Ncuti Gatwa: 14 facts about the new Doctor Who and Sex Education star
Ncuti Gatwa is quickly became a screen icon thanks to his scene-stealing role as Eric in 'Sex Education’ on Netflix. Now, Ncuti has been announced as the new Doctor Who. Here's everything you need to know about the rising star.
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1. Who plays Eric in Sex Education on Netflix?
Ncuti Gatwa stars as Eric Effiong in Sex Education on Netflix. Eric is Otis Milburn’s best friend and one of the show’s most beloved characters. He is gay, loves drag and his season 1 arc focuses on him growing more confident in his own skin. Here's everything you need to know about Ncuti IRL. [Netflix]
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2. How old is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti Gatwa was born on October 15th in 1992. He is 29 years old. [Photo WireImage via Getty Images]
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3. What is Ncuti Gatwa’s star sign?
Ncuti Gatwa is a mid October baby. This makes him a Libra. [Photo via Instagram]
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4. How tall is Ncuti Gatwa?
Ncuti Gatwa is around 5ft 8 inches tall. This is 1.72 metres. [Photo via Instagram]
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5. Where is Ncuti Gatwa from? Is he British?
Ncuti Gatwa is Scottish. He grew up in Edinburgh in Scotland and his parents are from Rwanda. In an interview with the Guardian, Ncuti said he was a toddler when he and his family moved from Rwanda as refugees, fleeing the genocide. Ncuti then grew up in Oxgangs and Fife in Scotland. [Photo via Instagram]
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6. Ncuti Gatwa has a Scottish accent but you might not notice it at first
In Sex Education, Eric does not have a Scottish accent. Ncuti does have one in real life but he says it only really comes out when he's back in Scotland. In an interview with the Guardian, he said people are sometimes confused by how he sounds: “I don’t think you expect to see a young black boy with skin fades coming out with a Scottish accent. Even me!”
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7. Ncuti Gatwa has performed at Shakespeare's Globe theatre
Before Sex Education, Ncuti studied acting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and went on to specialise in theatre. He has performed in many major productions including a stint as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare's Globe in London.
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8. What TV shows and movies has Ncuti been in?
As well as starring in Sex Education, Ncuti Gatwa has had parts in two mini-series. He played Dougie in Stonemouth and an extra in Bob Servant. He then played the role of Timidius in Horrible Histories: The Movie in 2019. Later this year, according to IMDb, Ncuti is set to feature in Last Letter from Your Lover, which also features Joe Alwyn and Felicity Jones. [Photo via Getty]
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9. Ncuti revealed that he was once homeless while he was temping at Harrods
In an interview with The Big Issue, Ncuti revealed he spent five months sofa surfing before landing his role on the Netflix series. "“I didn’t have a home. I was homeless. The only thing stopping me from being on the streets was the fact I had friends. But you can use up that goodwill. Or you feel scared to ask people for help. Your pride kicks in." [Photo via Getty]
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10. Is Ncuti Gatwa gay?
Ncuti Gatwa plays a gay character (Eric) in 'Sex Education' on Netflix but he has never publicly discussed his own sexuality. Recent interviews have stated that Ncuti prefers not to talk about his personal life. Speaking to Indie Wire, Ncuti discussed the important of Eric in the show: “It matters, I hope, that other little black boys round the world can be like — ‘Oh, Eric is like this, and it’s cool.’" [Photo via Netflix]
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11. Who is Ncuti Gatwa dating?
Ncuti Gatwa hasn’t spoken publicly on whether or not he’s dating anyone at the moment. [Photo via Netflix]
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12. Is Ncuti Gatwa on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat?
Ncuti Gatwa is on Instagram and Twitter. You can follow him via @ncutigatwa on Instagram and @NcutiGatwa on Twitter. Ncuti doesn’t have a public Snapchat account. Before season one in 2019, Ncuti had less than 1000 followers on Instagram. As of September 2021, he now has 2.1 million followers. [Photo via Instagram]
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13. What is Ncuti Gatwa’s net worth?
Net worths are notoriously difficult to estimate. Considering the first season of Sex Education had over 40 million viewers it is likely that Ncuti, as one of the main stars of the show, was able to negotiate a significant wage increase for the second and third seasons. [Photo via Instagram]
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14. How to pronounce Ncuti Gatwa’s name
Ncuti Gatwa’s name is not pronounced as you see it written down. Ncuti is actually pronounced ‘Shoo-ti’, while Gatwa is simply 'Gat-wa'. [Alamy]
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15. Ncuti Gatwa has been confirmed as the new Doctor Who
Surprise! Today (May 8th) it was confirmed by the BBC that Ncuti will become the next Doctor Who. In a statement, Ncuti said: “There aren’t quite the words to describe how I’m feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared." Ncuti will become the 14th Time Lord and takes over from Jodie Whittaker.
