Emma Naomi is a Rising British Star …

Emma is currently reprising her role of Alice Mondrich, wife of boxer turned Gentleman’s Club owner ‘Will Mondrich’ played by Martins Imhangbe in Season Three of Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton.

Emma has also reprised her starring role as ‘DI Lisa Donckers’ in the third season of award-winning crime drama Professor T for ITV. This performance has garnered widespread acclaim, earning her the title of Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series award at the National Film Awards 2022.

Emma has worked extensively on stage, including Dead Don’t Floss at the National Theatre; and Blithe Spirit at the Theatre Royal Bath.

We spoke to Emma about Bridgerton and the success of diverse casting in the series …

Please introduce yourself …

Emma Naomi, Actor born in London with mixed Jamaican/Irish heritage

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …

Ten-year-old me would be jumping for joy.

Bridgerton is one of Netflix’s biggest-ever hits and Alice Mondrich was your breakout role. Tell us how you secured the part of Bridgerton’s Alice?

I got the part on a self-tape. The casting was very different at the time, I didn’t think I had a chance.

How does Alice’s character arc develop in Season 3, especially since her family now have social standing in high society and what does it mean for the relationship between her and her husband Will whose relationship we have seen flourish over the past few seasons?

Alice has always wanted to solidify the family’s social standing but never expected it to be handed to them. It’s sudden… it’s strange. I think she and Will wrestle with their sense of identity, there is a lot of anxiety around how they should behave and whether they should leave a part of themselves behind.

There seems to be a mentor/mentee relationship building between Lady Danbury and Alice as she advises Alice on what is expected of her and her husband …

Yes. Lady Danbury has taken us under her wing. We have a mutual connection with Simon (The Duke) and I think she is excited about what the Mondrich’s can bring to the table.
 
Bridgerton’s diverse casting, although successful has been a huge topic of conversation since the first season. Do you think it has changed, or at least expanded the industry’s approach and audiences’ acceptance of black actors in roles outside of the usual stereotypes?

Yes. I mean, look at the queen! I think Shondaland is doing a wonderful job of increasing visibility each season across the board with racial diversity, sexual orientation and those who are differently abled. I’ve read many essays from actors from the generation before us who thought it was impossible to play a lead or love interest in a period/regency piece like this. Look at us now.
Do I think it’s changed the industry completely? No, but I certainly think it’s a shining example of how it can be done, the audience wants it, and how successful it can be, how enriching it is for all of us. I came in for a hair fitting at the top of season three and walked in on a workshop about different hair types, how they react to heat, curl patterns, how to get better definition in 4C curls and how that’s different to 2B. I thought “YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!”

You have also worked extensively on stage, as an actor, what’s more exposing, walking onto the stage opening night at the National Theatre or onto a big-budget Netflix set for the first time?

Highs, lows, solutions (tell us the high points, any obstacles to getting the project completed and how you resolved the obstacles)…

Big Budget Netflix for sure. I trained in theatre and then did years of it. You have the cushion of weeks or months of having the script beforehand, 4-5 weeks of rehearsals, bonding with the cast, time to mess up, make mistakes, and get to the other side. I don’t think everything rides on the press for theatre either; the performance develops every night. For screen, you have one shot. That can be pretty terrifying.

HIGH: Getting the job.
LOWS: The mental noise of actually trying to do the job. Is it enough? Is it too much? Have I understood the beats correctly? Am I living in this character yet or am I ‘acting’? Am I executing what I think I’m executing? There’s a good chunk of the project where I second-guess everything.
RESOLUTIONS: Solving the above. There’s no way through but to work, one section at a time.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU …

If not this, then what?
Probably a fitness instructor or I’d own my own well-being business.

What are you watching right now?
Baby Reindeer. Finished it in a day.

What are you reading right now?
Paradise Lost by John Milton. I recently finished Tweak by Nic Sheff and The Sellout by Paul Beatty.

What are you listening to right now?
Maverick Sabre, Kendrick Lamar and Jungle are my top listens at the moment. Other than that, many audiobooks.

The last thing you saw on stage?
Red Pitch at Soho Place – Brilliant play

What’s on your bucket list?
I love to travel. See new places. Too many destinations to list but I’ll start with Bali.

Where’s your happy place?
In a good coffee shop or the gym.

Celebrate someone else (who do you rate right now?)
Adjani Salmon is absolutely killing it right now and is an inspiration on how far your own work can take you.

Celebrate yourself … (make us proud of you):
I’m not sure!

What’s Next?
I can’t say yet but it’s a fantastic project

Where can we see your latest work?
We shot season 3 of Professor T on ITV after Bridgerton. You can catch that (and catch up if you missed previous seasons) on ITV player or Britbox

Ényì Okoronkwo is an actor, activist, and filmmaker …

Ényì has been making waves lately, especially with his recent role opposite Paapa Essiedu in The Lazarus Project for SKY. You might also recognise him from his stint as ‘James’ in the BAFTA-winning Giri/Haji on BBC One/Netflix and his appearance in Unprecedented on BBC 4.

