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Kwame doesnt fully process his experience as assault until the fifth episode, Monday nights …
The reality is that he is painfully underserved, Essiedu says.
Hows your lockdown life in London going?Fucking mad!
Mad in good ways, mad in terrible ways, but consistently fucking insane and unbelievable and a lot.
In the fifth episode, Kwame comes to terms with the fact that he was assaulted.
What was it like to play that realization?Its happening in real time for Kwame.
From the moment of what happens to him in episode four, hes knocked off his center point.
From that point onwards, he loses that.
He feels like that might be something thats useful for him as well.
He also feels a responsibility to do it.
But the reality is that he is painfully underserved.
Its painful to watch.
Its mad that what were seeing in this show doesnt fit the mainstream portrayal of that situation.
Were not used to seeing it.
Were not used to reading about it in any of the media that we consume.
Its no wonder that certain structures are not made to support such things.
Michaela has talked about how her personal experience inspired Arabellas assault on the show.
But the main thing that attracted me to Kwame was the sheer vividness of his humanity.
Hes such a three-dimensional, real, authentic character, which is a real treat for an actor.
Thats part of who he is.
What was it like to film Kwames assault?
I know you all worked with an intimacy coordinator, Ita OBrien, who alsoworked onNormal People.
Ita OBriens hilarious and hands on.
Shes really into using animals as examples.
But Ive had to come up with my own structures to allow those things to be let go.
Ive done a lot of plays that have gone to certain places.
Its about making sure theres a separation between reality and fiction.
You and Michaela Coel both went to Guildhall for drama school.
We wanted to do something that represented us and characters that spoke in our voices.
So Michaela wrote a sick scene for the two of us.
I actually ended up getting my agent from that, so I owe Michaela a whole lot!
I nearly was blacklisted before I even started.
What was it like to audition forI May Destroy You?
And never once did she ever offer it to me.
It was the casting director that suggested to her, Maybe you would want to think about Paapa.
She was like, Really?
I ended up auditioning a couple of times and getting the part.
But theres no nepotism in your favor from being friends with Michaela Coel!
I think it actually makes it harder for you to get the job.
Before, he was way more larger than life and flamboyant.
Its interface is all pink!
I have to ask about Kwames fashion.
Hes got all these beanies and thisgreat fuzzy zip-up jacket.
Hes someone who is so confident and comfortable.
I wanted him to wear things that sat with that.
There was an effortlessness to his buoyancy, and thats what we were looking for.
That means you might take it one small bite by bite.
I just hope that people stick with it.
For you guys, thats a long time.
Who knows whats gonna happen?
Its very London, so I wonder if that might go over certain peoples heads.
It wasnt safe for us working.
It feels like it would be weird to be doing that same production in the current climate.
Its insane how much can change such a short period of time.
Hes one of many, many people that have been brutalized.
Our response is going to dictate our legacies.
