Ncuti Gatwa

Mizero Ncuti Gatwa (born 15 October 1992) is a Rwandan‑Scottish actor whose rise from a refugee family to international stardom epitomises resilience and talent. Born in Nyarugenge, Kigali, Rwanda, he fled the 1994 genocide with his family and resettled in Scotland, first in Edinburgh’s Oxgangs district and later in Dunfermline. He attended Boroughmuir High School and Dunfermline High School before moving to Glasgow to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating with a BA in Acting in 2013. While a student he worked at the LGBTQ+ club The Polo Lounge, handing out flyers and eventually becoming a go‑go dancer, experiences that later informed his vibrant on‑stage presence. After graduating he joined the Dundee Repertory Theatre graduation scheme, where he performed in productions such as David Greig’s Victoria and earned a Commendation at the Ian Charleson Awards for his 2014 portrayal of Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet at HOME, Manchester.

Gatwa’s breakthrough came with the Netflix series Sex Education (2019‑2023), where he played the flamboyant, empathetic student Eric Effiong. The role, which he secured after a period of homelessness, earned him critical acclaim, a BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actor in Television (2020), and three consecutive BAFTA Television Award nominations for Best Male Comedy Performance. His success continued with a casting as the Fifteenth Doctor in Doctor Who (2023‑2025), making him the first Black actor and first foreign‑born actor to lead the iconic series. Critics described his performance as “interstellar” and “mesmerising,” highlighting his exuberant energy and ability to bridge new and longtime fans. Beyond television, Gatwa has distinguished himself on stage, appearing as Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre (2024‑2025) and is set to portray Christopher Marlowe in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s upcoming production Born With Teeth. Open about his queer identity, he continues to champion diversity in the performing arts while expanding his repertoire across film, theatre, and voice work.