Ernest Kingsley Jr's life-off screen and where you've seen the Washington Black star
Washington Black, the epic period drama based on Esi Edugyan's novel of the same name, is now available on Hulu and Disney Plus.
The historical adventure series, which was released on July 23, stars Ernest Kingsley Jr in the lead role, with Eddie Karanja portraying a young Washington Black.
Set in the early 1800s in Barbados and Nova Scotia, the plot follows Wash, a young boy who is forced to flee his home on a sugar plantation following a shocking death.
He ends up under the care of Medwin Harris (played by Sterling K. Brown), who himself had a traumatic childhood as a Black refugee.
Ernest Kingsley Jr, a stage and TV actor, launched his career in the sci-fi series, The Sparticle Mystery, reports the Express.
He has since appeared in guest roles in several big titles, including playing Kai'ckul in The Sandman and starring in the third season of War of the Worlds.
In terms of his stage work, the young actor was part of the Royal Court Theatre production of Is God Is in 2021, alongside Adelayo Adedayo.
Last year, he was cast in a short film titled Foxhill, which also starred Robson Green.
Kingsley Jr studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and, during an appearance on The One Show, he expressed gratitude to his former teacher Erin Holland.
Holland had guided him towards a career in acting through a college production of West Side Story.
Ernest revealed: "I was applying to drama schools at the time and she told me which ones to go to.
"It was after that I was like, 'You know what, I want to pursue acting'. If it wasn't for her pushing me and seeing the best in me, maybe I wouldn't have done it."
Washington Black is available on Hulu and Disney Plus.
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