In his latest role he plays ‘Rasselas’ in Sally Wainwright’s Renegade Nell for Disney +. The series is a thrilling mix of action and fantasy. Accused of murder, Nell Jackson and her sisters resort to survival tactics. Guided by the fearless Billy Blind, Nell discovers her destiny amidst the chaos of war-torn Europe.

We spoke to Ényì about his role

Please introduce yourself …

I’m Ényì Okoronkwo and I’m an actor from North London.

What was the [inspiration/person/moment in time] that started you on this particular career path?

I remember watching Adrian Lester in Hustle and deciding that I wanted to be an actor. I was in love with the show and it was prime time on BBC One and there was this black lead who was as smooth and as smart as anything. The career path felt like it was actually possible.

Tell us about Renegade Nell, what’s it all about?

It’s about a young woman who wants to protect her family in a male-run world.

It’s firmly rooted in the history and folklore of the time (1705). Nell finds herself caught up in the Jacobite rebellion threatening the Queen of England and battling mysterious dangerous forces conjured up by masters of the dark arts, in which many people at the time were firm believers.

Tell us about your character Rasselas and what his goals are …

Rass is a slave of the Blanchfords and his goals are justice and joy. I think he also wants the freedom to figure out what his goals might be. Dreams stay dreams as a slave and you can’t figure out where to go if you don’t know who you are.

Highs, lows, solutions …

The length of time we were filming was the high and the low! It was an education on the realities of being on set and what the work looks and feels like outside of theory. What kind of stamina you need for your craft and remembering that you are both a worker and an artist.

What are you watching?

I’m rewatching the Cell Saga from Dragon Ball Z in memory of Akira Toriyama!

What are you reading?

I’m reading the James Baldwin essay The Price of The Ticket

 What are you listening to?

I was actually listening to AwoMaa an EP by Boadi – I hope he makes an album at some point

Last thing you saw on stage?

This Might Not Be It at The Bush (The best theatre in London)

 Whose footsteps are you following in?

No one’s, I’m seeing how treading my own path goes.

 What’s next?

Some exciting stuff but I can’t quite talk about it yet

What’s your socials?

@enokoronkwo on Instagram

Renegade Nell is streaming now on Disney+

Jordan Bolger is an English actor best known for playing Isaiah Jesus for four seasons in the highly acclaimed TV series, Peaky Blinders.

Jordan’s latest role is in the new BBC drama This Town, he plays Gregory Williams, a British soldier serving in Northern Ireland at the height of The Troubles.

This Town follows a band’s formation against a backdrop of burgeoning social tensions and unrest in the 80s. It’s Knight’s latest creation following his juggernaut hits with Peaky Blinders and SAS Rogue Heroes, so expect a high-octane thriller with the undercurrent of a gritty family drama.

We spoke to Jordan about his career so far …

Please introduce yourself …

My name is Jordan Bolger, I’m 29 and currently working as an actor.

Describe your life right now in a word or a sentence …

Curation.

You decided to become an actor when and why?

I don’t think I ever made a conscious decision to be an actor, when I was around 14 I realised that a life/career in the creative/performance side of things was way more appealing to me than a job at a desk. From there, it was more about following opportunities that pushed me in that direction and stimulated that part of me. My first professional acting job was Peaky Blinders when I was 19.

Telling the people most significant to you that you were going to be an actor was like …?

It was really an evolving journey that no one could predict. They had to trust I knew the right next steps for myself. Being the first person in my family to go into the arts, there wasn’t anyone to guide me but I had a mother who believed in me and supported me in any way she could!

It seems like you’ve popped up out of nowhere. We know that for actors this is never the case, there’s always a back CV of countless small roles and unsung scenes. What was the moment for you that the industry/people really started taking notice of your talent?

I’m not sure that there’s been a gear change moment in the way the industry has responded to me and my work other than my debut in Peaky Blinders, being a new face in a fairly new show. Myself and my team have always approached my career like chess, aiming for consistency, quality and taking steps at the right time. So, while there’s buzz after projects of course my position in the industry has always felt like a pretty steady progression.

Can we talk about how impactful Peaky Blinders was to you and what it was like being a part of such an iconic series … AND (in my opinion) being a believable part of that world … considering you were one of the very few characters of colour …

Yeah, Peaky Blinders was like my drama school to a degree, being part of a cast full of unbelievably talented, seasoned actors helped me (I think) bypass some wrong turns, in that it felt like I had so many moments to hear about their journeys and learnings … so I listened and paid attention.

