Lack of black actors in British film, says study

Almost 60 per cent of British films have no black actors after a decade which has seen "little change" in diversity in the industry, research has shown.

The study by the British Film Institute (BFI), which examined the 1,172 films made in the UK between January 2006 and August 2016, found that only 13 per cent of UK films have a black actor in a leading role.

A total of 691 films did not feature a single black actor.

The research found Noel Clarke is most prolific black actor in UK film, followed by Ashley Walters, Naomie Harris and Thandie Newton.

BFI Creative Director Heather Stewart said diversity is "one of the biggest issues facing film".

British black actors with the most leading roles in UK since 2006:

• 1) Noel Clarke - 8

• 2) Ashley Walters - 7

• 3) Naomie Harris - 6

• 4) Thandie Newton - 5

• 5) Idris Elba - 4

• 6) Chiwetel Ejiofor - 3

• 7) Femi Oyeniran - 2

• = Colin Salmon - 2

• = Ashley ‘Bashy’ Thomas - 2

• = Gugu Mbatha-Raw - 2

• = Lucien Laviscount - 2

• = Sophie Okonedo - 2

• = Carmen Ejogo - 2

• = Roger Nsengiyuma - 2

• = John Boyega - 2