British Actor, John Boyega, Is Ready to Invade Your TV

He's attacked the block, now he ready to attack the small screen

Geographically London seems a world away, but thanks to music and the Internet, the gap is getting smaller. With Dizzie Rascal, SAS and Estelle already in your iPod, music lovers are already familiar with that distinct British accent. You get that same sense of familiarity when talking to actor John Boyega. Though he isn't from the States, he has the street smarts to wear a New York Yankees fitted, which usually garners instant respect from a stranger, even if they don't watch baseball. In a casual conversation, he'll comment on how fine Meagan Goode is or admit that he grew up on a healthy dosage of hip hop and HBO's The Wire.

It's that universal charm that has critics and movie viewers alike singing his praises over his lead performance in the sci-fi action flick Attack the Block. In the film, he plays Moses, a wayward youth with no family, but hooligan friends. When the group, who was obviously outside past their bed time on a school night, attempts to rob a woman, an asteroid falls out of the sky and foils their plans. Upset that they couldn't finish the robbery, the gang led by Moses investigates the space rock and finds that an alien lives inside of it and that's where we are going to leave you. 

Loop 21 got a chance to sit and chat with the rising star, who now lives in Los Angeles. Not only is he busy promoting Attack the Block, he's also celebrating being cast in Spike Lee's upcoming HBO series Da Brick. No tea and crumpets were present.

Loop 21: So how long have you been acting?

John Boyega: I've been acting since I was five years old, but I was no Mackuley Culkin. It was strictly unprofessional. I've been doing it professionally for about two years now. Attack the Block was the first ever movie I auditioned for and I got it. It's been a great opportunity. So right now I’m just out here auditioning for more and better roles.

Loop 21: First time? What was it like playing in a movie like this your first time out? It has a lot going on, humor, action, violence. You had to do all of that in your first movie role.

Boyega: It was actually very fun. We had support from the production company because it was their first time too. It was an ensemble. I didn't feel like I was taking on the burden of leading the movie. It was actually easier than it should've been because it was so much fun and I had so much support.

Loop 21: You guys were pretty much chasing people or being chased the entire movie. Did you have to do a lot of training for this role?

Boyega: Yeah, we had to go to a car park and train and ride bikes in unison. We had to learn how to pop wheelies and stuff. I felt like I was in ET. That was actually my favorite part of filming, staying up late at night drinking Red Bull and riding through the hood making noise like BRAAADAAAATTT BRAAAADAAAAT!

Loop 21: The character you play in the film seems nothing like how you are in real life. Are there any similarities between you two?