theGrio’s 100: Chadwick Boseman, the big screen Jackie Robinson

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Who is Chadwick Boseman?

Chadwick Boseman, 30, is one of Hollywood’s up-and-coming actors. The South Carolina native is best known for his roles on the TV series Lincoln Heights and Persons Unknown. Boseman is also a playwright and screenwriter who graduated from Howard University and attended the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford.

Last year Boseman got what he calls “the opportunity of a lifetime” to star in the upcoming biopic 42, his first time on the big screen in a lead role.

Why is he on theGrio’s 100’s?

In April, Boseman will star as Jackie Robinson in 42, the highly-anticipated biographical film from Warner Bros about the life of the baseball player.

Robinson was the first black athlete in the major league, joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He was voted the rookie of the year, was a six-time MVP, and won one championship trophy for his team along the way.

“I’m overwhelmed by it. It’s a huge responsibility and I wake up every morning and am having the time of my life playing baseball and studying for the role,” Boseman said during an interview with Madame Noire. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to do what I love. We watch biopics because we want to know what we didn’t know about that person. Finding those things is very exciting for me.”

Boseman stars alongside Harrison Ford, Christopher Meloni, and T.R. Knight. 42 is written and directed by Oscar winning writer-filmmaker Brian Helgeland, previously of Payback, A Knight’s Tale and The Order.

Jay-z’s “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” soundtracks the official trailer to the 42.

What’s next for Boseman?

Aside from 42, the 30-year-old actor hasn’t announced any upcoming projects. However, after bringing Robinson’s life to the big screen, Boseman will inevitably become an actor to watch in 2013 and beyond.