Martins Imhangbe Explained

Birth Date:7 July 1991
Alma Mater:Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:2013–present

Martins Isoken Imhangbe (born 7 July 1991) is a British-Nigerian actor. He made his debut in theatre, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination for his performance in the 2018 production of Richard II. As of 2020, he plays Will Mondrich in the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Early life

Imhangbe is from Edo State, Nigeria. He lived in Greece from the ages of 2 to 7 and spoke fluent Greek. His family then moved to South East London.[1] [2] He pursued a BTEC diploma in Performing Arts at Lewisham College. He auditioned for drama school but did not initially get in, instead studying Technical Theatre at Southwark College. He later re-auditioned, getting into the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and graduating in 2013.[3] [4]

Career

Post graduation from drama school, Imhangbe had roles in A Human Being Died That Night, Cinderella, and Romeo and Juliet.[5] He starred in the Complicité production of Lionboy, an adaptation of the trilogy by Zizou Corder. The show started at the Tricycle Theatre in London and went to the New Victory Theater Off-Broadway as well as to South Africa, Hong Kong, and South Korea.[6] [7] Imhangbe became an associate artist of Complicité.[8] He had roles in The Skriker at the Manchester Royal Exchange as well as the London productions Octagon in 2015 and Luce and The Royale in 2016.

In 2018, Imhangbe played Bart and the Duke of Aumerle in Richard II at the Almeida Theatre in London. For his performance, he was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award. The production was also filmed as a part of National Theatre Live. That same year, he toured Barber Shop Chronicles with Fuel Theatre in Australia and New Zealand.[9] He also appeared in Absolute Hell at the National Theatre.[10] In 2019, Imhangbe starred as Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic alongside Wendell Pierce and the titular character on the Shanghai leg of the Othello tour.[11] [12]

Imhangbe landed his first major onscreen role as Will Mondrich in the 2020 Netflix series Bridgerton. The character is based on the real-life boxer, Bill Richmond. Imhangbe trained for the role with Cuong Hua at The Commando Temple in Deptford.[13] [14]

Acting credits

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Shit HappensGuy on LeftShort film
2013The Last British ExecutionBailiff
2019The Tragedy of King Richard the SecondBagot / Duke of AumerleNational Theatre Live
2020Samuel's TrousersSamuel Morgan SmithShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2020 - presentBridgertonWill MondrichRecurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2)
2021ForsightKofiEpisode: "Digging"