Okay so now This Town, who do you play, what’s their position in the World of This Town and what’s your character’s ultimate goal?

I play Gregory Williams, older brother, and partial wild card whose goal, I think, is to stop having to fight the world and find some harmony in life for himself and his loved ones.

Where does this series and role find you on your career journey?

It’s a very full circle moment being 10 years from my first job which was also written by the same writer as This Town, Steven Knight. And the progress I’ve made in my career next to the position of this character Gregory and the content I get to play with … I think I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

Any highs, lows and solutions you had to deal with whilst filming This Town …

So many highs, lows and a broken foot as with most projects … maybe not the broken foot but … I think when you have chosen a project because you are passionate about the right bits (character, writing, general message) it makes it a lot easier, or maybe more determined to persist and bring your A game even when you find yourself in a hole of self-doubt and exhaustion.

It’s a jam-packed cast, who did you lean on most to get through filming?

I can’t say much without giving any spoilers but my character is a bit of a lone wolf. So while, personally, I forged beautiful relationships with my cast mates, a lot of my prep and shooting time felt pretty isolated. Myself and Nicholas Pinnock became very close and actually went straight on to a feature film together called Heavy Weight, a boxing movie looking at the 80 or so minutes before my character’s (Derek) biggest fight of his life.

Without spoilers, what’s your favourite moment in This Town?

Episode 3 … ”Welcome Home Virgil”

GETTING TO KNOW YOU …

If not this, then what?

Maybe a gym instructor, but honestly all I know is that if I hadn’t left Coventry and ended up on this journey my life would have been very different

What are you watching right now?

Three Body Problem

What are you reading right now?

The Tools Stutz

The last thing you saw on stage?

For black boys who have considered suicide…

What’s on your bucket list?

Japan

Where’s your happy place?

Jamaica

Celebrate someone else …

‘Minor Formula’ a clothing brand from Birmingham started by my brothers from young days. Clean hearts, Cold clothes.

Celebrate yourself …

I struggle to do that as many others do… but I’m well on my way to where I know I can get to.

Whose footsteps are you following in?

No one springs to mind to say I’m following in their footsteps, but I would like to acknowledge that without other actors and artists of colour achieving what they have and fighting for what they have in the years before me … this wouldn’t be possible or the journey and result could have been very different.

What’s Next?

Something unpredictable, I’m sure.

Where can we find you?

Instagram and most other platforms – Caramaka

When and where can we watch This Town?

Easter Sunday BBC1 @9pm and BBC iPlayer with the whole series from Bank Holiday Monday

Drawing from his rich experiences and a passion for storytelling, Iggy London’s latest project, Area Boy is his short film, developed at Berlinale Talents.

Starring Joshua Cameron as Eli a teenager navigating self-identity amidst conflicts between his friends, family and religion. Starring a remarkable cast also including Malcolm Kamulete and Jolade Obasola, this narrative, rooted in Iggy’s explorations of belonging and identity, highlighting his commitment to bringing complex, relatable characters to the screen we spoke to him to find out more about the inspiration behind Area Boy …

Please introduce yourself
My name is Iggy and I’m a filmmaker, artist and writer. After years of practising law and with a deep love of poetry – spoken and visual – I decided to pursue filmmaking and created the breakthrough short Velvet (2018). Drawn to capture stories that exist on the margins of society, Velvet paints a poetic and painful picture of inner-city life, death and above all hope. Across commercials, short films or music videos, I’ve tried to capture the beauty in universal truths that bind us to a sense of shared experience and humanity. Drawing out the nuance and authenticity of everyday life in a visually striking style. Passionate about creating work across different mediums, in early 2023, I wrote and edited a book, titled Mandem, including incredible writers such as Jordan Stephens, Sope Soetan, Phil Samba and Jeffrey Boakye, to name a few. I was born and raised in Newham, East London and I’m originally from Nigeria.

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …
“Naija boy just trying to make work that will last a lifetime.”

Tell us about your latest project Area Boy …
Area Boy is a poetic coming-of-age story about an aimless teenager, Eli, who has moved to the outer edges of a provincial town with his mother. As he settles in, he tries to escape the bleakness of life and navigating questions of self-identity, by balancing his time between his delinquent friends and the church community. Torn between two worlds, Eli must find himself and embrace who he truly is. It tackles the conflict that comes with honouring the rules of a person’s chosen religion and navigating life and its many pitfalls and temptations whilst trying to have fun and evolve. A lot to deal with when you’re young and black. At the heart of it lies a strong desire to challenge the idea of holy or not holy; wrong or right. I want to create worlds which hold a mirror up to society and create empathy through storytelling, capturing life as it happens rather than exaggerated ideas of reality. The dynamic between mother and son is an extremely interesting one. Within typical African cultures, the children are rarely taught to challenge their parent’s ideologies – it is considered disobedience. Area Boys seeks to showcase a young man who is forced to consider what he truly believes for himself versus conforming to the life his mother wants for him. Without resorting to clichés or caricatures the film watches patiently, gently, as Eli struggles to find his specific path in life. Our audience will see how it unfolds the way life does.

