Career Timeline of Paapa Essiedu: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 25, 2026

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Paapa Essiedu made an impact.

Paapa Essiedu is an English actor who began his career in 2012. He gained prominence through his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, participating in various productions such as The Merry Wives of Windsor (2012), Hamlet (2016), and King Lear (2016).

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2012: Joins Royal Shakespeare Company

In 2012, Essiedu joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to play Fenton in Phillip Breen's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor.

2016: Royal Shakespeare Company Productions

In 2016, Essiedu starred in the Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Hamlet as the titular role and King Lear as Edmund.

2016: Television Career Begins

In 2016, Paapa Essiedu began his television career with roles as Demetrius in Russell T Davies' television film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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2016: Roles in Hamlet and King Lear

In 2016, Paapa Essiedu starred in the Royal Shakespeare Company productions of Hamlet as the titular role and King Lear as Edmund.

2017: Film debut in Murder on the Orient Express

In 2017, Paapa Essiedu made his feature film acting debut as a policeman in Kenneth Branagh's mystery film Murder on the Orient Express.

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2017: Roles in The Miniaturist and Murder on the Orient Express

In 2017, Paapa Essiedu played Otto in The Miniaturist and made his feature film debut in Murder on the Orient Express.

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2018: Roles in Kiri and Press

In 2018, Paapa Essiedu played Nate Akindele in Kiri and Ed Washburn in Press.

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2019: Acts in The Convert

In 2019, Paapa Essiedu acted in the Danai Gurira play The Convert alongside Letitia Wright at the Young Vic.

2020: Screen breakthrough in I May Destroy You

In 2020, Paapa Essiedu had his screen breakthrough in BBC's 'I May Destroy You'. He also starred in 'Gangs of London'.

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2020: Stars in Gangs of London and I May Destroy You

In 2020, Paapa Essiedu starred as Alex Dumani in Gangs of London and portrayed Kwame in I May Destroy You.

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2021: Plays George Boleyn in Anne Boleyn

In 2021, Essiedu played George Boleyn in Anne Boleyn.

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2022: Stars in Gangs of London

From 2020 to 2022, Essiedu starred as Alex Dumani in the crime drama Gangs of London on Sky Atlantic.

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2022: Returns to theatre in A Number, stars in The Lazarus Project and Men

In 2022, Essiedu returned to the theatre in A Number, starred in The Lazarus Project, and appeared in the film Men.

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2022: Role in horror film Men

In 2022, Paapa Essiedu took a role in the horror film Men.

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2023: Acts in Black Mirror episode Demon 79

In 2023, Paapa Essiedu acted in the Black Mirror episode Demon 79 alongside Anjana Vasan.

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2023: Black Mirror: Demon 79

In 2023, Paapa Essiedu had a starring role in Black Mirror: Demon 79.

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2023: Role in fantasy film Genie

In 2023, Paapa Essiedu took a role in the fantasy film Genie.

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2023: Stars in The Effect

In 2023, he returned to the stage starring opposite Taylor Russell in the Jamie Lloyd directed revival of the Lucy Prebble play The Effect at the National Theatre.