He played Hamlet before he played Snape. Paapa Essiedu, a British actor of Ghanaian descent, made his reputation on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he took the title role in Hamlet. When HBO announced the cast of its Harry Potter television series, his name sat alongside John Lithgow’s Dumbledore as the new Severus Snape.
Early life
Essiedu grew up in London in a family of Ghanaian heritage. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, one of Britain’s leading drama schools, before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2012.
Hamlet
His RSC Hamlet, in a production set in a West African-inspired world, drew strong reviews and was broadcast to cinemas. He also played King Lear for the company, unusual for an actor so young. The roles established him as one of the most promising classical actors of his generation.
I May Destroy You
His television breakthrough came in Michaela Coel’s acclaimed series I May Destroy You in 2020. He played Kwame, the best friend of Coel’s character, whose own story of sexual assault was one of the show’s most painful threads. The role earned him an Emmy nomination and wide praise.
Gangs of London and more
He appeared in the crime drama Gangs of London, the science-fiction thriller The Lazarus Project and films including Murder on the Orient Express and Alex Garland’s Men.
Snape
HBO’s Harry Potter series aims to adapt each of J.K. Rowling’s books as a season. Reports that Essiedu was in line to play Snape appeared before HBO confirmed the casting. Snape, the sharp-tongued potions master, is one of the most complex characters in the books, and Alan Rickman’s film performance is much loved.
The debate
The casting drew online debate, including racist comments from some fans who objected to a Black actor in the role. Many others defended him, pointing to his stage record and the series’ right to reinterpret the books. The show’s use of characters’ canonical ages also makes its Snape younger than in the films.
A Ghanaian connection
Essiedu has spoken about his Ghanaian heritage and about growing up in London. He joins a line of British actors of Ghanaian descent, from Hugh Quarshie to Freema Agyeman, who have reached the top of British screen acting.
Shakespeare’s prince and Rowling’s half-blood prince are both men torn between loyalty and resentment. Essiedu has now played both, and millions of new viewers will meet him through the second.
