Despite being criticized for the cast and some techniques used, Selma, the film about the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., primarily received positive reviews. The central ambiguity was probably the fact that the leader of the American Civil Rights Movement was played by British actor David Oyelowo. However, Oyelowo’s immense “chameleon-like ability to embody different accents and roles with confidence and ease” made him an outstanding candidate for this role (Qureshi). As evident from the movie itself, Oyelowo was able not only to embody the physical appearance of King but also channel MLK’s energy and talking style.
In Selma, David Oyelowo’s performance portrays MLK’s character, personality, and way of communication. Notably, when Oyelowo received an invitation for this role, he decided not only to transform his body but also to study and understand who King “was spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and historically” (Qureshi). Oyelowo’s performance is essential not because of its accuracy but because it can be the main character for moviegoers to view as themselves. While watching Selma, audiences can sympathize with MLK and ultimately leave the cinema with a different perspective in mind about the importance of raising one’s voice for a good cause and eliminating the minority mentality.
Oyelowo was an unusual candidate for the role of MLK in Selma because he was a British actor. In fact, David admits that he did not grow up in a traditional African American household with the mindset of Dr. King being black people’s idol or icon (Lenker). At the same time, Oyelowo believes that the lack of this viewpoint helped him embody MLK and his voice because it is challenging to play an icon due to internal and external pressure (Lenker). Through Oyelowo’s performance, the tale of the Civil Rights movement and Dr. King’s battle to obtain voting rights in the face of segregation and persecution is arguably even more pertinent now.
Apart from representing MLK’s personality as a leader and peaceful fighter, Oyelowo also portrays the human side of this historical figure. Through him, the audience can see Dr. King as a spiritual human being, something that cannot be conceived even after reading history books (Lenker). Indeed, this film allowed many people to view and study Civil Rights more closely through an accurate picture (Killian 97). Oyelowo strived to thoroughly investigate the life story as well as the internal belief system of MLK; hence, he was able to channel the insight that he gained about this man (Qureshi). Furthermore, David was able to mimic the humor and frustrations of his character, making the audience perceive Oyelowo not as a citizen of another country but as a talented actor who accurately depicts MLK. Overall, Oyelowo was perceived by the audience as a person who sounded like MLK. It became possible primarily due to the actor’s ability to transform and mimic as well as his dedication to deeply understanding the character.
In conclusion, the performance of David Oyelowo in Selma allowed viewers to immerse themselves in Dr. Martin Luther King’s life. The whole cast of the movie added to the film’s realism, which made for a great watch because of the different points that viewers could relate to. Since the main task to embody MLK was on Oyelowo, he prepared himself physically and intellectually for this role. Despite being a British actor without an inborn mindset about viewing King as an African American idol, he could sound and act like MLK. Through this role, Oyelowo not only displayed his talent but also showed his admiration for the leader of the Civil Rights Movement.
Works Cited
Killian, Kyle D. “Selma.” Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, vol. 27, no. 2, 2015, pp. 96-98.
Lenker, Maureen Lee. “David Oyelowo on How Oscar Voters Held Selma to a Higher Standard Than White Biopics.” Entertainment Weekly, Web.
Qureshi, Bilal. “In ‘Selma,’ British Actor Brings Outsider’s Perspective to MLK.” NPR, Web.