David Ajala

Biography

David Ajala is an English actor who was born in Hackney, London and trained at the Anna Scher Theatre and the Court Theatre Training Company. His first screen part came in Kidulthood, followed by its sequels Adulthood (2008) and Brotherhood (2016), and he took major roles in Starred Up (2013) and Seekers; his other films include The Dark Knight and Italian Studies (2022). On stage he has appeared in Hamlet, Nation and a Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and played Jim Brown in the European premiere of Kemp Powers's One Night in Miami. His television work includes Nightflyers, Falling Water, Black Box and Doctor Who, and he played Manchester Black in the fourth season of Supergirl and Cleveland Booker in Star Trek: Discovery from 2020 to 2024. In 2025 he joined Law & Order as Detective Theo Walker. He also voiced Sean McAlister in the video game Need for Speed Payback.

40years old

Turns 41 on May 21in 220 days

Born May 21, 1986London Borough of Hackney
Star sign: GeminiFirst day of the sign, on the Taurus cusp

Movie Career

Films: 10
Career span: 17 years2008 to 2025

Genres

Drama70%, 7 films
Crime40%, 4 films
Action30%, 3 films
Mystery20%, 2 films
Sci-Fi20%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Early training
Ajala trained at the Anna Scher Theatre's afterschool program and later earned a BA in Acting from the Court Theatre Training Company, awarded by Buckinghamshire New University.
Beyond film
Ajala has appeared on stage in Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and he played Jim Brown in the European premiere of Kemp Powers's One Night in Miami.

David Ajala movies on Netflix

The Woman in Cabin 102025IMDb rating 5.8as Ben Morgan
Italian Studies2022IMDb rating 4.7as Ade
Kill Command2016IMDb rating 5.7as Drifter
Jupiter Ascending2015IMDb rating 5.3as Ibis
Emulsion2014IMDb rating 5.8as Jeff
Starred Up2013IMDb rating 7.3as Tyrone
Offender2012IMDb rating 6.0as Kelvin
One Day2011IMDb rating 7.0as Floor Manager
Hamlet2009IMDb rating 8.1as Reynaldo / Dumbshow Poisoner
Adulthood2008IMDb rating 6.6as Desmond

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Woman in Cabin 102025 Crime, Mystery, Thrilleras Ben Morgan
IMDb rating 5.876K votes
Starred Up2013 Crime, Dramaas Tyrone
IMDb rating 7.352K votes
Kill Command2016as Drifter
IMDb rating 5.716K votes
One Day2011as Floor Manager
IMDb rating 7.0181K votes
Jupiter Ascending2015as Ibis
IMDb rating 5.3203K votes
Offender2012as Kelvin
IMDb rating 6.05.2K votes
Adulthood2008as Desmond
IMDb rating 6.614K votes
Emulsion2014as Jeff
IMDb rating 5.8999 votes

Worked with

David Ajala shares three films with Vanessa Kirby, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Vanessa Kirby

Jacob Anderson

Sean Bean

Patrick Stewart

Guy Pearce

Patricia Clarkson

Lana WachowskiDirector, 1 film

Lilly WachowskiDirector, 1 film Lone ScherfigDirector, 1 film

Films together

Vanessa Kirby3 films together, 2015 to 2022
Vanessa Kirby's page
- Italian Studies2022IMDb rating 4.7Ajala as AdeKirby as Alina Reynolds
- Kill Command2016IMDb rating 5.7Ajala as DrifterKirby as Mills
- Jupiter Ascending2015IMDb rating 5.3Ajala as IbisKirby as Katharine Dunlevy
Jacob Anderson2 films together, 2008 to 2012
Jacob Anderson's page
- Offender2012IMDb rating 6.0Ajala as KelvinAnderson as Patrick
- Adulthood2008IMDb rating 6.6Ajala as DesmondAnderson as Omen
Sean Bean1 film together, 2015
Sean Bean's page
- Jupiter Ascending2015IMDb rating 5.3Ajala as IbisBean as Stinger Apini
Patrick Stewart1 film together, 2009
Patrick Stewart's page
- Hamlet2009IMDb rating 8.1Ajala as Reynaldo / Dumbshow PoisonerStewart as Claudius / Ghost
Guy Pearce1 film together, 2025
Guy Pearce's page
- The Woman in Cabin 102025IMDb rating 5.8Ajala as Ben MorganPearce as Richard Bullmer
Patricia Clarkson1 film together, 2011
Patricia Clarkson's page
- One Day2011IMDb rating 7.0Ajala as Floor ManagerClarkson as Alison
Lana WachowskiDirector, 1 film, 2015
All films by Lana Wachowski
- Jupiter Ascending2015IMDb rating 5.3Ajala as Ibis
Lilly WachowskiDirector, 1 film, 2015
All films by Lilly Wachowski
- Jupiter Ascending2015IMDb rating 5.3Ajala as Ibis
Lone ScherfigDirector, 1 film, 2011
All films by Lone Scherfig
- One Day2011IMDb rating 7.0Ajala as Floor Manager

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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