Page 55 - Powerlist 2019 - Digital Edition

John Boyega

Actor

As the star of the biggest movie franchise in history and Media, Publishing & Entertainment
with a growing body of work that includes theatre and
commericals, Boyega is fast establishing himself as one of
Britain and Hollywood’s most well-known acting talents.
The 26-year-old’s ascent to superstardom came when
Star Wars director JJ Abrams hand-picked him to play the
lead role of Finn in blockbuster Star Wars reboot The Force
Awakens.
The movie became the third highest grossing movie of all
time, with worldwide box office takings of £2billion.
It is all a far cry from John’s early days growing up in
social housing. He was born in Peckham, south London,
and grew up across the road from where schoolboy Damilola
Taylor was murdered in 2000 just before his 11th birthday.
Boyega started acting when he was nine, but kept it
a secret from his classmates and friends on the estate
who were more interested in football. He joined Theatre
Peckham, after its artistic director saw him acting in his
school play and spotted his potential.
He went on to study at the Identity School of Acting in
Hackney and starred in a handful of plays before landing
a role in Becoming Human, a web spin-off of the BBC Three
show. In 2011 he earned a guest spot on Law and Order UK
which was followed by him being cast as the lead in his Yolisa Phahle
first feature film, Attack the Block. From there he starred in CEO, General Entertainment, Naspers Ltd
British comedy Junkhearts before landing a role opposite
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton in the big-screen
version of Chimamanda Adichie’s book Half of a Yellow Sun. A rising star of the corporate media industry, Yolisa
But it is the part of Finn that has sent him to the top of the continues to go from strength to strength. This year she was
A-list. made CEO of General Entertainment at Naspers Ltd, a broad-
In June 2016, it was announced he is to join the Academy based multinational internet and media group offering
Awards panel, making him eligible to vote in the Oscars. In services in more than 130 countries. Its principal operations
2018, John produced a big-budget feature, Maelstrom, for the are in internet communication, entertainment, gaming and
first time via his UpperRoom Productions company. e-commerce. She serves as the Chief Executive Officer of
Electronic Media Network Limited (Pty) Ltd and served as its
Channel Director.
Although born in the UK, it is Phahle’s roots – her parents
left South Africa in 1965 – that led her to her previous role,
one of the highest in South African TV.
As CEO of the country’s subscription-funded M-Net
television channel, she was responsible for channel
performance and revenue, recruitment, strategy, financial
management and governance. The channel, which
has more than 10million subscribers, broadcasts local
and international programming across entertainment,
children’s, sport and movie content.
She cut her teeth as a musician, training at Guildhall
School of Music and Drama where she majored in the piano
and violin. As a session musician she shared a stage with the
likes of Duran Duran, Soul II Soul and Jamiroquai, before
joining the BBC World Service in 1996 as a studio manager.
In 2004, she moved to South Africa, joining M-Net as head
of its Channel O. She then became channel director of its
Special Interest Channels, where she was instrumental in
launching many successful local networks.
Yolisa says she aims to be part of the transformation of
the South African TV and film industry: “We need to create
opportunity for young black entrepreneurship.
“There is abundant talent and many wonderful stories
that need to be told.”

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