Ernest Kingsley Jnr's life off-screen and where you have seen him before

Washington Black is on Hulu and Disney Plus and the epic period drama is based on the book of the same name by Esi Edugyan.

The historical adventure drama stars Ernest Kingsley Jr in the title role, with Eddie Karanja as young Washington Black.

Set in Barbados and Nova Scotia in the early 1800's, the series follows Wash as a young boy after he is forced to flee his home on a sugar plantation after a shocking death.

He finds himself in the care of Medwin Harris (played by Sterling K. Brown), who himself had a traumatic childhood as a Black refugee.

Here is all you need to know about Ernest Kingsley Jr and where you may have seen him before.

Ernest Kingsley Jr is a stage and TV actor who launched his career in the sci-fi series, The Sparticle Mystery.

He went on to have guest roles in some huge titles, playing Kai'ckul in The Sandman, and starring in the third season of War of the Worlds.

As for his stage roles, the young actor was in the Royal Court Theatre production of Is God Is in 2021, starring Adelayo Adedayo.

He has worked alongside some huge names, and only last year he was cast in a short film titled Foxhill, starring Robson Green.

The star attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London and, during an interview on The One Show, he thanked his former teacher Erin Holland.

His teacher had guided him towards a career in acting with a college production of West Side Story.

Ernest had said: "I was applying to drama schools at the time and she told me which ones to go to.

"It was after that I was like, 'You know what, I want to pursue acting'. If it wasn't for her pushing me and seeing the best in me, maybe I wouldn't have done it."

Washington Black is on Hulu and Disney Plus