British black actors star in photographic exhibition

Black British acting talent is to be celebrated in a photography exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery opening next month.

Each subject in the black and white portraits by Franklyn Rogers is bathed in a halo of light.

The show features pictures of 30 actors, including Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who won an Academy Award for her role in Mike Leigh's 1996 film Secrets And Lies, and Casualty star Kwame Kwei-Armah, who became the first black Briton to have a play staged in the West End.

Another subject is Rudolph Walker, known for his roles in TV comedy shows such as Love Thy Neighbour, The Thin Blue Line and Ali G In Da House.

The exhibition is part of the Underexposed arts programme, which is run by the 4 The Record Initiative - created to highlight talent and success in the black British community - and will be promoted by the Mayor with a poster campaign on London Underground next month.

Rogers has previously completed commissions for record label Polydor and National Geographic magazine.

The exhibition is in the Ondaatje Wing from 4 April to 8 June.