Ncuti Gatwa: 16 facts about the Doctor Who star
Find out Ncuti Gatwa's age, height and everything about his career to date here.
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1. Who is Ncuti Gatwa?
The entire world fell in love with Ncuti Gatwa thanks to his scene-stealing role as Eric in Sex Education on Netflix. Now, Ncuti has been announced as the new Doctor Who and the world is his oyster. Get to know the beloved star here. [@ncutigatwa via Instagram]
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2. How old is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti Gatwa was born on October 15th in 1992. He is 31 years old. [Photo WireImage via Getty Images]
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3. What is Ncuti Gatwa’s star sign?
Ncuti Gatwa is a mid-October baby, which makes him a Libra! [Photo via Instagram]
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4. How tall is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti Gatwa is around 5 foot 8 inches tall, which is around 1.72 metres. [Photo via Instagram]
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5. Where is Ncuti Gatwa from? Is he British?
Ncuti Gatwa is Scottish. He grew up in Edinburgh in Scotland and his parents are from Rwanda. In an interview with the Guardian, Ncuti said he was a toddler when he and his family moved from Rwanda as refugees, fleeing the genocide. Ncuti then grew up in Oxgangs and Fife in Scotland. [Photo via Instagram]
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6. Who plays Eric in Sex Education on Netflix?
Ncuti Gatwa stars as Eric Effiong in Sex Education on Netflix. Eric is Otis Milburn’s best friend and one of the show’s most beloved characters. Over the course of four seasons, Eric gets multiple love interests and grows more confident in his own skin. He also provides much of the show's funniest moments. [Netflix]
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7. Ncuti Gatwa is the new Doctor Who
On May 8th 2021, it was confirmed by the BBC that Ncuti Gatwa will become the next Doctor Who. In a statement, Ncuti said: “There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared." Ncuti will become the 15th Doctor and will take over from David Tennant, who briefly take over from Jodie Whittaker. [Getty]
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8. Who does Ncuti Gatwa play in Barbie?
Ncuti Gatwa plays one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig's Barbie film. Ncuti's version of Ken lives in Barbie Land alongside the other Kens – and the Barbies, of course. Ncuti's Ken is also paired with his Sex Education co-star Emma Mackey's Barbie in the film. [Warner Bros. Pictures]
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9. Ncuti Gatwa has a Scottish accent but you might not notice it at first
In Sex Education, Eric does not have a Scottish accent. Ncuti does have one in real life but he says it only really comes out when he's back in Scotland. In an interview with the Guardian, he said people are sometimes confused by how he sounds: “I don’t think you expect to see a young black boy with skin fades coming out with a Scottish accent. Even me!”
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10. Ncuti Gatwa has performed at Shakespeare's Globe theatre
Before Sex Education, Ncuti studied acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and went on to specialise in theatre. He has performed in many major productions including a stint as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe in London.
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11. What TV shows and movies has Ncuti been in?
As well as starring in Sex Education, Ncuti Gatwa has had parts in a couple of mini-series. He played Dougie in Stonemouth and an extra in Bob Servant. He then played the role of Timidius in Horrible Histories: The Movie in 2019. Ncuti also appeared in Last Letter from Your Lover, which also features Joe Alwyn and Felicity Jones. Of course, Ncuti also played one of the Kens in Barbie, and is now the 15th Doctor in Doctor Who! [Photo via Getty]
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12. Ncuti revealed that he was once homeless while he was temping at Harrods
In an interview with The Big Issue, Ncuti revealed he spent five months sofa surfing before landing his role on the Netflix series. "I didn’t have a home. I was homeless. The only thing stopping me from being on the streets was the fact I had friends. But you can use up that goodwill. Or you feel scared to ask people for help. Your pride kicks in." [Photo via Getty]
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13. Ncuti Gatwa hasn't labelled his sexuality publicly
Ncuti Gatwa plays a gay character (Eric) in Sex Education on Netflix but he has never publicly discussed his own sexuality. Recent interviews have stated that Ncuti prefers not to talk about his personal life. Speaking to British Vogue, Ncuti said: "It’s a safety and mental health thing. After Sex Education, we all became public property, to an extent. You have to fight for your right to privacy after that but you also do feel like you owe people something."
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14. How to pronounce Ncuti Gatwa’s name
Ncuti Gatwa’s name is not pronounced as you see it written down. Ncuti is actually pronounced ‘Shoo-ti’, while Gatwa is simply 'Gat-wa'. [Alamy]
