Ann Akinjirin stars in an adaption of one of the country’s most beloved children’s books …
Ann Akinjirin has previously appeared alongside Oscar Isaac in Marvel’s action-packed Moon Knight series, playing Detective ‘Bobbi Kennedy’, and in Michaela Coel critically acclaimed I May Destroy You. As part of her work curating more inclusive shows, she was movement director at Deafinitely Theatre and a writer-director at NYT.
In her latest role Ann stars as Aunt Fanny is the BBC’s newest adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. We spoke to Ann about her role.
Please introduce yourself …
Hi everyone! I’m Ann Akinjirin.
Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …
Anchored and at peace.
What was the that started you on this particular career path? …
I had a friend in my first year of secondary school Laura (and I shamefully can’t remember her surname). We auditioned for the school play and afterwards she asked me if I’d heard of Sylvia Young Drama School as she went on Saturdays. Her mum took us to my first ever class and that truly set me on my path.
You play the character Fanny in ‘The Famous Five’. How did the role come about?
It came about through the brilliant Dan Hubbard’s casting office. They did an incredible job with the casting of this show. When I finished reading the script, it was an easy yes for me.
All three episodes are brand new stories, how close to the original stories are the characters and in what ways did you make the characters your own?
Aside from the fact that Aunt Fanny remains Quentin’s wife and George’s mum, we haven’t stayed true to her original iteration, which was great for me. I was given the freedom, in collaboration with the creative team, to make her entirely my own. She’s a strong, intelligent, fiercely protective woman, who is also a lot of fun and that was a joy to play. I also found a lot of her traits through the costumes, working with Ros the designer was great. I found that I stood and walked slightly differently as Fanny, due to the types of tops she wore and the height of her heels.
How has it been working with James Lance who plays your husband Quentin?
James Lance is a great scene partner and now friend. We are the only lead adults on the show and spent the whole summer together and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with. I learned a lot from him and laughed even more.
Growing up did you enjoy the classic Enid Blyton novels? Which of the Famous Five would you say you were most like as a child?
When you’re a child growing up or an adult who loves to read, it’s hard to miss Enid Blyton and her stories but I wasn’t an avid reader of The Famous Five Adventures growing up. I would say the character that I was most like as a child is George, so it’s lovely to be playing her mum.
What is the best part about working with a majority child cast? What has it taught you about yourself?
The best part for me about working with a majority child cast was how much fun and laughter that came with them. Having them on set also gave me the allowance to be as silly as I usually am off set. I know the saying goes “Don’t work with kids or animals” but I missed Diaana, Elliot, Kit and Flora when we weren’t filming together. We were like a little tribe.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
If not this, then what?
This answer has evolved over the years, but I’d say Stylist/Designer of clothes or interiors
What’s made you Sad, Mad, Glad this week?
I was sad this week when I tuned into the state of the world politically.
I was mad this week when my cat was flexing her teenage angst and she’s only 2 (I love her really!!!)
I have some really amazing people in close proximity to my heart and for that I am forever glad!
What are you watching right now?
I’m OBSESSED with Couples Therapy on BBC iPlayer. But I’m usually watching/rewatching episodes of Great British Sewing Bee.
What are you reading right now?
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead.
What are you listening to right now?
I’m usually listening to Indie soul or alt hip hop jazz but the last song I played on Spotify was Gold by Unusual Demont.
The last thing you saw on stage?
Clyde’s at the Donmar
What’s on your bucket list?
To learn Yoruba. It’s my mother tongue- I can understand it fluently, but I can’t speak it.
Where’s your happy place?
Anywhere that’s by water.
Celebrate someone else (who do you rate right now?)
Lukas Dhont!!! ‘Close’ was one of the best films that I saw this year.
Celebrate yourself …
I was having a conversation with my therapist recently about the importance of reflecting; seeing how much work I’ve done and how far I’ve come. I’m proud of that!
Whose footsteps are you following in?
All the amazing dark skinned women that came before me and allowed themselves to be seen.
What’s Next?
I’m about to start shooting the co-lead in Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s debut feature film Dreamers.
Where can we find you?
@annakinjirin on Instagram
Where can we see The Famous Five?
Episode one is on BBC iPlayer and BBC 1 on NYE. With episodes 2 and 3 following in the spring
Credits for the image here:
Photographer: Tati Galic
Make Up & Hair: Mario Brooksbank
Styling by Ann herself