Lucian Msamati

Early life and education

Msamati was born at St Thomas' Hospital, London on 5 March 1976 and brought up in Zimbabwe by his Tanzanian parents, a doctor and a nurse. After secondary education at Prince Edward School in Harare, he studied towards a BA honours degree in French and Portuguese at the University of Zimbabwe from 1995 to 1997.

Career

Theatre

After university, he worked as an advertising copywriter and freelance radio presenter. He also worked as a voice-over artist, compère and after-dinner speaker.

In 1994, Msamati and some school friends founded the Over the Edge Theatre Company in Harare. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in December 2004, having toured Europe, the United States and South Africa. From 1998 to 2001, it performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland; some plays were written by Msamati. The last few years have seen individual members pursuing other interests and although not officially disbanded, there are no immediate plans for an Over the Edge reunion.

In November 2010, Msamati was appointed the artistic director of British-African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi, until being succeeded in 2014 by Natalie Ibu. He has continued to work with Tiata Fahodzi, directing Boi Boi is Dead in February–March 2015.

In the spring of 2015, Msamati became the first black actor ever to play Iago in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Othello (with Hugh Quarshie in the title role).

From October 2016 to March 2017 and from February to April 2018, he performed in the leading role of Antonio Salieri in Peter Shaffer's play Amadeus at the National Theatre, a performance which Michael Billington, in a four-starred review for The Guardian, described as "excellent".

In 2019, he starred as Sam in Master Harold and the Boys at the Royal National Theatre.

Msamati has appeared in several other theatrical productions in London, UK, including:

• Fabulation, Tricycle Theatre
• Gem of the Ocean, Tricycle Theatre
• I.D., Almeida Theatre
• Mourning Becomes Electra, Royal National Theatre
• The Overwhelming, Royal National Theatre
• Pericles, Prince of Tyre, played the title role, Royal Shakespeare Company
• President of an Empty Room, Royal National Theatre
• The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Lyric Hammersmith
• Walk Hard, Tricycle Theatre
• Death and the King's Horseman, Royal National Theatre
• Ruined, Almeida Theatre
• Clybourne Park, Royal Court Theatre

Television

He has also appeared in several television productions, including episodes of the television series Ultimate Force and Spooks. In 2008, he took on his most prominent role, playing JLB Matekoni in the BBC/HBO-produced series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. He has guest starred in episodes of the BBC television series Luther, Ashes to Ashes, Doctor Who, Taboo, and Death in Paradise, as well as playing the part of the pirate Salladhor Saan in the HBO series Game of Thrones. He recently appeared as Lord Faa in His Dark Materials on BBC One. In 2020 Msamati appeared as Ed Dumani in Sky Atlantic's Gangs of London and in an episode of the BBC's production of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads.

Film

Msamati appeared in the film The International (2009). Other film credits include Lumumba (1999), directed by Raoul Peck; the animated feature The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003), directed by Roger Hawkins and Richard II, directed by Rupert Goold.

Radio

Msamati appeared as Matthew in the BBC Radio 4 drama Burned to Nothing (2011) by Rex Obano.

Personal life

Msamati permanently moved to the UK in 2003, and now resides in London. He is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

References

1. "Biographies: Wiina Lucian Msamati". Over the Edge Zimbabwe.
2. Edemariam, Aida. (21 March 2008). "And now for the good news...". [[The Guardian]].
3. Gilbey, Ryan. (28 January 2015). "Lucian Msamati: danger zone". [[The Guardian]].
4. (13 March 2008). "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Lucian Msamati plays JLB Matekoni". [[BBC]] Press Office.
5. Hutchison, David. (12 November 2014). "Tiata Fahodzi names new artistic director". [[The Stage]].
6. Shenton, Mark (12 February 2016), [https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/lucian-msamati-some-people-still-see-the-colour-not-the-actor/ "Lucian Msamati: 'Some people still see the colour, not the actor'"]. ''The Stage''. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
7. Billington, Michael. (27 October 2016). "''Amadeus'' review – stunning production pits Salieri against God, Mozart and his own orchestra". [[The Guardian]].
8. (23 January 2017). "''Amadeus'' 2018". [[Royal National Theatre]].
9. (2019). ""Master Harold"...and the Boys". [[Royal National Theatre]].
10. Cavendish, Dominic. (2 October 2019). "'Master Harold… and the Boys, National's Lyttelton Theatre, review: a spellbinding affirmation of the need for humanity at the bleakest moments". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
11. Coveney, Michael. (13 April 2009). "Death and the King's Horseman, National Theatre, London". [[The Independent]].
12. Billington, Michael. (23 April 2010). "Ruined". [[The Guardian]].
13. Sierz, Aleks. (2 September 2010). "Clybourne Park, Royal Court Theatre". [[The Arts Desk]].
14. Goldberg, Lesley. (26 August 2011). "'Game of Thrones': Trio Join Sprawling Season 2 Cast". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
15. Durrant, Nancy. (24 September 2019). "Lucian Msamati on Game of Thrones and returning to the National Theatre". [[The Times]].
16. Ritman, Alex. (5 December 2018). "'Gangs of London' Cinemax Series Sets Cast". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
17. (2020). "Alan Bennett's Talking Heads". [[BBC]] Media Centre.
18. "Lucian Msamati".
19. "Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama – BBC Radio 4".
20. (8 June 2016). "Lucian Msamati".
21. (1 January 2021). "Zog and the Flying Doctors". [[BBC One]].