David Harewood hopes new portrait sparks ‘difficult conversation’ about slavery

Portrait unveiled at country house once owned by plantation owner who enslaved actor's relatives in 18th century

The actor David Harewood has described his new portrait at Harewood House as a powerful example of his ancestor's resilience and the enduring legacy of descendants of enslaved people.

Harewood House in Leeds, West Yorkshire, this week unveiled a portrait of the actor and author as part of its Missing Portraits series, which was launched in 2022 to redress the balance of artwork in its collection by depicting people of African-Caribbean heritage who have connections to the country house and its owners, the Lascelles family.