John Boyega, the actor known for his roles in *Star Wars* and the *Small Axe* anthology, has spoken publicly for the first time about how the tragic death of his childhood friend Damilola Taylor influenced his decision to pursue acting. Taylor was fatally stabbed in the stairwell of the Peckham estate where he lived in south London in 2000, when he was just 10 years old. Boyega, then eight, and his older sister Grace were among the last people to see Taylor alive.

In a forthcoming BBC documentary titled *Damilola: The Untold Story*, Boyega reflects on the profound impact the killing had on him as a child. He described how the fear of becoming a victim of knife crime himself motivated him to focus intently on his ambitions. “It was no B, no C options for me,” Boyega said, recalling how the tragedy made him feel his time to achieve his dreams might be limited. He feared “being the next face on a T-shirt,” a grim reference to those memorialised after violent deaths.

Following Taylor’s death, Boyega won a scholarship to Theatre Peckham, an arts academy that has nurtured young talents and counts Sir Ian McKellen among its patrons. The actor credited this opportunity with helping him channel his fears into determination. He also drew inspiration from a poem Taylor wrote in his first term at Oliver Goldsmith primary school, which spoke of aspirations to “remould the world” and “defend the world.” Boyega said that Taylor’s unyielding positive outlook, despite the environment they lived in, challenged him to pursue his dreams without excuses.

Damilola Taylor’s death was followed by several other knife crime incidents that affected Boyega’s family and community. He described the persistent anxiety of living amid such violence as “waiting in a line,” where victims were chosen at random.

Tunde Taylor, Damilola’s brother and chairman of a trust set up in his name, expressed hope that the documentary would show people that positive outcomes can emerge even in challenging environments. Meanwhile, Leroy Logan, former chair of the Black Police Association who investigated the case and was portrayed by Boyega in *Small Axe*, highlighted that while Peckham has seen improvements, deeper community regeneration is still needed. Logan stated that rebuilding physical infrastructure without fostering hope, aspiration, and social mobility in residents only addresses part of the problem. He noted that knife crime and violence have decreased but warned that negative role models and gang influences persist in some areas, continuing to affect local youth.

The documentary *Damilola: The Untold Story* is scheduled to air on BBC Two on October 5.