The Butler beats out all box office competitors opening weekend including the highly anticipated "Kick Ass 2". Check out our exclusive interview with Yaya Decosta and David Oyelowo as they discussed what it was like to act in 'the movement'. DAVID OYELOWO (LOUIS GAINES) David Oyelowo (pronounced -- "oh-yellow-oh"), a classically trained stage actor who is working successfully and simultaneously in film, television and theater, has quickly become one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents. He graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and received the "Scholarship for Excellence" from Nicholas Hytner in 1998. Oyelowo wrapped production on NINA, a biographical drama focused on late musician, Nina Simone (played by Zoe Saldana) and her relationship with her manager, Clifton Henderson (Oyelowo). He also stars in the upcoming thriller, DEFAULT. Directed by Simon Brand, the film follows an American news crew whose plane is hijacked by Somali pirates. Most recently, Oyelowo was seen in Steven Spielberg's Oscar nominated drama LINCOLN, with Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. The film received countless accolades including nominations for "Best Picture" at the most recent Oscars, Golden Globes and SAG Awards, in addition to many others. He also starred in the critically acclaimed independent drama, THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, which earned rave reviews at the 2012 Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals. Oyelowo received nominations for "Best Supporting Actor" at the 2013 NAACP Image Awards and Independent Spirit Awards for his work in the film. Last winter, he was also seen opposite Tom Cruise in JACK REACHER, a drama based on a book in Lee Child's popular crime series. The film tells the story of a homicide investigator who digs deeper into a case involving a trained military sniper who has shot five random victims. Last fall he co-starred in Lee Daniels' THE PAPERBOY, opposite Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey and Zac Efron. The film received a standing ovation following its premiere at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. On television, he starred in the British made for television movie, COMPLICIT, which aired in the UK last winter. Additional film credits include George Lucas' produced bio-pic, RED TAILS, which won "Best Motion Picture" at the 2013 NAACP Image Awards, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, alongside James Franco and Frieda Pinto, the Academy Award nominated drama THE HELP, 96 MINUTES, which premiered at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival, Kevin MacDonald's THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND opposite Forest Whitaker and James MacAvoy, WHO DO YOU LOVE, in which he played the iconic Muddy Waters, A SOUND OF THUNDER for Warner Bros, DERAILED for Miramax, THE BEST MAN for Redbus, and his most challenging screen role to date, the acclaimed BBC2 film SHOOT THE MESSENGER. YAYA ALAFIA (CAROL HAMMIE) New York born-and-bred Yaya Alafia began her professional acting career starring in Liz Friedlander's Take the Lead, opposite Antonio Banderas. This was followed by a lead role in John Sayles' Honeydripper, in which she played opposite Danny Glover and Charles S. Dutton. Alafia then reunited with Mr. Dutton in the telefilm Racing for Time, which Mr. Dutton also directed. In 2009, she appeared in Oren Moverman's acclaimed The Messenger with Ben Foster and Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson, followed by appearances in Lisa Cholodenko's Oscar-nominated The Kids Are All Right, opposite Mark Ruffalo; Joseph Kosinski's Tron Legacy, Andrew Niccol's sci-fi thriller In Time, opposite Amanda Seyfried and Justin Timberlake, and Terry George's Irish comedy Stand Off, as Brandon Frasier's Ethiopian immigrant love interest. In 2013, Alafia appears in Neil Drumming's Big Words and Andrew Dosunmu's Mother of George. Alafia's television work includes a notable story arc in the final season of Ugly Betty, portraying the duplicitous daughter of Whilemina (Vanessa Williams), a recurring role on the daytime drama All My Children, as well as appearances on House, Body of Proof, Army Wives, Mercy, Law and Order SVU, and Eve. Alafia's theater work includes a passionate portrayal of Olivia in the Sonnet Repertory Theater's production of Twelfth Night, and a co-starring role with Leslie Uggams in The Signature Theater Company's revival production of Leslie Lee's The First Breeze of Summer, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. For her performance, Alafia was honored with a Vivian Robinson/AUDELCO Recognition Award for Excellence in Black Theatre. In addition to acting, Alafia does speaking engagements at colleges on subjects ranging from environmentalism to women's issues. She holds a BA in International Relations and Africana Studies from Brown University. A _________________________ BlackTree Media Production Subscribe to our channel http://goo.gl/lVN14 Log onto our stream at http://goo.gl/74Ama Follow us on twitter @BlackTreeTV

• published: 19 Aug 2013
• views: 8485