The first season of this British sci-fi series included a breakout performance from Kaluuya when he was still just cutting his chops as an actor. The episode “Fifteen Million Merits” finds Daniel Kaluuya playing a regular guy in the dystopian future where people cycle in a gym all day to earn digital rewards, and where a better life lies in auditioning for reality TV. Though only 22 at the time, Kaluuya’s onscreen presence exuded the self-assuredness you’d expect from a veteran, foreshadowing the subtle yet powerful performances he’s known for today.

Daniel Kaluuya’s first major role was the lead in Jordan Peele’s breakout horror/sci fi hit. He stars as the boyfriend of a white woman (Allison Williams) whose family kidnaps and hypnotizes her Black boyfriends for sinister purposes. Kaluuya’s expressive eyes poignantly reflected the pain of a character who’d lost his mother as a boy, only to grow up and be targeted by a family of racist psychos. Always up to the job, Kaluuya sold his trauma perfectly in this terrifying social commentary that instantly established him as a gifted actor to watch.

Kaluuya masterfully straddled the roles of loyal confidant as well as devious, cold-blooded killer in this Disney mega-hit, which raked in a whopping 1.3 million worldwide, and became a cultural phenomenon. As a trusted leader in the Wakandan army, we trusted Kaluuya’s likable character, W’Kabi, to have T’challa’s back to the end. Instead, he reveals diabolical intentions that cost innocent lives, forcing the hero, played by Chadwick Boseman, scramble to overcome the shocking betrayal.

Lena Waithe’s script evolved into this masterfully shot film that featured a dark-skinned couple, played by Kaluuya and his costar Jodie Turner-Smith, a rare casting call for Hollywood. The wild Bonnie & Clyde-style adventure starts with a tense traffic stop that ends with Kaluuya’s character killing a police officer in self-defense. The powerful intersection of drama and activism kept audiences talking all summer, thanks in no small part to Kaluuya’s rare skill for making us feel every subtle display of emotion on screen.

Daniel delivered the most powerful performance of his career as beloved speaker and activist Fred Hampton, alongside his fellow BET Awards “Best Actor” nominee Lakeith Stanfield. Highlighted by Kaluuya’s flawless impression of Chairman Fred’s distinctive voice and mannerisms, the film was hailed as an instant classic, establishing Kaluuya among the greats while teaching a new generation about the power of the people.

Watch the 2021 BET Awards on June 27 at 8/9C p.m.