Lucian Msamati

Lucian Wiina Msamati (born 5 March 1976) is an English actor. He played Salladhor Saan in HBO series Game of Thrones and was the first black actor to play Iago at the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2015 production of Othello.

Lucian Msamati
Lucian Msamati (2010)
Born
Lucian Gabriel Wiina Msamati

(1976-03-05) 5 March 1976
London, England, UK
Other namesWiina Msamati
OccupationActor, playwright

Early life and education

Msamati was born in the United Kingdom and brought up in Zimbabwe by his Tanzanian parents, a doctor and a nurse; he is the eldest of four siblings. His primary education began at Olympio Primary School in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and continued at Avondale Primary School in Harare, Zimbabwe. 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.[1][2][3]

Career

Theatre
Msamati (left) and Lenny Henry in the Royal National Theatre production of The Comedy of Errors, in 2011

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

In 1994, Msamati and school friends Shaheen Jassat (deceased), Craig and Gavin Peter, Kevin Hanssen, Roy Chizivano, Sarah Norman founded what would become Zimbabwe's acclaimed Over the Edge Theatre Company[4] in Harare, later joined by Erica Glyn-Jones, Zane E. Lucas, Chipo Chung, Karin Alexander, Rob Hollands and Michael Pearce. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in December 2004, having flown the Zimbabwe flag across Europe, the United States and South Africa. The last few years have seen individual members pursuing other interests. Though not officially disbanded, there are no immediate plans of an Over the Edge reunion. From 1998 to 2001, the company performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland; some plays were written by Msamati.[1]

In November 2010, Msamati was appointed the Artistic Director of British-African theatre company Tiata Fahodzi,[3] until being succeeded in 2014 by Natalie Ibu.[5] He has continued to work with Tiata Fahodzi, directing Boi Boi is Dead in February–March 2015.[3]

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).[3][6]

From October 2016 to March 2017 and from February to 24 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".[7][8]

In 2019 he starred as Sam in Master Harold and the Boys at the Royal National Theatre.[9][10]

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

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.[14] 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.[15][16] 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[17] and in an episode of the BBC's production of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads.[18]

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.[19]

Radio

Msamati appeared as Matthew in the BBC Radio 4 drama Burned to Nothing (2011) by Rex Obano.[20]

Personal life

Msamati permanently moved to the UK in 2003,[1] and now resides in London.[19]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1997The KnockDoctorSeries 3, Episode 2
Credited as Wina Msamati
2005Ultimate ForceBlessedEpisode: "Never Go Back"
2006SpooksManu BuffongSeries 5, episode 4
Uncredited
2008–2009The No. 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyJLB MatekoniSeven episodes
200910 Minute TalesFlirty Orderly
2010Doctor WhoGuidoEpisode: "The Vampires of Venice"
2010Ashes to AshesTobias NdbeleSeries 3, Episode 7
2012The Hollow CrownBishop of CarlisleEpisode: Richard II
2013Death in ParadiseDr JohnsonEpisode: "Murder on the Plantation"
2013DoctorsJoseph SegunleEpisode: "Thicker Than Water"
2013Holby CityDumisani ThembaEpisode: "Ask Me No Questions"
2013LutherKen BarnabyTwo episodes
2012–2014Game of ThronesSalladhor SaanThree episodes
2015Inspector George GentlyEllisonEpisode: "Son of a Gun"
2015Urban MythsHerbert MuhammedEpisode: "The Greatest. Of All Time."
2017TabooGeorge Chichester
2017Electric DreamsThe DirectorEpisode: "Crazy Diamond"
2018KiriTobi AkindeleMiniseries
2018Black Earth RisingDavid Runihura
2019His Dark MaterialsJohn FaaTV series
2020Gangs of LondonEd DumaniTV series
2020Talking HeadsWilfred PatersonEpisode: "Playing Sandwiches"

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2003The Legend of the Sky KingdomItaliano (voice)Credited as Wina Msamati
2009The InternationalGeneral Charles Motomba
2016SeekersYusufShort film
2019The Good LiarBeniN/A
2020Zog and the Flying DoctorsThe Lion (voice)Short film[21]

References
  1. Edemariam, Aida (21 March 2008). "And now for the good news..." The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  2. "biographies: wiina lucian msamati". Over the Edge. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  3. Gilbey, Ryan (28 January 2015). "Lucian Msamati: danger zone". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency: Lucian Msamati plays JLB Matekoni" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. Hutchison, David (12 November 2014). "Tiata Fahodzi names new artistic director". The Stage. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. Shenton, Mark (12 February 2016), "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. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. "Amadeus 2018". Royal National Theatre. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  9. ""Master Harold"...and the Boys". Royal National Theatre. 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  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. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  11. Coveney, Michael (13 April 2009). "Death and the King's Horseman, National Theatre, London". The Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  12. Billington, Michael (23 April 2010). "Ruined". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  13. Sierz, Aleks (2 September 2010). "Clybourne Park, Royal Court Theatre". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  14. "Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis collaborate for The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (Press release). BBC Press Office. 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  15. Goldberg, Lesley (26 August 2011). "'Game of Thrones': Trio Join Sprawling Season 2 Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  16. Durrant, Nancy (24 September 2019). "Lucian Msamati on Game of Thrones and returning to the National Theatre". The Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  17. Ritman, Alex (5 December 2018). "'Gangs of London' Cinemax Series Sets Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  18. "Alan Bennett's Talking Heads". BBC Media Centre (Press release). 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  19. "Lucian Msamati". Spotlight. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  20. "Burned to Nothing, Afternoon Drama – BBC Radio 4". BBC.
  21. "Zog and the Flying Doctors". BBC One. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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