LAMDA launches new David Oyelowo Scholarships

LAMDA was delighted to announce two new annual David Oyelowo Scholarships, endowed by the MLDauray Arts Initiative, at a special event in Los Angeles in October. The evening brought together David and MLDauray donor Alan Davis, with a community of LAMDA staff, alumni and supporters. It was followed by a performance of our annual U.S. showcase at the Colony Theatre.

The scholarships will each provide $30,000 in support for a student on one of LAMDA’s one-year MA programmes. They are intended for applicants from the Global Majority, who can demonstrate financial need, and at least one scholarship is reserved each year for a U.S. citizen.

David Oyelowo OBE graduated from LAMDA’s BA (Hons) Professional Acting programme in 1998 and has since become one of the most respected performers of his generation, working extensively across stage and screen. He is known globally for roles including Dr Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, earning Golden Globe and NAACP Image Award nominations.

Speaking to Deadline, he reflected on the life-changing impact of the scholarship that enabled him to train at LAMDA in the 1990s: “There is no way I could have gotten there without a scholarship. My parents couldn’t afford it… I simply wouldn’t have a career without that support.”

He explained why this motivated him to endorse the new scholarships: “I want people to be aware of this opportunity… We have to be intentional about providing opportunities for marginalised groups. You cannot be what you cannot see.”

His perspective resonates strongly with LAMDA’s ongoing commitment to broadening access, in the UK and overseas. One in three LAMDA students now comes from the United States, and the school recently opened a dedicated New York office and rehearsal studio to support its growing international community. 

Photography by Karla Grzankowski

The first two recipients of the David Oyelowo Scholarships, both currently on our MA Classical Acting programme, shared their reflections of what the award means to them.

Chi-Chi Onuah, said: “For me, receiving this scholarship means, in a word, freedom: the freedom to focus wholeheartedly on my training at LAMDA, the freedom to explore the rich, cultural, and world-class environment that is London, and the freedom to create and grow alongside my classmates."

Tanaka Maria, said: “Coming to LAMDA has been a dream of mine for almost a decade. Before receiving the David Oyelowo Scholarship, I was planning to work over 60 hours a month to support myself. Now, I will be able to fully commit myself to my schoolwork. I can’t say thank you enough for this opportunity.”

LAMDA Principal & CEO Professor Mark O’Thomas expressed his gratitude to Alan Davis and the MLDauray Arts Initiative for their ongoing support: “This gift not only honours David’s extraordinary artistic legacy,” he said at the launch, “but actively invests in the next generation of diverse creative talent who will shape our industry’s future.”​​​​​​