Michaela Coel

Michaela Coel Bio

Michaela Ewuraba Boakye-Collinson (born 1 October 1987) is a British actress, writer, and television director. She is best known for creating and starring in the E4 television sitcom Chewing Gum (2015–2017), for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, and the BBC One/HBO comedy-drama series I May Destroy You (2020), for which she won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress in 2021. For her work on I May Destroy You, Coel became the first black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special. Coel has also made notable appearances in other productions, including the series Black Mirror (2016) and Black Earth Rising (2018).

Early Life and Background

Michaela Coel was born on 1 October 1987 in East London, England. She is of Ghanaian descent and was raised primarily in Hackney and Tower Hamlets by her mother, alongside her sister. Coel attended Catholic schools in East London and has spoken about her experiences of bullying during primary school, which she attributed to being the only black pupil in her age group. However, her secondary education at a comprehensive school provided a more inclusive environment.
From 2007 to 2009, Coel studied English Literature and Theology at the University of Birmingham. She later transferred to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she became the first black woman enrolled in five years. During her time at Guildhall, she won the Laurence Olivier Bursary Award, which helped fund her education. She graduated in 2012, having participated in various workshops and courses that honed her craft.

Path to Hollywood

Coel began her artistic journey in 2006, performing at poetry open mics in Ealing. Encouraged by actor and playwright Ché Walker, she applied to Guildhall. As a poet, she performed on notable stages, including Wembley Arena and the Bush Theatre. In 2009, she joined the Talawa Theatre Company summer school program and released an album entitled Fixing Barbie, showcasing her work as a poet and musician.
Coel’s play Chewing Gum Dreams, which she created as her senior project at Guildhall, premiered in 2012. The play, a one-woman show about a 14-year-old girl named Tracey, received positive reviews and was produced at several prestigious venues, including the National Theatre. This success laid the groundwork for her transition into television and film.

Michaela Coel Career

Early Career (2013–2019)

In 2013, Coel made her television debut in the Channel 4 drama Top Boy and took on leading roles at the National Theatre, including in the award-nominated production Home and the critically acclaimed Medea. In August 2014, Channel 4 announced that Coel would write and star in a new sitcom called Chewing Gum, inspired by her earlier play. The series premiered in October 2015 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews, earning Coel the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance and the BAFTA for Breakthrough Talent in 2016.
Following the success of Chewing Gum, Coel appeared in BBC One’s London Spy in 2015 and played a role in the E4 sci-fi comedy-drama The Aliens in 2016. Chewing Gum returned for a second series in January 2017, and Coel also featured in two episodes of Charlie Brooker’s anthology series Black Mirror. In 2018, she starred in Black Earth Rising, a co-production between BBC Two and Netflix, and in the musical-drama film Been So Long.

Breakthrough (2020–present)

Coel created, wrote, produced, co-directed, and starred in the groundbreaking series I May Destroy You, which premiered in June 2020 on BBC One and HBO. The show, inspired by her own experiences of sexual assault, received widespread acclaim and solidified her status as a leading voice in contemporary television. Coel famously turned down a $1 million offer from Netflix when they refused to grant her ownership of her intellectual property.
In 2020, Coel was recognized as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and was included in British Vogue’s list of influential women. She ranked fourth in the Powerlist of the most influential people of African or African-Caribbean heritage in the UK for her impact through I May Destroy You. In July 2021, Coel was cast in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, released in November 2022, where she portrayed Aneka, a member of the Dora Milaje.
Coel’s first book, Misfits: a Personal Manifesto, was published in September 2021, addressing her experiences with racism and misogyny. In 2022, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She is set to star in David Lowery’s Mother Mary and announced her first TV show in four years, First Day On Earth, which will begin filming in 2025.

Notable Works and Milestones

Michaela Coel’s signature works include Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You, both of which have garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. Her achievements include multiple BAFTA wins and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series.

Michaela Coel Award Nominations

Throughout her career, Michaela Coel has received several nominations for her outstanding contributions to television and film, particularly for her work on Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You.

Michaela Coel Awards Won

Michaela Coel has won prestigious awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series.

Michaela Coel Family

Information regarding Michaela Coel’s family is limited. She has a cousin, the rapper and author Guvna B.

Personal Life

Michaela Coel has shared that she identifies as aromantic and has spoken openly about her experiences with sexual assault, which inspired her work on I May Destroy You. She has also mentioned her religious upbringing as a Pentecostal Christian, although she no longer practices. At the 2016 British Academy Television Awards, she wore a gown designed by her mother, made of Kente cloth.