David Oyelowo has played Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 Oscar nominated Selma. He also shared the stage with Daniel Craig in Othello.
He now stars in A United Kingdom, based on the true story of Seretse Khama, the King of Botswana, who caused an international scandal when he married a white woman named Ruth Williams in 1947.
Directed by Amma Asante (Belle) and starring Rosamund Pike (“Gone Girl”) as Ruth, Oyelowo is also a producer on the film.
Oyelowo became “obsessed with this story” after reading the book “The Color Bar” by Susan Williams and was “ashamed” he had never heard of their story.
Oyelowo’s wife Jessica Oyelowo also appears in the film.
He says of the similarities between him and his character, “I’m married to a white woman myself but we have not faced anything like what Ruth and Seretse faced.”