What’s your role on it?
Filmmaker

How Area Boy come to exist?
The film is inspired by my experience in the midlands and north England while I was studying there. There was something incredibly beautiful yet sad about some of the places and people that I visited; so much so that I wanted to investigate further. Whilst many short films are set in London and overly glamorise the capital, I wanted to capture that tonal quality of an existence that falls out of city life, which audiences rarely see.

Highs, lows, solutions …
The highlight was being able to work with such an incredible cast. Working with Joshua Cameron, who played Eli, was great. He was able to provide such a sensibility to the character that wasn’t so obvious in the script. Malcolm Kamulete is also an incredible actor. We wanted Area Boy to feel very distinct – a stylised but truthful approach – and it couldn’t have been without such an incredible crew. The lowlight was probably not being able to shoot for more than four days. It was a dream project; shooting on 16mm with Zeiss High Speeds, large cast and many different locations. I would have loved to have more time on set. There weren’t really any obstacles, which I’m super happy about.

You edited and contributed to the anthology book of short stories and poetry Mandem – what’s happening post-publishing… Do you plan to do more books?
I definitely plan to do more books, right after I start finishing these scripts. I start but never finish them.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

If not this, then what?
I would have been an actor or worked in musical theatre.

What are you watching right now?
Mr and Mrs Smith on Amazon Prime. It’s insane.

What are you reading right now?
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

What are you listening to right now?
Women’s Touch by Yussef Dayes ft. Jamilah Barry

The last thing you saw on stage?
Lennie James and Paapa Essiedu in, A Number.

What’s on your bucket list?
To direct a music video/art film for Erkyah Badu.

Where’s your happy place?
At home.

Celebrate someone else …
Celebrating Adjani Salmon for bagging a second series of Dreaming Whilst Black.

Celebrate yourself …
Area Boy made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, which is low-key wild.

Whose footsteps are you following in?
Donald Glover’s footsteps.

What’s Next?
I’m currently writing a new film project, which I’m excited to share.

Where can we find you?
Instagram: @iggylondon
Twitter: @iggyldn
Website: www.iggylondon.com

Where can we see Area Boy?
Coming soon to Nowness

Duayne Boachie is an actor and comedian …

He is best known for his role as Zach Loveday in Hollyoaks.

His latest role is in The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, Dick Turpin sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde.

We spoke to Duayne who play the character Honest Courage …

Please introduce yourself …
My names Duayne Boachie I’m a British Actor of Ghanaian heritage

What was the inspiration that started you on this particular career path?
I’ve wanted to be an actor from about the age of 11.. I grew up on shows like Fresh Prince, My Wife and Kids, Kerching and was a big comic book/Marvel fan. I always felt like it was something I could definitely see myself doing.

It was my primary school drama teacher that kick started it off for me by casting me in the end of school play Grease where I played the lead character Danny. My potential then got spotted by a man called Richard Reid who owns a drama company called Black Arts Production (BAP) in North London. He further taught me, guided, encouraged and became a real mentor to me on my journey.

Who’s your character in Dick Turpin and what are your character’s goals?
The character I play is Honesty Courage. He is a loyal highwayman to his leader Dick Turpin and his gang. He’s not the smartest of the group but he has a unique way of thinking. I personally think he’s a genius haha.

The fact that I was in the presence of such experienced comedic actors was a privilege. It was really fun to be on set. And definitely a highlight to be in and amongst so many greats.

Highs, lows, solutions…
One of the challenges was my character’s costume. Firstly, I’d like to start by saying I absolutely LOVED his costume. It was giving Robin Hood/Ninja Turtles mixed with Assassins Creed and a splash of my own current culture lol. I felt like an action hero. HOWEVER, to be sleeveless, in the middle of the night, filming in Epping Forest, the day before snow!!! Was absolute torture.

What are you watching?
I’m currently watching an anime called Avatar Last Airbender and I’m slowly becoming an anime fan. I started watching My Hero Academia and I haven’t looked back.

What are you reading?
I’m currently reading the book of proverbs in the Bible. I haven’t actually read the whole bible yet so it’s definitely on my to do list. But the wisdom in proverbs is ace.

What are you listening to?
I listen to a whole range of music so it’s almost impossible to give a specific song or genre. If I hear something I like I just add it to my playlist which is ALWAYS on shuffle, keeps me excited. I just had a look and the last song I added was Redemption Song (Bob Marley).

