John Boyega has revealed that he has been married for nearly two years and is expecting a baby boy, while opening up about his young stepson and his decision to prioritise family life.
The British-Nigerian actor made the disclosure in an interview with The Guardian published on October 4, where he discussed his marriage, growing family and his involvement in a BBC Two documentary about the killing of his childhood friend, Damilola Taylor.
Asked about the wedding ring he has been wearing, Boyega said, “I’ve been married for coming up to two years now.”
Boyega said he and his wife had a small wedding ceremony but expressed interest in holding a larger celebration in the future.
“I would love to have a wedding celebration. We both like the idea of celebrating something established, rather than celebrating the entry. And by then, we’ll have to shut Nigeria down!” he said.
The actor also revealed that he and his wife are expecting a baby boy. He noted that he already has a young stepson, making the new arrival an addition to his existing family.
“My baby’s on the way. We got a baby cooking,” Boyega said.
“So, you know, my life is completely, completely fulfilled in terms of family. It’s been so nice with the timing,” he added.
As he prepares to take on fatherhood in a new way, Boyega said he wants to be present and consistent in his children’s lives.
“Us being parents is funny! I just want to make sure I’m present, I’m consistent, and full of love,” he said.
The actor also explained that his approach to his career has changed after periods of heavy work, with family now taking greater priority.
“I’ve tried to as much as possible – especially following periods when I’ve worked a lot – to de-centre my career,” he said.
“There have been certain moments when I’ve known that this is a time for family. Y’know, there’s stuff to do.”
Boyega has generally kept his personal life away from public attention despite his international profile. He became widely known for playing Finn in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in 2015, later reprising the role in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ and ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’.
He has also appeared in films including ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ and ‘The Woman King’.
His comments about his family came while discussing the BBC Two documentary about Damilola Taylor, who was stabbed and killed in London in 2000 at the age of 10.
Boyega was eight years old at the time and was among the last people to see Taylor alive.
Reflecting on revisiting the experience for the documentary, Boyega said, “Speaking about it could possibly help. I haven’t revisited this in a long time. Yeah, my heart is just beating.”
The actor’s disclosure offers a rare glimpse into his private life as he prepares to welcome a baby boy, while seeking to give greater attention to family after years of professional commitments.
Ademide Adebayo
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