Death of England: Delroy

Paapa Essiedu is an acclaimed British actor with a career spanning television, film, and theatre. The London born actor has garnered many award nominations including Emmy and BAFTA TV nominations for his breakout performance in Michaela Coel’s era defining show, I May Destroy You and The Lazarus Project.

Recent projects include the National Theatre production of The Effect, written by Lucy Prebble and directed by Jamie Lloyd, which transferred to The Shed, New York. Paapa also starred in season 6 of the cult anthology series, Black Mirror, Demon 79, Season 1 & 2 of Sky thriller, The Lazarus Project, and Working Title/Universal Christmas movie The Genie, directed by Sam Boyd and written by Richard Curtis.

Next up Paapa will star opposite Saoirse Ronan in The Outrun, directed by Nora Fingscheidt and based on Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir. The film has screened at this year’s Sundance and Berlinale and will open the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Paapa is currently filming The Scurry, a comedy horror directed Craig Roberts and written by Tim Telling.

Further screen credits include: The Capture (BBC1), Alex Garland’s Men (A24), Gangs Of London (HBO/Sky Atlantic), Anne Boleyn (Channel 5), Unsaid Stories (ITV), Press (Masterpiece/BBC One), Black Earth Rising (BBC Two), Kiri (Channel 4), The Miniaturist (BBC), short film Femme, which was nominated in the Best British Short category in the 2022 BAFTAs and won the BIFA Award for Best Short Film.

Further theatre credits include: A Number (Old Vic Theatre, directed by Lynsey Posner), Simon Godwin’s lauded production Hamlet at the RSC, The Merry Wives Of Windsor (RSC, directed by Philip Breen), King Lear (National Theatre, directed by Sam Mendes), Pass Over (Kiln Theatre, directed by Indhu Rubasingham).

Ashley trained at Guildford School of Acting.

Theatre Credits include: Bear in Bear Snores On (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre); Conor in Exhibitionists (Elphin Productions & James Seabright); Marley’s Ghost/ Fezziwig/ Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol (Theatre Royal Windsor); Caliban/Antonio in The Tempest (Regents Park Open Air Theatre; The Unicorn Theatre); Actor 3 in On The Ropes (Park Theatre); Smith The Weaver in Henry VI: Rebellion (RSC); Edward IV in Henry VI: Wars Of The Roses (RSC); Edward IV in Richard III (RSC); Laertes in Hamlet (Theatre Royal Windsor); The Cherry Orchard (Theatre Royal Windsor); Rufus/Leo/Lout/Young Man in The Lady in the Van (Theatre Royal Windsor); Sam in Holes (UK Tour); George in Stop Kiss (Above the Stag Theatre); Mandras in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (UK Tour and West End); Shakespeare in Love (UK Tour); The Duchess of Malfi (RSC); The Fantastic Follies of Mrs Rich (RSC); Othello (The Globe Theatre); Jay Johnson in The Realness (Hackney Downs Studio); Mike in Ring of Fire (Courtyard Theatre)

Television & Film credits include: Marcellus in Hamlet (Feature Film, BKL Productions); Cedric Dunn in Turning Point (Short, Sweet Patootee); Jacob Hunter in I Love You (short, Watch Out Entertainment); Masked Leader in Nobody Can (Lady Lykez Music Video); Chris in Noose (short, Central Film School); School Boy in The Whistle Blowers (Television, Carnival Films);

Ashley has also featured in TV commercials for Trust Two, Reed.com, McDonald’s and Mercedes-Benz.