Theatre

YearTitleRoleDirectorVenueNotesRef.
What Does it TakeAngela MichaelsThe Albany[15]
Uncle VanyaYael ShavitRCSSD
SoldCatherine AlexanderQuinconque
The Plain DealerWilson MilamRSC
Romeo and JulietImogen BondOrange Tree Theatre[16]
2013As You Like ItDouglas RintoulTransport TheatreRCSSD[17]
A Human Being Died That NightPrisonguardJonathan MunbyHampstead Theatre[18]
CinderellaStepbrotherSally CooksonUnicorn Theatre[19]
2014Das DingSiwaTanja PagnucoNew Diorama Theatre[20]
2014–2015LionboyCharlie AshantiClive Nedus & James YeatmanInternational tour[21]
2015The SkrikerRadiant BoySarah FrankcomRoyal Exchange, Manchester[22]
OctagonAtticusNadia LatifArcola Theatre[23]
2016LuceLuceSimon DormandySouthwark Playhouse[24]
The RoyaleFishMadani YounisBush Theatre[25]
2018Barber Shop ChroniclesWinston / ShoniBijan SheibaniAustralia & New Zealand tour[26]
Absolute HellGI Sam MitchumJoe Hill-GibbinsRoyal National Theatre[27]
An AdventureDavidMadani YounisBush Theatre[28]
Richard IIBagot / Duke of AumerleJoe Hill-GibbinsAlmeida Theatre[29]
2019Death of a SalesmanHappy LomanMiranne Elliot & Miranda CromwellYoung Vic[30]
OthelloOthelloRichard TwymanTour; Shanghai date[31]
2023Sinéad RusheRiverside Studios[32]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2018Ian Charleson AwardsRichard II[33]
2021Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBridgerton[34]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Meet Bridgerton's breakout Nigerian star, Martins Imhangbe. Culture Custodian. Timi. Awoyinka. 22 January 2021. 25 January 2021.
  2. Bridgerton's Martins Imhangbe on Preparing for His TV Debut, the Show's 'Mind-Blowing' Positive Reception. People. Sophie. Dodd. 15 January 2021. 25 January 2021.
  3. Web site: Case Studies: Martins Imhangbe. Southwark College. 25 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Alumni News. CSSA. 30. 2019. 25 January 2021.
  5. Full Cast Announced For Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN. BroadwayWorld. 1 February 2019. 28 January 2021.
  6. Lionboy review – Complicite's cat-powered adventure lacks claws. The Guardian. Lyn. Gardener. 6 January 2015. 28 January 2021.
  7. Off Broadway Review: Complicite's 'Lionboy'. Variety. Marilyn. Stasio. 26 January 2015. 28 January 2021.
  8. Martins Imhangbe makes his TV debut in the hotly anticipated Netflix drama Bridgerton. Untitled. 17 December 2020. 28 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Barber Shop Chronicles at Home. Fuel Theatre. 25 January 2021.
  10. Web site: Martins Imhangbe. National Theatre. 25 January 2021.
  11. DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE COVER: Martins Imhangbe Talks His Role On Netflix's 'Bridgerton,' Award-Winning Stage Career, Inclusivity, Isolation, Veganism, + His Journey to the Screen. Glitter Magazine. 27 January 2021. 28 January 2021.
  12. Web site: Martins Imhangbe. English Touring Theatre. 25 January 2021.
  13. Don't Rule Out Martins Imhangbe as a James Bond Contender. Harper's Bazaar. Erica. Gonzales. 13 January 2021. 25 January 2021.
  14. How Bridgerton's Martins Imhangbe kept in shape over 2020. GQ. David. Levesley. 29 December 2020. 28 January 2021.
  15. Web site: Martins Imhangbe - Actor . 1 March 2024 . Independent Talent.
  16. Web site: Nicole . Christina . 2023-10-11 . Martins Imhangbe interview – Othello, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith • Afridiziak Theatre News . 2024-03-02 . Afridiziak Theatre News . en-GB.
  17. Web site: 2013-09-18 . Transport Theatre – ‘As You Like It’ – Douglas Rintoul Interview . 2024-03-02 . The Arts Shelf . en-US.
  18. Web site: A Human Being Died That Night . 2024-03-02 . Hampstead Theatre.
  19. News: Maxwell . Dominic . 2024-03-02 . Cinderella: A Fairytale, Unicorn, SE1 . 2024-03-02 . en . 0140-0460.
  20. Web site: 2014-10-14 . Theatre review: Das Ding at New Diorama Theatre . 2024-03-02 . British Theatre Guide . en-GB.
  21. News: Isherwood . Charles . 2015-01-25 . A Valiant Cub Goes on the Hunt . 2024-03-02 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  22. Web site: 2015-07-06 . Review: The Skriker, Royal Exchange . 2024-03-02 . There Ought To Be Clowns . en-US.
  23. Web site: 2016-01-19 . Octagon . 2024-03-02 . Arcola Theatre . en-US.
  24. News: Kellaway . Kate . 2016-03-20 . Luce review – Bake-Off’s Mel Giedroyc is a stage natural . 2024-03-02 . The Observer . en-GB . 0029-7712.
  25. Web site: The Royale . 2024-03-02 . www.bushtheatre.co.uk . en-GB.
  26. News: Wolf . Matt . 2017-06-16 . Sharing Joy and Sacrifice from the Barber Shop Chair . 2024-03-02 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  27. Web site: Clement . Olivia . 26 April 2018 . Read Reviews for Absolute Hell at London's The National . 1 March 2024 . Playbill.
  28. News: Akbar . Arifa . 2018-09-12 . An Adventure review – epic journey through Mau Mau-era Kenya . 2024-03-02 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  29. Web site: Clement . Oliver . 19 Dec 2018 . Read Reviews for The Tragedy of Richard the Second in London . 1 Mar 2024 . Playbill.
  30. Web site: Death of Salesman . 1 March 2024 . Playbill.
  31. Web site: Martins Imhangbe . 2024-03-02 . English Touring Theatre . en.
  32. News: Akbar . Arifa . 2023-10-09 . Othello review – three-headed Iago distracts from tragedy . 2024-03-02 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  33. Ian Charleson Award shortlist announced. What's on Stage. Daisy. Bowie-Sell. 19 March 2019. 28 January 2021.
  34. Web site: 2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List. 4 February 2021.