John Boyega’s Humble Beginnings Before ‘Star Wars’: A Shocking Revelation
Oh great, another tale of a star’s rags-to-riches journey. John Boyega, the guy who played Finn in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, recently spilled the beans on just how precarious his financial situation was before he landed that life-changing gig. At a panel during the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Boyega shared with podcaster Josh Horowitz that when he was called in for a meeting with director J.J. Abrams, he was practically scraping the bottom of his bank account barrel—£45, to be exact. That’s about $60 for those of you still clinging to your calculators. But wait, it gets better. He had to shell out nearly £34 to even get to the meeting, which left him with a whopping £11 and some change. What a thrilling financial rollercoaster, right?
Now, let me roll my eyes for a moment here. Can we just take a second to appreciate how he pretended to be “busy” at an art show when he got the call? Classic move. You can practically hear the cringeworthy panic in his voice as he recalled walking into that restaurant. After a decade of auditioning and only a handful of films under his belt, Boyega was understandably jittery. He even suggested to Abrams that he could audition in a variety of accents—British, Scottish, Nigerian—you name it. But lo and behold, Abrams simply replied, “You’re [in Star Wars].” Cue the dramatic music and a frozen moment of realization. I mean, who wouldn’t feel a bit light-headed in such a ludicrously surreal situation?
And just when you think it couldn’t get more Hollywood cliché, co-writer Lawrence Kasdan sauntered in with the profound words, “Kid, this movie’s gonna change your life.” Newsflash: it did. But let’s not ignore the elephant in the room—the backlash Boyega faced over his role. He’s been vocal about the online racism directed at him, and in a GQ interview, he didn’t hold back, saying Disney sidelined his character, Finn, after marketing him as a key player. So, while he went from having £11 to a hefty bank account, the toll of fame came with its own set of complications.
Honestly, it’s almost laughable how quickly fortunes can change in Tinseltown, but also a bit disheartening. Boyega has made it clear he’s not keen on returning to the franchise anytime soon, and who could blame him? When you face both the highs and lows of fame, it’s hard not to roll your eyes at the absurdity of it all. So there you have it, folks. Another star’s tale of triumph, sprinkled with just enough drama to keep you mildly entertained.
And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
