Dev Patel

Prior to 2007, Dev Patel was just another London teenager, albeit one with a passion for acting and tae kwon-do. But after landing a role on the controversial television series "Skins" (E4, 2007-13), he caught the attention of director Danny Boyle, who was desperate for a non-traditional leading man of Indian descent for his new film. The picture, "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008), was a charming comedy-drama about a young resident of the Mumbai slums who earns a shot at improving his life via the game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Patel's endearing performance helped to make the film a hit with festival audiences around the world; it also signaled the emergence of a comic talent whose full screen potential had yet to be tapped. Patel went on to star in the romantic comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2015) and its sequel "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2015), indie drama "The Road Within" (2014) and Neill Blonkamp's science fiction drama "Chappie" (2015), as well as taking on a supporting role in Aaron Sorkin's cable news drama "The Newsroom" (HBO 2012-14). A starring role in biopic "The Man Who Knew Infinity" (2016) was followed by a key supporting role in Garth Davis' fact-based drama "Lion" (2016), for which Patel was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.