There are certain benchmarks that actors use to know that they’ve made it to another level professionally. If you are actor David Oyelowo, being appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire is a strong indication that you’re there.
Recently, Oyelowo, surrounded by his wife, Jessica and two of their four children, was presented the coveted medal by the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace for his services to acting. Oyelowo told that Associated Press at the ceremony that, “”I am here accepting the award because I am proud of the acknowledgement and I am proud to be British. Every country has good and bad parts of its history, but the fact is that Britain is a country I am proud to be a citizen of.”
During the festivities, Oyelowo paid tribute to his Nigerian heritage, acknowledging his ancestors for helping to make Britain “great” country. “Being of Nigerian descent and Nigeria having been a colony, my country of origin, its resources and its people have contributed to the ‘Great’ in Great Britain and so, for me, to be honored by Great Britain is something I value because of the contribution in terms of my African heritage.”
