127 Quotes by David Oyelowo

I'm one of a generation brought up on television whose acting is more 'naturalistic', whereas with some of the older generation it's more heightened. But I think there's room for both styles.

In my time since moving to the United States, I've found that there is a dearth of great writing for black people. There are stories that depict us in a way that isn't cliched or niche, and that a white person, a Chinese person, an Indian person can watch and relate to. Those are the stories I want to be a part of telling.

'The Help' sheds light on a certain truth in America, but the tragedy is if we don't get a chance to contrast it with other points of views. 'The Butler' does that, 'Red Tails' does that and that's what '96 Minutes' does.

I love that as a black person I’ve experienced not being a minority. I think that’s helped me to combat the minority mentality people can have here, which can stop them scaling the heights.

For me, I’m always looking for opportunities to work with people who are better than me, who are more experienced than me, people from whom I can learn. And who could I learn more from than someone with an unprecedented movie star career that has spanned over thirty years whose name is Tom Cruise?

Don’t send me your script if you want me to play the black best friend. I just won’t do that.

I do think opportunity breeds bravery. It’s such a competitive profession, no one owes you anything, talent in itself is not enough. I went to drama school with so many great actors who are not doing it anymore and it’s circumstantial.

Asher means ‘happy and blessed’ which embodies my eldest. Caleb means ‘stubborn and tenacious dog’ and I can’t even tell you how much that is my little boy! It was a useful warning.

I have a bee in my bonnet as to how few black historical figures one sees on film; incredible stories, stories from which we are living the legacy and which just don’t get made.