Calvin Demba

Calvin Demba

Calvin Demba is a British actor, writer, and director known for his versatile work across television, film, and theater. Born on May 9, 1993, in Stepney, East London, he grew up in Bethnal Green and is of Gambian and Scottish descent. Demba did not receive formal drama school training; instead, he began his journey at the Half Moon youth theatre in Limehouse at age 17. His natural talent was quickly recognized, and in 2014, he was named one of Screen Daily’s "UK Stars of Tomorrow." His career took off in 2011 with the regular role of Scott Sabeka in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. He followed this with a lead role as Jay in the E4 musical comedy-drama Youngers (2013–2014), which earned him significant praise for portraying youth culture in a positive, aspirational light. On stage, he made a notable debut in Routes at the Royal Court Theatre and earned an Evening Standard "Emerging Talent" nomination for his performance in The Red Lion at the National Theatre. In 2020, he starred as Andy Okonkwo in the BBC drama Life, appearing alongside veteran actors like Alison Steadman and Adrian Lester. Demba's film credits include high-profile projects such as Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017), where he played Brandon, and the festive romantic comedy Last Christmas (2019) as Nathan. He also appeared in Idris Elba’s directorial debut Yardie (2018) and the indie drama Mickey and the Bear (2019). Most recently, he gained global recognition for his starring role as Rodney in the 2024 Netflix superhero series Supacell and appeared as Baz Roberts in the Amazon Prime supernatural thriller The Rig (2023). Beyond acting, Demba is a dedicated creator behind the lens. He wrote and starred in the innovative spoken-word series Rue Boy for Channel 4’s Random Acts and made his directorial debut with the BFI-backed short film Babydolls (2022). As of 2025, he is developing further original scripted projects, including the comedy-drama Fleeting Fortunes with Drake's production company.

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