Martins Isoken Imhangbe (born 7 July 1991) is a British-Nigerian actor. He made his debut in theatre, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination for his performance in the 2018 production of Richard II. As of 2020, he plays Will Mondrich in the Netflix series Bridgerton.

Martins Imhangbe
Imhangbe in 2022
Born (1991-07-07) 7 July 1991 (age 33)
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active2013–present

Early life

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Imhangbe is from Edo State, Nigeria. He lived in Greece from the ages of 2 to 7 and spoke fluent Greek. His family then moved to South East London.[1][2] He pursued a BTEC diploma in Performing Arts at Lewisham College. He auditioned for drama school but did not initially get in, instead studying Technical Theatre at Southwark College. He later re-auditioned, getting into the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and graduating in 2013.[3][4]

Career

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Post graduation from drama school, Imhangbe had roles in A Human Being Died That Night, Cinderella, and Romeo and Juliet.[5] He starred in the Complicité production of Lionboy, an adaptation of the trilogy by Zizou Corder. The show started at the Tricycle Theatre in London and went to the New Victory Theater Off-Broadway as well as to South Africa, Hong Kong, and South Korea.[6][7] Imhangbe became an associate artist of Complicité.[8] He had roles in The Skriker at the Manchester Royal Exchange as well as the London productions Octagon in 2015 and Luce and The Royale in 2016.

In 2018, Imhangbe played Bart and the Duke of Aumerle in Richard II at the Almeida Theatre in London. For his performance, he was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award. The production was also filmed as a part of National Theatre Live. That same year, he toured Barber Shop Chronicles with Fuel Theatre in Australia and New Zealand.[9] He also appeared in Absolute Hell at the National Theatre.[10] In 2019, Imhangbe starred as Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman at the Young Vic alongside Wendell Pierce and the titular character on the Shanghai leg of the Othello tour.[11][12]

Imhangbe landed his first major onscreen role as Will Mondrich in the 2020 Netflix series Bridgerton. The character is based on the real-life boxer, Bill Richmond. Imhangbe trained for the role with Cuong Hua at The Commando Temple in Deptford.[13][14]

Acting credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 Shit Happens Guy on Left Short film
2013 The Last British Execution Bailiff
2019 The Tragedy of King Richard the Second Bagot / Duke of Aumerle National Theatre Live
2020 Samuel's Trousers Samuel Morgan Smith Short film

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2020 -

present

Bridgerton Will Mondrich Recurring role (season 1)
Main role (season 2)
2021 Forsight Kofi Episode: "Digging"

Theatre

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Year Title Role Director Venue Notes Ref.
What Does it Take Angela Michaels The Albany [15]
Uncle Vanya Yael Shavit RCSSD [15]
Sold Catherine Alexander Quinconque [15]
The Plain Dealer Wilson Milam RSC [15]
Romeo and Juliet Imogen Bond Orange Tree Theatre [16]
2013 As You Like It Douglas Rintoul Transport Theatre RCSSD [15][17]
A Human Being Died That Night Prisonguard Jonathan Munby Hampstead Theatre [18]
Cinderella Stepbrother Sally Cookson Unicorn Theatre [19]
2014 Das Ding Siwa Tanja Pagnuco New Diorama Theatre [20]
2014–2015 Lionboy Charlie Ashanti Clive Nedus & James Yeatman International tour [21]
2015 The Skriker Radiant Boy Sarah Frankcom Royal Exchange, Manchester [22]
Octagon Atticus Nadia Latif Arcola Theatre [23]
2016 Luce Luce Simon Dormandy Southwark Playhouse [24]
The Royale Fish Madani Younis Bush Theatre [25]
2018 Barber Shop Chronicles Winston / Shoni Bijan Sheibani Australia & New Zealand tour [26]
Absolute Hell GI Sam Mitchum Joe Hill-Gibbins Royal National Theatre [27]
An Adventure David Madani Younis Bush Theatre [28]
Richard II Bagot / Duke of Aumerle Joe Hill-Gibbins Almeida Theatre [29]
2019 Death of a Salesman Happy Loman Miranne Elliot & Miranda Cromwell Young Vic [30]
Othello Othello Richard Twyman Tour; Shanghai date [31]
2023 Sinéad Rushe Riverside Studios [32]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2018 Ian Charleson Awards Richard II Nominated [33]
2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Bridgerton Nominated [34]