Last thing you saw on stage?
The last play I watched was called A Mirror starring Michael Ward which I absolutely loved! Its currently showing again starring Samuel Adewunmi at Trafalgar Theatre so I’m definitely due to watch it again.

Whose footsteps are you following in?
I wouldn’t say I’m aiming to follow in anyone’s specific footsteps. I’m very dedicated to trusting my journey and becoming the best version of myself that I possibly can. But I get inspired and influenced by so many actors that the list is endless! For example, my current character Honesty is heavily influenced by an actor called Kel Mitchel with his portrayal of Kel in an old sitcom called Kenan and Kel.

What’s next?
I’m looking to tackle a bit of theatre next as I’ve always wanted to come back to the stage. I’m also in a Netflix show coming out this summer.

What’s your socials?
Social media is DuayneBoa on all platforms

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin, is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

Gassed up to be talking to up and coming homegrown talent!

TBB was invited to sit down for a one to one via Zoom with Stephen Odubola, who takes the lead in award-winning documentary maker, George Amponsah’s first feature film, Gassed Up.

Sam: How you doing?

Stephen: Not bad brother, and you?

Sam: Not too bad. I’m glad I was able to jump in for Whelan because I’m a big fan still …

Stephen: That’s love man, that’s love.

Sam: So, Stephen, how are you first and foremost?

Stephen: I’m good man. I’m happy. I’m internally happy. Happy to be promoting Gassed Up. It’s been a journey but you know … How are you?

Sam: I’m good thank you for asking. So Gassed Up won the Audience Award at the London Film Festival last year, congratulations on that. What was it like, bringing a story, some would call urban, to a different environment used to a different niche of film?

Stephen: It was good man. When I first started working on films, I definitely didn’t want to be a part of movies which were just urban, and ghetto, because they ain’t really doing nothing for the community. But with Gassed Up, I love how it touches on friends, family, loyalty and a message for the youth. There’s a lot of relatable themes in there. When I was younger, I could see, Ash – who is played by myself, I could see a lot of myself in him. He is influenced by his friends a lot and just wants to seem like the guy, he wants to seem like the main character, but it’s not until shit gets real that he starts realising what’s important. And you know, with all the opportunities that are presented around him, he’s still the stubborn teenager who wants to do what’s cool at the time, up until the point shit gets real. That was important to me, I just wanted to put that message out there for the youth.

Sam: The director (George Amponsah) is known for being a documentary filmmaker, so in terms of realism this is said to have a documentary-style feel. Was that part of the filmmaking process from him in terms of his direction?

Stephen: George has come from a documentary background where things are just authentic and I think he wanted us to bring that authenticity to it because he’s way older than us and obviously can’t relate to young boys doing the things that we’re doing in the movie. His type of direction was rather than telling us what to do, he asked us questions. So if there was a moment where Ash would be angry, or it was an emotional scene, he would give me the premise and the context of what had just happened and he would be like “this just happened, this is a big moment for Ash, how would he react in a scene?”, and it just allowed us to get into the character more, and become the character. It was just more authentic that way.

Sam: Was the dialogue very naturalistic or was it all very “This is what is written down and this is what we want portrayed on the screen?” How much leeway were you given?

Stephen: We had the script as a base on the final day but when it came to set, for example, the party scene, you can’t really stick to the script. Obviously, the script is there to give you guidance but when you’re in a party scene, you might notice something that’s happening that you have to be reactive to what’s going on even with the direction. There’s a scene where Craige (who plays Roach) gets slapped because he did something inappropriate in one of the party scenes and I just burst out laughing, but it’s something that would happen in the moment you know and we kinda just flowed on from that; there’s a lot of free leeway moments.

Sam: You were in Blue Story and there’s been a few surface level comparisons to Gassed Up, even though you are playing very different characters in the film. We don’t see too many young black men from inner city London represented apart from when filmmakers like George are directing. How important is it for you to reflect some humanity in these characters when you’re portraying them?

Stephen: It’s so important because I need people that look like me that are young; older watching black faces on the screen to be able to relate, and to potentially see themselves on there, because we’re telling real stories and we’re trying to give a positive message. We’re not out here glorifying everything. When I started acting I didn’t really see much black UK faces on screen, so I just felt honoured to now to be one of those faces and to be somebody that people are looking at and being like “cool I can relate to this guy’s stories that he’s telling”. I’m very appreciative of that.

