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And now, the 23-year-old from London is living out his dream as Finn, one of the lead characters in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
Before Boyega was cast as the runaway Stormtrooper in the newest addition to the "Star Wars" galaxy, he was building his name with indie projects. He made his feature-film debut when he was 19 in "Attack the Block," a British sci-fi comedy written and directed by Joe Cornish. He earned praise for the role, which landed him on director J.J. Abrams' radar.
With the December 18 release of "The Force Awakens," Boyega is primed for his shot up the Hollywood ladder.
Get to know the new member of the "Star Wars" universe below: