Quick Facts
Biography
Ukweli Roach (born 1986) is an English film and television actor known for his appearances in television series Blindspot, Anatole, Hard Sun, and Dickensian.
Early life and education
Ukweli Roach was born as Ukweli Raphael Roach on September 22, 1986 in Derby, Derbyshire, England, to English mother and Guyanese father. He grew up in the Woolwich area.
He initially wanted to study law, but eventually opted to study acting at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, from where he graduated in 2009. Growing up, he was interested in dancing, and followed his passion later dancing and touring with the Blaze international Hiphop dance show.
Career
Roach made his acting debut in 2010, playing the role of "Tybalt" in Shakespeare's Globe: Romeo and Juliet. In 2012, he landed the recurring role of lawyer "Tom Greening" in television series Eternal Law, in which he appeared in 6 episodes. The same year he began playing the recurring of "Reuben" in television series Starlings, appearing in 12 episodes.
He rose to fame in 2015, signing on for the role of FBI psychiatrist Dr. Robert Borden, on the American television series Blindspot. He was seen in 42 episodes of the series.
As a dancer, he is the Artistic Director of dance company "Birdgang." He has also toured with the Blaze international Hiphop dance show and has appeared as a dancer in music videos of Mariah Carey and Kylie Minogue among others. He cites American Nicholas Brothers as his inspiration.
Quotes
It's amazingly detailed - you don't get one case an episode, instead, they're spread out over a whole season or more. It's also quite epic and Shakespearean, I think. There's this battle between good and evil but you like some of the drug dealers and you dislike some of the cops; everyone has redemption. It's so layered and the second time around, I'm noticing things that I didn't pick up on at first. –– on The Wire (2002)
Adrian Lester was a big inspiration to me when I started acting but the whole cast are brilliant. It's produced by Kudos films and, like all their productions, it's slick, classy and smooth - it's very well done. –– on Hustle (2004)