Sam: Gassed Up seems to paint the picture that decisions can affect a person’s life even at a very young age for the rest of their lives. So, in terms of your personal experience, and where you come from and how you grew up, did you have any similar experiences that informed how you portrayed Ash, because I’m sure you, like myself, have stories where you could have gone left …

Stephen: Yeah man sometimes I put it down to luck but I can only thank God. Coming from the ‘ends’, in South London, it’s not easy. There’s a lot of things that you’re influenced by, whether that be gangs, or everything around you. I definitely could have been more involved in what was going on around me, but luckily, for me, I had my older brother, who had been in that position before me, who was able to give me that tough love guidance to steer me away, because I definitely wasn’t the best behaved kid, I’ll just say that. But it’s easy to get sucked in and I always think it takes an external influence to drive you away from that. For me, it was my older brother, but for some people, it might be this movie to say, “Ah you know what? This is what I was experiencing, this is how it went like for them, I’ll probably learn something off that”, so that’s why it’s important man.

Sam: One final question that the Editor has asked me to ask you … When was the last time you were super gassed?

Stephen: Damn, I mean I wake up in the morning every day and I’m gassed man, I’m gassed off life. Life is going on a roll. Obviously, we have our downtimes, but it’s easy to forget how grateful I am to be in this position. So a lot of the times I wake up, I’m gassed bro, but I’m excited for what the day brings. I’m trying to live now, I’m not trying to live in the past, and I’m not trying to focus on the future. Now is what matters. Yeah man, I’m gassed, I’m gassed now.

Sam: Thank you for speaking to us.

Stephen: Thank you, brother, take it easy.

Gassed Up is in UK cinemas now

Cora Kirk is a British actor with her career spanning across Film, TV and Theatre.

This year, Cora portrayed the character Freya Netflix’s After Everything. In 2022, Cora also starred in film Prey For The Devil. Her television credits include British drama Granchester (ITV), Vera (ITV), Father Brown (BBC) and Midsomer Murders (ITV).

Her stage work includes Of All The Beautiful Things In The World (Home Manchester), A Monster Calls (Old Vic/Bristol Old Vic), Peter Pan (National Theatre) and more.

Well-known for her lead role as Hayley in festive rom com Your Christmas Or Mine on Prime Video. We spoke to Cora about her role …

Please introduce yourself …

My name is Cora Kirk, I’m an actor & creative soul originally from Oldham, Manchester but currently living in East London.

Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …

Full & thriving!

What started you on this particular career path?

When I was younger both my parents worked in set design in the industry so I grew up surrounded by amazing artists and creatives – naturally seeing and absorbing that joy and passion for the arts from a young age was what sparked and nurtured my creativity.

Tell us about Your Christmas or Mine 2 and working with the cast again?

Your Christmas Or Mine 2 follows young couple Hayley (me) and James, who are gearing up for their second Christmas as a couple. And that can only mean one thing … more mayhem with the Taylor and Hughes families. As a cast we have such a loving and fun dynamic, & we love that that can be seen on screen too – Angela Griffin has always been one of my acting icons, and since working together, she’s become such an amazing mentor and friend.

How did you feel when you got the part of Hayley and how has her character developed from the first film?

My heart was the fullest it’s ever been – the audition process was so long, and whilst it was fun, I knew that this would be a big turning point for me, and I didn’t want to let myself down by not going all the way to get the role. I’ve been so lucky this year to have such an incredible production team around me to aid in Hayley’s development – Jessie Fell, our incredible costume designer, and I sent mood boards back and forth to discuss how Hayley’s style has evolved and I was allowed so much creative input when picking out the wardrobe; Sjann Gillings, our fabulous hair and make-up designer, made me and my curls feel so safe and was so open to discussing how to find Hayley’s hairstyles whilst honouring how I knew my hair liked to be styled; & of course Tom Parry (the writer), Jim O’Hanlon (the director) and my incredible cast all contributed in where we find Hayley in this film.

GETTING TO KNOW …

What’s made you Sad, Mad, Glad this week?

Is it a cop out to say nothing has really made me sad this week – I’m feeling super grateful & blessed & 2024 is going to be an amazing year, fingers crossed.
I’m mad at myself because I’ve come down with a winter cold – too much Bailey’s hot chocolate and not enough Vitamin C!
I’m glad for the people I have around me at the moment – I’ve had some big changes in my life recently, and the people I love have really proven that they’re the crème de la crème of friends, and I’m so glad to be surrounded by such love and support.

What are you watching?

I’m re-watching The Last of Us, because it’s one of the most gripping series’ ever, I still need to watch Saltburn, and of course I’m binging every Christmas film possible.

What are you reading?

I’m devouring Tomorrrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.

What are you listening to?

I just checked & the last song I was listening to on Spotify was Rambling Man by Laura Marling.

Last thing you saw on stage?

Romeo and Juliet at The Royal Exchange in Manchester – big up, Conor Glean!

What’s on your bucket list?

Too many things to list! A dream bucket list scenario is to do a play at the National Theatre, so let’s manifest that for 2024.

Where’s your happy place?

At a handmade wooden table, eating lovingly homemade mushroom ramen & listening to jazz music.

Whose footsteps are you following in?

