Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel is a British actress, writer, and director, recognized for her influential work in television and film. Born to Ghanaian parents, Coel grew up in East London and later honed her craft at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her career took off with her award-winning one-woman stage play "Chewing Gum Dreams," which she later adapted into the BAFTA-winning TV series "Chewing Gum." In this series, she portrayed Tracey Gordon, a young woman navigating her way through love, religion, and life in her London neighborhood with a mix of humor and vulnerability.

Coel's subsequent project, "I May Destroy You," further cemented her status as a prominent voice in contemporary television. The series, which she wrote, directed, and starred in, delves into themes of consent, trauma, and personal identity. Inspired by her own experience of sexual assault, Coel created a genre-defying narrative that achieved global resonance, leading to an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series and acclaim for its courageous storytelling and social significance.

In addition to her television work, Coel has appeared in Netflix productions, including a guest role in "Black Mirror," as Kate Ashby in "Black Earth Rising," and in films such as "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "Been So Long." She is also developing a new drama series titled "First Day on Earth," which she will star in, write, and executive produce, in collaboration with HBO and the BBC.

Coel is noted for her distinctive voice and unyielding approach to challenging topics, advocating for greater creative control and ownership, especially for women of color in the entertainment industry. She has been recognized by TIME magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2020, featured in British Vogue's 2020 list of influential women, and was ranked fourth in the 15th annual Powerlist of the most influential people of African or African Caribbean heritage in the United Kingdom, notably for her impactful work on "I May Destroy You."