Olivier-Winner Paapa Essiedu Visits Our Students

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Emmy-nominated and Olivier Award-winning actor Paapa Essiedu to our school today.

Best known for his brilliant work in I May Destroy You, Gangs of London, and his recent 2026 Olivier-winning performance in Arthur Miller's All My Sons, Paapa is also set to star as Professor Severus Snape in the highly anticipated upcoming HBO Harry Potter series. 

Our Year 12 students, Viola and Ze'ev, did a fantastic job leading an insightful interview with Paapa. Together, they dived into his extensive career, spanning everything from his groundbreaking Shakespearean stage roles to his major screen successes.

Our audience for the event included our own English students and alumni pupils from local feeder schools interested in the creative arts and prospective students hoping to join our school family this September.

What made the visit truly special was the deep local connection. Hailing from nearby Walthamstow, Paapa’s journey from East London to the global stage serves as a powerful, tangible example of aspiration for our students. His story beautifully illustrated that with dedication, representation, and passion, these heights are entirely achievable for young people from our own community.

We want to extend a massive thank you to Paapa for taking time out of his busy schedule to inspire the next generation of creatives. He has undoubtedly left us with a room full of inspired students and lifelong fans!