All of the amazing northern creatives that have come before me inspire me, but I’d like to think I’m carving out my own unique path.

What’s next?

I start filming a new comedy-drama in Manchester in early 2024, & I’m very excited to be working alongside a stellar cast as well as being back in my hometown.

Where can we find you?

I’m @corajkirk on Instagram!

Where can we see you next?

You will be seeing me this festive season in the VERA Christmas special The Rising Tide on ITV, and you can watch Your Christmas or Mine 1 & 2 on Prime Video UK now.

Your Christmas or Mine 2 is available exclusively on Prime Video

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

Chantelle Ampomah Aboraah is a talented writer and director hailing from Essex.

Her debut short film “NIA,” funded by the BBC showcased at the Aesthetica Film Festival, and delves into a powerful narrative inspired by a true story close to her heart. The film, centrered around self-discovery and forgiveness, tells the compelling story of a young woman seeking to find something she never had after her grandmother’s passing – her mother.

Chantelle, who has worked on notable projects like the Disney+ TV series “Culprits” and BBC’s “EastEnders,” opens up about the significance of this heartfelt project …

Please introduce yourself …

Chantelle Ampomah Aboraah – a writer/director (and script editor) from Essex.

What or who started you on this particular career path?

When I was 8 years old and I watched Moulin Rouge (directed by Baz Luhrmann) for the first time.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently a script editor/storyliner on Eastenders. But writing a family driven comedy-drama series in between.

Tell us about your short film NIA …

After the death of her grandmother, a young woman embarks on a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness, to find something she never had, her mother. NIA is a true story inspired by my niece, who has been estranged from her mother since she was 4 years old. My mother (my niece’s grandmother) has been raising her ever since. I started writing this film because I wanted to explore the complexities and contradictions of being black and growing up in a white environment – and by extension, the profound connection we share as a human race with our identity. In my niece’s experience, I began to notice her struggling with the same challenges and internal conflict about appearance, identity, and her blackness, that I found myself facing – as I was raised in the same white, countryside town. There is an endless battle that takes place of confusion, surrounding self-acceptance, and feeling very alien.

Tell us about your team on NIA …

I was truly blessed with an incredible crew. My producer, Martina Russo, never gave up on trying to make my vision a reality – even when it felt impossible and yet she made it happen. My executive producers, Sheila Nortley and Leon Mayne have taught me a lot, particularly the business side of filmmaking, which can be a struggle for new filmmakers. My DOP, Jasper Enujuba, brought the film to life in a way that was even more beautiful than how I imagined it in my mind. And of course, my leading lady, Priscilla Fagbemi – who is going places let me tell you. Her dedication to the character and the work she put in to understand Nia’s trauma is what a director dreams of.

What has NIA taught you about yourself as a filmmaker and a person?

As a person, I’m a perfectionist but as a filmmaker trying to achieve perfection… it’s not possible. There will always be something you wish you could do differently, or change, or edit a scene in a different way. The lesson is knowing when to stop. When it comes to your own creativity, I’m not sure perfection exists…

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

What are you watching? This Is Us, Westworld.

What are you reading? Creating Character Arcs: The Masterful Author’s Guide to Uniting Story Structure, Plot, and Character Development Book by K. M. Weiland, Eastenders scripts, the Bible.

What are you listening to? Scarlet by Doja Cat.

Last thing you saw on stage? Tina: The musical. It was phenomenal.

Whose footsteps are you following in? Steve McQueen? One can dream.

What’s next? Make another short, and get the pilot I’m writing commissioned.

What’s your socials?
IG: @chantelleaboraah @bbcnia (film page)

NIA will be available on BBC iPlayer early 2024.

BAFTA Breakthrough is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this year … and we speak to some of the UK Breakthroughs …

BAFTA has revealed the 32 creatives from across the UK and US selected for BAFTA Breakthrough 2023 . BAFTA Breakthrough is the arts charity’s flagship talent initiative that provides a springboard to creatives in film, games and TV, Breakthrough participants receive unique professional development support from BAFTA – from coaching and mentoring to networking opportunities with BAFTA’s global membership of key industry figures. 

The programme has supported over 200 people to date across the UK, US and India, which is a testament to its continued success and massive impact. Many alumni have gone on to develop their own feature films, games, and television series, earning significant industry recognition and acclaim, and even securing their own BAFTA wins and nominations.

The 2023 Breakthrough UK jury comprised of leading cross-industry figures led by BAFTA sector committee chairs and members including Ade Rawcliffe, Sara Putt, Emily Stillman, Emma Morgan, and Anisa Sanusi in the UK.

