In a new interview with The Guardian focusing on his old school friend Damilola Taylor, who was tragically killed in November 2000, John Boyega talks about how his murder shaped him, and reveals that he got married almost two years ago and they are expecting a son.
Somebody pokes their head round the door to tell us we need to wrap up. Boyega’s on a tight schedule. I ask a final question. Tell me about your jewellery, I say, indicating towards his left hand. “Oh yeah, this is my wedding ring,” he says casually. “I’ve been married for coming up to two years now.” He doesn’t give any detail about his wife, but does say they had a small ceremony, joking that he got married the way Braveheart did, while miming the action of planting a sword in the ground. He continues by reaching to the deepest depth of his vocal range and bellowing, “Will you come with me?”
His eldest sister has now joined us and the room has erupted into a chorus of unrestrained laughter. I note that the ring he is wearing is different from the one he wears in the documentary. “Yeah, this is our very sentimental ring,” he says of the two-toned band. “This is the one we decided to pick up spontaneously because I just wanted the ring on my finger, so we went to Walmart to get this. It was a lovely trip to Walmart. Shout out, Walmart Canoga Park!” he laughs. I am surprised to learn that he didn’t have a traditional Nigerian ceremony. “I would love to have a wedding celebration. We both like the idea of celebrating something established, rather than celebrating the entry. And by then, we’ll have to shut Nigeria down!”
It occurs to me that the child he mentioned earlier in the conversation may not be hypothetical. Are you about to hard launch a baby, I inquire tentatively. “My baby’s on the way. We got a baby cooking.” And you said my son earlier – is that because you’re having a boy? He confirms this and that he also has a young stepson. “So, you know, my life is completely, completely fulfilled in terms of family. It’s been so nice with the timing.”
Read the interview in full here. Team Jedi News sends our congratulations to John and his wife.
