Michaela Coel
| Michaela Coel | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Michaela Ewuraba O Boakye‑Collinson 1 October 1987 Aldgate, Tower Hamlets, London, U.K. |
| Residence | East London, London, U.K. |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Michaela The Poet Michaela-Moses Boakye‑Collinson |
| Occupation | Actress Writer Singer-songwriter Poet |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Chewing Gum |
Michaela-Moses Ewuraba O Boakye-Collinson (born 1 October 1987), known professionally as Michaela Coel, is a British poet, singer-songwriter, screenwriter and an award-winning actress and playwright from East London. In 2016, she won the BAFTA for Best Female Performance In A Comedy Programme and Breakthrough Talent for the TV show, Chewing Gum.
Coel was born in Tower Hamlets, London, to Ghanaian parents. Coel grew up in Hackney and Tower Hamlets with her mother, a mental health liaison officer, and older sister in East London. Coel's father lives in Ghana, and she has a half-brother. She has stated that while at her all-girls Catholic school in East London, she was the only black female pupil within her year, and dealt with her isolation through 'hitting others', so she could deal with her anguish.
From 2007 to 2009, Coel attended Birmingham University to study English literature and theology. Coel took the Ché Walker Masterclass at RADA/Interchange Studios after meeting Walker at open mics. In 2009, Coel transferred to Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was the first Black woman enrolled in five years. She won the Laurence Olivier Bursary award, which helped her fund her schooling. During her time at Guildhall, she attended the Mark Proulx workshop at Prima del Teatro and took the Kat Francois Poetry Course at Theatre Royal, Stratford East. In 2012, Coel graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
In 2006, Coel began performing in poetry open mics in Ealing. As she continued to do open mics, she was encouraged by the actor, playwright, and director Ché Walker, who saw her perform at Hackney Empire, to apply to Guildhall. As a poet she has performed on stages including Wembley Arena, Bush Theatre, Nuyorican, and Rotterdam De Doelen Concert Hall. She went by the name, Michaela The Poet.
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