David Oyelowo, Spooks Actor

We posed some questions to David Oyelowo who played Danny in the first series of Spooks. He was also the first black actor to play an English monarch in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2001 production of 'Henry VI'.

Q What was the most disrespectful thing you did as a teenager?
A The most disrespectful thing I did as a teenager was probably stringing lots of girls along and making them think that I loved them. You will be pleased to know that I have repented of my terrible behaviour. I’m now happily married and have two boys (nearly 4 and 9mths married at 22 – 7years).

Q What were you most proud of doing when you were younger?
A Getting my Blue Peter badge for an animation competition. I came second, I was about 15. I did a story board about trees fighting back against human beings chopping them down. As you can tell I was very into green issues at the time! I think I called it Treevolution – the trees and the people made it up in the end, became friends and loved each other! My BP badge was great because it meant I could get free entry into places such as Madame Tussauds.

Q Which actor do you most respect and why?
A It has to be Denzel Washington, without question because of his achievements as an actor, he is extrodianary, a true movie star but someone who is equally at ease on screen as he is on stage. As a black actor I would love to get even somewhere close to his talent let alone exceed it. I have yet to meet him and confess I think I’d be a bit intimidated!

Q What were you like at school?
A I was born in the UK but lived in Nigeria for 7 years from 6-14. My years in Nigeria informed the kind of teenager I was. Over there there is a real culture of respect – for your elders, education etc. When I came back to Britain I was flabbergasted at the lack of respect for all these things. I couldn’t get over the way my peers treated their education. In Nigeria you have to pay and here they were taking it for granted. They also talked back to teachers – that was also a real shock. I was bullied at school. Firstly for being black and secondly for wanting to work. Other black boys didn’t take kindly to me but although it was hard for me I feel sorry for them. They were not looking at their future in the long term. Respect for them was very much short term – bullying, being strong, power in numbers. Sadly those on the fence, the ones who were not that bright but could have got an education got sucked in to this crowd. I still see guys on the Holloway Road but they’re not up to much. It’s a waste.

Q What is the worst piece of advice you have been given?
A Best advice – do not let the sun go down on wrath. Worst - from my Dad, to become a lawyer!

Q Who would you most like to throw a custard pie at (in a respectful way, of course)?
A I would like to throw a custard pie at the editor of The Sun because I loathe the newspaper. I think Page 3 is one of the reasons why men in this country cannot get to a place of respect with women. How can you look at page 3 every morning and then go into work and not see your female colleagues as sexual objects. It’s very distructive. The other lads mags are no better. I might seem a bit humourless and heavy talking like this, there will be many who will see it as a bit of harmless fun but I think these people don’t want to accept the ramifications this material has on young people in our society. I know many young men who can’t commit to women because they have been sold this image of women that’s not a reality. It’s very damaging. These images have become so much part of our society that I am alarmed at some of the stuff that’s shown on kids morning TV.

Q Which public figure do you have the most time for?
A It would have to be another actor - Judi Dench. I admire her greatly. She crystalises everything a young actor aspires to be. Judi has humility, talent and grace. I also admire Prince Charles. I am an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust. The stuff he does behind the scenes for young disenfranchised people is phenomenal. 

Q Who has inspired you most as a Christian?
A It has to be my pastor Steve Maile. He is uncompromising and yet loving. His ministry has been a huge support for me and my wife. Sometimes we are good at relying too heavily on grace and forgetting the fear of the Lord -  Pastor Steve helps us to keep our feet on the ground.