John Boyega: Star Wars actor revisits the death of his childhood friend

A haunting past

It is heavy stuff, real talk. John Boyega, the star we know from Star Wars and Attack the Block, is getting vulnerable in a new BBC Two documentary. The project focuses on the 2000 killing of his childhood friend, 10-year-old Damilola Taylor. Back in November 2000, Damilola was stabbed in the leg with a broken bottle while walking home from an after-school club in Peckham, South London. He was left to die in a stairwell.

Boyega was only eight years old at the time and was one of the last people to see Damilola alive. They were tight, having met at primary school after Damilola moved to the UK from Nigeria. In the documentary, the 34-year-old actor looks back on how the trauma of that day—the realization that bad things could happen to kids—kept him up at night and totally shifted his perspective on safety.

Growing up in the shadow of loss

Boyega admits that as a kid, he thought death only happened to old people. After the tragedy, he spent a lot of time hiding out in his bedroom, feeling like the world wasn't a safe space. His parents clearly felt the same way, eventually sending him to a school further away in Westminster to keep him out of the local environment.

It wasn't just a tough time for the family, but a massive failure for justice as well. The legal proceedings took six years, cost £16m, and were marred by failed trials and controversial police mistakes. It’s giving major frustration when you hear how the investigation played out, especially knowing the potential for real systemic change was there but missed.

Why it matters

Boyega, who is now a father himself, says he’s going to show this documentary to his own child one day so they understand the realities of their lineage. He credits the way Damilola lived his life as a huge inspiration for his own career success. It’s a powerful reminder to cherish the life you have, because as Boyega says, danger doesn't care who you are or what movies you’ve been in. The best takeaway? Appreciate every single day you wake up and are here. Stay safe, guys.