renta {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/edwin_de_la_renta |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}} He reprised this role in the third season of the series. He also appeared in Deceit (2021), which depicts the honeytrap scandal during the Rachel Nickell murder investigation.

De La Renta's performances have been recognized in various media outlets, including features in the Financial Times and recognition at the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.{{Cite web |title=London Critics Circle Film Awards / Edwin De La Renta |url=https://greenlit.com/project/spar-pilot-episode/updates/london-critics-circle-film-awards-edwin-de-la-renta |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=greenlit.com}}

In his youth, De La Renta was a highly ranked 110m hurdler, competing for Haringey and Barnet. He also competed as an amateur boxer.{{Cite web |title=Edwin De La Renta – Left Hook Boxing Club London |url=https://lefthook.co.uk/trainer/edwin-de-la-renta/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |language=en-GB}}

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{{Draft categories|

:Category:Living people

:Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

:Category:English actors

:Category:English dancers

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