Estelle
Biography
British singer, songwriter, rapper and actress Estelle Fanta Swaray, who records under the name Estelle, began her career performing in London clubs in the early 2000s. Born in Hammersmith, London, she met John Legend, who mentored her and produced her debut album, The 18th Day (2004). Her second album, Shine (2008), brought wider success through the single American Boy with Kanye West, which reached number one on the UK singles chart and earned the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2009. She released a third album, All of Me (2012), then voiced Garnet in the animated series Steven Universe (2013), returning to the role for Steven Universe: The Movie (2019) and Steven Universe Future. Her screen work includes Beyond the Lights (2014) and Fatal Affair (2020), and she presents The Estelle Show on Apple Music. Her awards include a Grammy, a World Music Award, and three MOBO Awards.
46years old
Turns 47 on January 18in 68 days
- Born Hammersmith
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Estelle Fanta Swaray (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 7 years2013 to 2020
Every film, newest first
- 2020Fatal AffairIMDb rating 4.7
- 2019Steven Universe: The MovieIMDb rating 7.7
- 2014Beyond the LightsIMDb rating 6.8
- 2013Steven UniverseIMDb rating 6.9
Genres
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First role
Estelle got her start working in London's hip-hop record store Deal Real, where coworkers pushed her to take the mic on stage, leading to club gigs and appearances with Manuva and Rodney P.
Big break
In the early 2000s, while visiting Los Angeles, Estelle saw Kanye West in a restaurant, went up to him, and requested an introduction to John Legend. That introduction came, and Legend went on to produce a pair of tracks for her debut album, The 18th Day.
A first
John Legend, a US R&B singer, said Estelle was the first artist signed to his HomeSchool label, which Atlantic distributed in the US. Her second album, Shine, came out four years after The 18th Day and was her first US release and major-label debut.
A change of course
By the time she reached her early 20s, Estelle had made up her mind to pursue a music career. Before that decision, she had worked as a nanny.
Behind the camera
In 2013 Estelle announced New London Records, an independent label she started with BMG, a company she had written for since 2003. The label would put out the second and third parts of her Love & Happiness EP series.
Estelle movies on Netflix
Worked with
Estelle shares two films with Zach Callison, 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.
Films together
Zach Callison's page
Michaela Dietz's page
Danny Glover's page
Minnie Driver's page
Nia Long's page
Kate Micucci's page
Gina Prince-BythewoodDirector, 1 film, 2014
All films by Gina Prince-Bythewood
All films by Rebecca Sugar
All films by Peter Sullivan
Awards
Two awards and honors from 2009 to 2016, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 2009 | Best Melodic Rap Performance | American Boy | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 2016 | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group | Conqueror | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.