How this 23-year-old went from British theater actor to starring in the next 'Star Wars'

john boyega
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

John Boyega is a "Star Wars" fanboy. 

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And now, the 23-year-old from London is living out his dream as Finn, one of the lead characters in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Before Boyega was cast as the runaway Stormtrooper in the newest addition to the "Star Wars" galaxy, he was building his name with indie projects. He made his feature-film debut when he was 19 in "Attack the Block," a British sci-fi comedy written and directed by Joe Cornish. He earned praise for the role, which landed him on director J.J. Abrams' radar. 

With the December 18 release of "The Force Awakens," Boyega is primed for his shot up the Hollywood ladder.

Get to know the new member of the "Star Wars" universe below:

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John Boyega was born March 17, 1992 in Peckham, London to Nigerian immigrants. His father was a preacher and his mother worked with the disabled. After playing a leopard in elementary school, Boyega knew he wanted to act.

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Boyega attends HFPA Annual Grants Banquet on August 13, 2015. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Source: New York Times and Interview 

He was invited to join Theatre Peckham when he was nine, a special theater school for aspiring actors. He later studied performing arts at South Thames College and trained at the Identity School of Acting.

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Boyega poses for a portrait during the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Source: CNN

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His earliest roles included a character on the British web drama series "Becoming Human" and a guest appearance on "Law & Order: UK."

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John Boyega in episode two of "Becoming Human" BBC Three
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Boyega's first feature role was in "Attack the Block," a British sci-fi comedy that has since become a cult favorite and garnered praise for the then-19-year-old actor.

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Boyega (center) in "Attack the Block." Optimum Releasing/Screen Gems

Boyega earned a nomination for most promising newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards and best male newcomer at the UK Empire Awards. 

Source: New York Times and IMDB

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After starring in some TV movies and the indie drama "Junkhearts," he appeared alongside Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2013's "Half of a Yellow Sun," a film adaptation of the novel of the same name.

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Boyega in "Half of a Yellow Sun." Monterey Media
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In 2014, he appeared in four episodes of "24: Live Another Day," which was the miniseries return of "24."

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Boyega as Lt. Chris Tanner in "24: Live Another Day" Fox

He also starred in the indie drama "Imperial Dreams," which won the audience award at 2014's Sundance Film Festival.

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Boyega in "Imperial Dreams." Sundance Channel
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Boyega is getting much more visible in Hollywood as one of the leads in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He plays Finn, a former Stormtrooper-turned-apparent rebel. After clips appeared with Finn wielding Anakin's lightsaber, fans have been left to wonder if he's a Jedi.

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Boyega as Finn interacts with Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) in "The Force Awakens." Disney/Lucasfilm
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The casting process took seven months, and to prepare for his auditions (seven or eight), Boyega watched YouTube clips of Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford's auditions from the original movies.

Source: CNET

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But not everyone was excited about Boyega's casting as Finn. Some people argued that a black Stormtrooper wasn't logical in the "Star Wars" universe. Boyega had one thing to say to those people: "Get over it."

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Stormtrooper Finn somehow ends up on the planet Jakku. Disney/LucasFilm

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, The Daily Beast

Boyega owns six lightsabers, some of which he is going to give away to "certain people."

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Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, and more than 6,000 fans enjoyed a surprise 'Star Wars' Fan Concert performed by the San Diego Symphony on July 10, 2015. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Source: The Hollywood Reporter 

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"The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams was a fan of "Attack the Block" and was waiting for a chance to collaborate with Boyega.

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Boyega and director J.J. Abrams speak onstage during Star Wars Celebration 2015. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

"There was already contact between me and J.J.," Boyega said in an interview with VMAN Magazine. “He was a big fan of 'Attack the Block' and we were waiting for a project where we could collaborate.”

Source: VMAN

Boyega and co-star Daisy Ridley have become close friends, and he nicknamed her Peanut, though she says that she also calls him that.

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Ridley and Boyega attend the Star Wars "Force 4 Fashion" Event on Dec. 2. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Disney Consumer Products

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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According to Ridley, Boyega is obsessed with "The Lion King" and does impersonations, including Pinocchio from "Shrek."

@daisyridley made me do it! Exposed! Pinocchio from shrek! #Ishallmakehersingnexttime

A video posted by @john_boyega on

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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Boyega is one of personal fitness trainer Corey Calliet's clients. Calliet told Business Insider, "So when I got with John, I did things with him in two weeks that they couldn't do throughout the whole film. If you see those last pictures that he took for the Hollywood Reporter and he looks lean and sleek, if you go back and look at pictures before that, like months before that, he didn't look like that. That's my doing."

@mrcalliet YOUR way or the highway! #Lifechanger #sculpts&builds

A photo posted by @john_boyega on

Calliet recently trained Michael B. Jordan for his role in "Creed." 

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He also lends his voice to "Major Lazer," an animated series based on the electronic music group, which also stars J.K. Simmons and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. It has been renewed for a second season.

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Boyega voices the character Blkmrkt. Fox

You can watch the first season on Hulu

He will next appear in "The Circle," a sci-fi thriller starring Tom Hanks, Emma Watson, and Karen Gillan.

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Boyega attends the 2015 Jaguar Land Rover British Academy Britannia Awards on October 30, 2015 Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for BAFTA LA
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Boyega cites Robert Downey Jr. as a mentor.

“I’m being mentored by Robert Downey Jr. at the moment,” he told VMAN Magazine. “He’s helped me prepare for how my life is going to change and that has been inspiring. I’m talking to someone who understands the power of choices, both positive and negative.”

Source: VMAN 

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