Kingsley Ben-Adir is a talented 37-year-old British actor with Trinidadian and Tobagonian ancestry. Though he’s appeared in several prominent movies and television shows, he isn’t as instantly recognizable as he should be. Not yet, at least.
He’s about to star as the iconic reggae superstar Bob Marley in the biopic Bob Marley: One Love, which hits theaters on Valentine’s Day, February 14th.
If you’re planning on watching that highly-anticipated movie – and you should be – these are five of Kingsley’s Ben-Adir’s previous movies and television shows you should watch to help you get to know its lead actor.
Peaky Blinders
The British period crime drama Peaky Blinders aired six seasons from 2013 until 2022. It chronicles the misdemeanors and nefarious activities of the eponymous crime gang immediately after World War I in and around Birmingham, England.
Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Colonel Ben Younger, a young colonel who dates Ada Shelby, the only sister of the Shelby brothers who run the gang. His role is significant, and he appears in five episodes from 2017 until 2019. Younger leads an investigation into people with ties to communist and fascist movements and is an absolute force of nature. He spearheads a significant plot that resonates long after his character departs the show.
The OA
American mystery drama series The OA aired for two seasons from 2016 until 2019. It’s about a woman reemerging after going missing for seven years and, miraculously, has her sight back despite being blind before her disappearance. Having been called Prairie Johnson, she calls herself “The OA” after she resurfaces.
Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Karim Washington in six episodes of the show’s second season. Washington is a private detective, and Kingsley Ben-Adir plays him with appropriate grit, coolness, level-headedness, and a subtle depth that intricately indicates a tormented and troubled past.
One Night in Miami… (2020)
Directed by Regina King in her feature film directorial debut, One Night in Miami… is a drama movie based on Kemp Powers’ 2013 stage play. It chronicles a meeting in a room at the Hampton House Motel on February 25, 1984, between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke to celebrate Ali’s surprise win over Sonny Liston, which earned him the WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles – albeit in fictionalized fashion.
Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the lead role of Malcolm X and gives a powerful, energetic, and attention-grabbing performance. He holds his own alongside a juggernaut cast that includes Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. – the latter of whom received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Cooke.
Secret Invasion
Marvel Studios’ miniseries Secret Invasion arrived on Disney+ in June 2023 and aired for six episodes. Taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and based on the 2008 Marvel Comics storyline of the same name, it chronicles the attempts of a rebel group of shapeshifting extraterrestrials known as Skrulls to conquer the Earth.
Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Gravik, the Skrull rebels’ leader who executes a plan to turn his race into monstrously superpowered beings and gains the abilities of countless MCU characters. His performance is no-nonsense and authoritative, and he does his action scenes well.
Barbie (2023)
Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy Barbie is based on Mattel’s eponymous line of fashion dolls. Margot Robbie stars as the title character, and Ryan Gosling plays Ken as the iconic pair embark on a journey of self-discovery that takes them from the fictional Barbieland into the real world after they experience existential crises.
Kingsley Ben-Adir plays a version of Ken called Basketball Ken in this record-breaking cinematic juggernaut. He’s an underrated comic talent, as he’s hilarious in the role. He doesn’t say much, but his physical comedy and facial expressions are sublime. He also sang a little and did a terrific job of it. He shows a different side to his talent and seems to enjoy the whole thing profusely. Bob Marley would undoubtedly approve.
Honorable mentions: Vera, Deep State, Noelle (2019), High Fidelity, and The Comey Rule.