TBB spoke to the following UK based BAFTA Breakthroughs:

TBB Talks To … Raine Allen-Miller | Director 
Breakthrough credit: Debut Film – Rye Lane

“I struggle with anxiety and depression, it’s hard to manage sometimes, especially when things are busy. I do CBT therapy which has helped me a lot, I also don’t use Instagram as much anymore which has honestly been a game changer. I try very hard not to work on the weekends, even though my work is my hobby and my life, I need to have space from it, that has helped me a lot and I think I am a better filmmaker when I do this.“

Read Raine Allen-Miller’s full interview here.

TBB Talks To … Adjani Salmon – Writer / Performer / Exec Producer
Breakthrough Credit: Dreaming Whilst Black

“I became a hyphenate out of necessity. I wanted to become a director. I wrote because I needed scripts to direct. I acted because I couldn’t afford actors to say the lines in my script. I fell in love with the other elements (writing and actors) as I love storytelling and all those roles are storytelling skills.“

Read Adjani Salmon’s full interview here.

TBB Talks To … Cynthia De La Rosa – Hair & Makeup Artist 
Breakthrough Credit: Everyone Else Burns

“I am a Hair and Makeup designer because I think that it is one of the most important forms of storytelling- and one of the most underrated as well. I am a true believer that whatever is going on on the inside of a person/character, projects itself on their outsides. Our craft is often so subtle but often immediately informs the audience about how a character is feeling, how they are living, and what a character’s socioeconomic status is. Not only does our work influence an audience’s perception of a character, but it is an important tool for the actor, and can have a profound effect on how well an actor feels in order to do their role.“

Read Cynthia De La Rosa’s full interview here.

TBB Talks To … Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson – Writer / Director / Presenter
Breakthrough Credit: Too Autistic For Black

“It definitely feels like marking a milestone in terms of how far along I’ve come in my career. I’m hoping to develop both personally and professionally by soaking up as much information as possible, making the most of opportunities and using this time to network with other industry pro’s in the cohort as well as those associated with BAFTA and the breakthrough initiative.“

Read Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson’s full interview here.

TBB Talkst To … Funmi Olutoye – Lead Producer
Breakthrough Credit:Black History Makers

“I know the power the media has to shape public opinion and to be “edutainment”. Because of this, it means you have the ability and privilege to really spread light and positivity into the world. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.“

Read Funmi Olutoye’s full interview here.

The full list of this year’s BAFTA Breakthroughs is as follows:
UK Breakthroughs 

• Bella Ramsey (they / them) | Performer – The Last of Us
• Vivian Oparah (she / her) | Performer – Rye Lane
• Raine Allen-Miller (she / her) | Director – Rye Lane
• Charlotte Regan (she / her) | Writer / Director – Scrapper
• Adjani Salmon (he / him) | Writer / Performer / Exec Producer – Dreaming Whilst Black
• Cash Carraway (she / her) | Creator / Writer / Exec Producer – Rain Dogs
• Pete Jackson (he / him) | Writer / Creator – Somewhere Boy
• Rosy McEwen (she / her) | Performer – Blue Jean
• Georgia Oakley (she / her) | Writer / Director – Blue Jean
• Kat Morgan (she / her) | Hair & Makeup Designer – Blue Jean
• Kathryn Ferguson (she / her) | Writer / Director – Nothing Compares
• Talisha ‘Tee Cee’ Johnson (she / her) | Writer / Director / Presenter – Too Autistic For Black
• Funmi Olutoye (she / her) | Lead Producer – Black History Makers
• Ella Glendining (she / her) | Director – Is There Anybody Out There?
• Cynthia de la Rosa (she / her) | Hair & Makeup Artist – Everyone Else Burns
• Holly Reddaway (she / they) | Lead Voice Director – Bandai Namco
• Joel Beardshaw (he / they) | Lead Designer – Desta: The Memories Between
• Michael Anderson (he / him) | Producer – Desta: The Memories Between
• Samantha Béart (she / they) | Performer – The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow
• Kitt (Fiona) Burn (she / her) | 2D Artist / Game Designer – Gibbon: Beyond the Trees

• US Breakthroughs

• Aminah Nieves | Performer -1923
• Jingyi Shao | Writer / Director – Chang Can Dunk
• Cheyenne Morrin | Senior Games Writer – Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Sing J Lee | Writer / Director – The Accidental Getaway Driver
• Vuk Lungulov-Klotz | Writer / Director – Mutt
• Shelly Yo | Writer / Director – Smoking Tigers
• Edward Buckles Jr | Documentary Director – Katrina Babies
• Amanda Kim | Documentary Director – Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV
• Maria Altamirano | Producer – All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
• Apoorva Charan | Producer – Joyland
• Santiago Gonzalez | Cinematographer – Shortcomings
• Gary Gunn | Composer – A Thousand and One

BAFTA Breakthrough is supported by Netflix. For more information about BAFTA BREAKTHROUGH 2023 go to the BAFTA website here