In the late 1920s the British film industry began to expand, and several large studios were built in areas around London, including the famous Elstree studios in Hertfordshire. Migrant workers from across the UK, Europe and other parts of the world were attracted to the industry. This included the famous African American actor and activist, Paul Robeson; the first black actor on British Television, Robert Adams; and the anti-colonial activist and first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta. This presentation looks at these prominent figures and their role in the British film industry, but it also looks at some of the black and Asian ‘extras’ who remain hidden from history; many of whom worked on precarious contracts in the 1930s.
Dr Will Atkinson teaches in the Business School. His doctoral thesis is on the historical association between class origins and careers in the British film industry.