References

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  1. ^ Awoyinka, Timi (22 January 2021). "Meet Bridgerton's breakout Nigerian star, Martins Imhangbe". Culture Custodian. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. ^ Dodd, Sophie (15 January 2021). "Bridgerton's Martins Imhangbe on Preparing for His TV Debut, the Show's 'Mind-Blowing' Positive Reception". People. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Case Studies: Martins Imhangbe". Southwark College. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Alumni News" (PDF). CSSA. 2019. p. 30. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Full Cast Announced For Arthur Miller's DEATH OF A SALESMAN". BroadwayWorld. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ^ Gardener, Lyn (6 January 2015). "Lionboy review – Complicite's cat-powered adventure lacks claws". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (26 January 2015). "Off Broadway Review: Complicite's 'Lionboy'". Variety. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Martins Imhangbe makes his TV debut in the hotly anticipated Netflix drama Bridgerton". Untitled. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Barber Shop Chronicles at Home". Fuel Theatre. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Martins Imhangbe". National Theatre. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  11. ^ "DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE COVER: Martins Imhangbe Talks His Role On Netflix's 'Bridgerton,' Award-Winning Stage Career, Inclusivity, Isolation, Veganism, + His Journey to the Screen". Glitter Magazine. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Martins Imhangbe". English Touring Theatre. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  13. ^ Gonzales, Erica (13 January 2021). "Don't Rule Out Martins Imhangbe as a James Bond Contender". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  14. ^ Levesley, David (29 December 2020). "How Bridgerton's Martins Imhangbe kept in shape over 2020". GQ. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Martins Imhangbe - Actor". Independent Talent. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  16. ^ Nicole, Christina (11 October 2023). "Martins Imhangbe interview – Othello, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith • Afridiziak Theatre News". Afridiziak Theatre News. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Transport Theatre – 'As You Like It' – Douglas Rintoul Interview". The Arts Shelf. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  18. ^ "A Human Being Died That Night". Hampstead Theatre. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  19. ^ Maxwell, Dominic (2 March 2024). "Cinderella: A Fairytale, Unicorn, SE1". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Theatre review: Das Ding at New Diorama Theatre". British Theatre Guide. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  21. ^ Isherwood, Charles (25 January 2015). "A Valiant Cub Goes on the Hunt". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Review: The Skriker, Royal Exchange". There Ought To Be Clowns. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Octagon". Arcola Theatre. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  24. ^ Kellaway, Kate (20 March 2016). "Luce review – Bake-Off's Mel Giedroyc is a stage natural". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  25. ^ "The Royale". www.bushtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  26. ^ Wolf, Matt (16 June 2017). "Sharing Joy and Sacrifice from the Barber Shop Chair". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  27. ^ Clement, Olivia (26 April 2018). "Read Reviews for Absolute Hell at London's The National". Playbill. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  28. ^ Akbar, Arifa (12 September 2018). "An Adventure review – epic journey through Mau Mau-era Kenya". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  29. ^ Clement, Oliver (19 December 2018). "Read Reviews for The Tragedy of Richard the Second in London". Playbill. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Death of Salesman". Playbill. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Martins Imhangbe". English Touring Theatre. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  32. ^ Akbar, Arifa (9 October 2023). "Othello review – three-headed Iago distracts from tragedy". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  33. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (19 March 2019). "Ian Charleson Award shortlist announced". What's on Stage. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  34. ^ "2021 SAG Awards: The Complete Nominations List". 4 February 2021.
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