David Ajala: Ageing doesn't scare me. It's a gift'

"Born in London, David Ajala, 39, trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School. He joined the RSC in 2008, went on to work at the National Theatre and this year appeared in the West End with Ewan McGregor in My Master Builder. He has had roles in the films Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, The Dark Knight, Fast & Furious 6 and Jupiter Ascending. Currently he is in Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue on BBC One and The Woman in Cabin 10 on Netflix."

"When were you happiest? When I was naive to the complexities of life. What is your greatest fear? Loneliness. What was your most embarrassing moment? Helen Mirren was in the elevator with me at the National Theatre. She pressed the button but it didn't move. I said, Fancy seeing you here and being stuck in an elevator. And she said, Was that meant to be funny? I apologised, and she laughed. Even talking about it now, it feels so awkward and embarrassing."

"Aside from a property, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? A Banksy. What is your most treasured possession? The audacity of faith, to be aware of the hurdles in life and still choose to push forward and embrace challenges. If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? The [northern] white rhino. There are still two female white rhinos on the planet, but the last male passed away. Describe yourself in three words Curious, playful and silly."

David Ajala was born in London and trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School. He joined the RSC in 2008 and later worked at the National Theatre, appearing in the West End with Ewan McGregor in My Master Builder. His film credits include Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, The Dark Knight, Fast & Furious 6 and Jupiter Ascending. He currently appears in Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue on BBC One and The Woman in Cabin 10 on Netflix. He lives in Essex with his wife and two children. He describes himself as curious, playful and silly, fears loneliness, treasures faith, and bought a Banksy.

Read at www.theguardian.com