British actor and producer Noel Clarke will be the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 74th British Academy Film Awards held April 10 & 11 2021 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The star of hit films Kidulthood and Star Trek 2 and a former Doctor Who companion, Clarke has been a familiar face in British TV and film for two decades. Even so, he has not always got his dues as a black actor. For example, for the 2019 romcom Fisherman’s Friends. It featured six white co-stars, including James Purefoy and Daniel Mays. Although Clarke’s name was included, his face was not. Clarke tweeted about it. “I had one [co-star] text me and be like, ‘Take that down, you’ve offended me.’ I just said, ‘Well, you can go fuck yourself.’ So everyone’s entitled to their opinion. It’s not blaming them,” he told The Guardian says. “It just sparked conversation.”
It’s an unfortunate experience that Clarke and actors like him have had to live throughout his career; being respected in an industry that allows for just a few black actors working regularly in the UK. Unlike many of his black male contemporaries who moved to the US and found success, Clarke’s response was to make vehicles for himself to star in – and he’s continued to do that for 15 years. BAFTA is honoring that resilience.
Back in 2007, Clarke co-founded Unstoppable Entertainment that has produced the hit police action-drama Bulletproof in which he stars alongside Ashley Walters – two black actors playing the lead roles, a rarity in the UK. The latest edition of the show, shot before the pandemic, is a special, where the visit their families in South Africa.
In addition, Unstoppable Entertainment has produced over 10 feature films including Jessica Hynes’ directorial debut “The Fight.”
Clarke has kept working constantly – writing, producing, directing, acting – to maintain his career. “It’s by necessity,” he laughs. “Jack of all trades, master of none. I’ve had to be someone that’s done everything. If I hadn’t, I would not be talking to you right now,” Clarke told The Guardian.
English actor and producer Noel Clarke will be the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the 74th British Academy Film Awards.
Loading…