Trivia

While filming Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017), he went to a strict diet and training regime. One day, he went to Carrie Fisher's trailer, telling her that he was fed up with eating healthy. She then offered him some candy that she had stashed inside her fridge. John compared that experience to walking right into a candy store. After that, he would often visit Fisher's trailer for occasional "cheat days".

One of the reasons J.J. Abrams cast him as Finn in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) was because of his performance in the sci-fi/action/comedy Attack the Block (2011). Abrams is a big fan of the film.

In 2012, he went to a meeting at the Bad Robot studio. While he was waiting in the lobby, he saw J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise walking out of an editing room. Upon seeing him, Abrams asked "Boyega, right?", which resulted in a small conversation. Abrams said that he was a huge fan of Attack the Block (2011) (John's first film) and added "We're gonna get you in something". However, John was rather starstruck by Cruise and paid little attention to what Abrams just said. In 2014, he was cast in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), which was directed by J.J. Abrams. When Tom Cruise met John again at the Baftas, he asked "So, Star Wars, huh?", to which John happily replied "Yeah, mate".

Auditioned for the role of Eggsy in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), and was one of the three finalists along with Taron Egerton, who won the role.

The son of Nigerian immigrants; his father is a Pentecostal preacher and his mother works with the disabled.

Began acting at Theatre Peckham, a local performing arts centre in London for talented children aged 9 to 14. Boyega spent almost every day after school at the theatre, as well as weekends. At 16, he moved to South Thames College to study performing arts, and joined the Identity School of Acting in Hackney. He enrolled at Greenwich University but as his career took off, he left to concentrate on acting.

His middle name means "the crown has become joy".

Can impersonate facial mannerisms and the voice of his Star Wars co-star Daisy Ridley.

Has a pet cat named Oluwalogan, often referred to as just Logan.

His character Finn is featured on a Star Wars postage stamp issued in October 2015 by the UK's Royal Mail postal service.

Born and raised in Peckham, south-east London.

Established his own production company, UpperRoom Entertainment Limited, in January 2016.

Counts Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) as one of his favorite movies as a kid.

Was chosen by Screen International as one of the "UK Stars of Tomorrow 2011" and appeared alongside two other actors on the front cover of that magazine in its July 2011 edition.

Is A Christian.

Knew Damilola Taylor, the 10-year-old Peckham schoolboy who was fatally stabbed in the leg with a broken bottle whilst walking home in November 2000; it became one of the most high-profile killings in UK history. Having moved to London from Nigeria a few months before, the 8-year-old Boyega and his sister Grace were among the last people to see Damilola alive. He has explained that the murder spurred him on with pursuing his career.