Jamael Anwar Hermitt-Westman (born December 1991) is a British actor. He is best known for starring as the title role in the West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton, which earned him a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Early life and education Westman was born in Lambeth, London, to football coach Wallace Hermitt and lecturer Susan Westman. He spent the first ten years of his life in Brixton before gentrification pushed his family out to Streatham and later Croydon. His younger brother, Myles, is also an actor. Their parents separated when Westman was a teenager. He is the grandson of football coach Barry Hermitt; Westman's paternal grandparents immigrated to England from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation. His mother, from Gloucestershire, is of Irish descent.
He attended St Joseph's College in Upper Norwood. He later went on to graduate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2016.
Career Theatre Westman started out in pantomimes and community theatre projects. Before Hamilton, he had only acted in two professional stage productions, The White Devil at Shakespeare's Globe and Torn at the Royal Court.
In June 2017, it was announced Westman was cast as the lead in the West End production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre, a role he has since played both on the West End and on tour. He was due to appear in a new production in Los Angeles of Hamilton from 12 March to 22 November 2020, at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, but the production was suspended on the date of its intended debut in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show eventually premiered in Los Angeles on 17 August 2021.
Television and film Westman made his onscreen debut with a guest role in a 2013 episode of Casualty. He appeared in the films Brand New-U (2015) and Animals (2019). He has also been in several short films, such as Kebab (2014), Wilton (2016), A Poem for Every Autumn Day (2020), and Ice Cream & Doughnuts (2021).
In 2021 he appeared in the Channel 5 miniseries Anne Boleyn as Jane Seymour's ambitious brother, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. He was next cast in the role of Dr George Spencer in the six-part drama The Essex Serpent on Apple TV+, starring Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston.
Personal life Westman has been outspoken about racism. In 2019, he said Britain needed to confront its colonial past, and in 2020 he was one of the big names in theatre to sign a letter to industry leaders calling for "urgent reform" to tackle racism and the lack of diversity in the profession.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2015 Brand New-U Kemal 2019 Animals Leo 2021 Ice Cream & Doughnuts Robbie Short film 2023 Good Grief Terrance 2025 Hedda David 2027 Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2013 Casualty Dex Woods Episode: "Human Resources" 2020 On the Edge Michael Miniseries; Episode: "BBW" 2021 Anne Boleyn Edward Seymour Episode #1.1 2022 The Essex Serpent Dr. George Spencer 5 episodes
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2016 Torn Brotha Royal Court Theatre, London 2017 The White Devil Marcello Globe Theatre, London 2017–2022 Hamilton Alexander Hamilton Victoria Palace Theatre, London; Hollywood Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles (Eliza Tour) 2022 Patriots Alexander Litvinenko Almeida Theatre2024London TideEugene WrayburnNational Theatre (Lyttelton), London2026An Ideal HusbandLord GoringLyric Hammersmith
Awards and nominations He was nominated for Best Actor at the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2018 for his performance in Hamilton. That same year he was also nominated for the Emerging Talent Award at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom, which he won. He was a 2018 Screen International Stars of Tomorrow pick.
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