Madekwe was born in South London. His parents divorced when he was young. At 14 he started studying Theatre at the BRIT School. Later, he also joined the National Youth Theatre. He continued his studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), and left early when he was cast in Ian Rickson’s The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? by Edward Albee on the West End opposite Damian Lewis and Sophie Okonedo.
