A United Kingdom premiere: A chat with David Oleyowo, Rosamund Pike and cast at the London Film Festival

Tonight the 60^th BFI London Film Festival opened with Amma Asante’s A United Kingdom, the true story of Seretse Khama and Ruth Willams, a mixed-race couple who against all the odds, and against all the obstacles put in their way by the British and South African governments, find a way to stay together.

We spoke to some of the cast at the film’s premiere at the Odeon Leicester Square. David Oyelowo, who plays Seretse Khama, talked to us about why it’s important to tell the stories of black historical figures and why we need to see more mixed race couples in screen.

Rosamun Pike described A United Kingdom as a love story we should all know, and that even inspired the battle of Nelson Mandela in South Africa against Apartheid.

Jack Davenport spoke about what it was like playing a character who has such racist views and Laura Carmichael, of Downton Abbey fame, about what keeps drawing her back to period dramas

Tess Colley
Video: Filippo L’Astorina

For further information about the 60^th London Film Festival visit here.

Read more reviews from the festival here.