Paapa Essiedu

Paapa Essiedu

Born 1990-06-11 (age 35) Southwark, London, England, UK
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Biography

Paapa Kwaakye Essiedu (/ˈpɑːpə ˌɛsiˈeɪduː/) (born 1990) is a British actor. He started his career in 2012 when he joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, acting in numerous productions, including The Merry Wives of Windsor (2012), King Lear (2014), Hamlet (2016), and Romeo and Juliet (2016). 

His breakthrough came with his role in the HBO miniseries I May Destroy You (2020), which earned nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award and British Academy Television Award. He portrayed George Boleyn in the Channel 5 miniseries Anne Boleyn (2021). He had starring roles in the AMC+action series Gangs of London (2020–2022), the science fiction series The Lazarus Project (2020–2023), and Black Mirror: Demon 79 (2023).

Essiedu debuted his feature film acting as a policeman in Kenneth Branagh's mystery film Murder on the Orient Express (2017). He took roles in the horror film Men (2022), the fantasy film Genie (2023), and the drama The Outrun (2024). He gained acclaim for his stage roles in Caryl Churchill's play A Number (2022) and Lucy Prebble's play The Effect (2023–2024).

In 2025, it was announced that Essiedu would play Professor Severus Snape in HBO's Harry Potter television series.

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Photos

Known For

Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express

2017

as Young Policeman

Men
Men

2022

as James

Genie
Genie

2023

as Bernard Bottle

The Outrun
The Outrun

2024

as Daynin

The Miniaturist
The Miniaturist

2017

as Otto

Shakespeare Live! From the RSC
Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream

2016

as Demetrius

National Theatre Live: King Lear
National Theatre Live: King Lear

2014

as The Duke of Burgundy

Tyrant
Canned
Canned

2017

as Charlie

National Theatre Live: All My Sons
The Scurry
Femme
Femme

2021

as Jordan

The Name of Action
RSC Live: Hamlet
RSC Live: Hamlet

2016

as Hamlet

RSC Live: King Lear
RSC Live: King Lear

2016

as Edmund

Sweet Dreams