Stephen Odubola: Reflections on the UK acting scene and his new role in Boiling Point, representation and knowing how to pivot.
Actor, writer and director Stephen Odubola speaks with Blk Brit discussing the UK acting scene, inspiration, aspirations and the importance of balance and representation. His dedication and talent are unmistakable through his work and journey thus far, a testament to determination bearing fruit. With a beautiful humility but self-knowledge of greatness, Stevie is surely one to watch.
Expanding his range in his most recent projects, Boiling Point series aired on BBC One Sunday 1st October and is available on BBC iPlayer. Gassed Up screenings run from Tuesday 10th October as part of the BFI London Film Festival.
You’re a new addition to the Boiling Point team- what gripped you about your character role Johnny?
For me, Johnny was the most different character I’ve played, so it was more of an opportunity to further expand my acting ability because every character I’ve played before that has been kinda like, not the same, but similar in a sense. And Johnny was just different, you know, he’s a newbie to the kitchen, he’s just a different character man, there’s more flavour to him there’s more range to explore Johnny.
As you mentioned it’s quite contrasting to say Timmy in Blue Story and your role in A Violent Man; both of which were great acting roles and know that you drew from different areas. What did you draw from for Johnny seeing as how it’s quite different but still bring that realism that you have in previous roles?
Most people don’t know but my first job was actually working in the hospitality box in Chelsea. I was a newbie, didn’t know what I was doing and with hospitality they kinda just throw you into the works and you have to familiarize yourself with the kitchen and how everything operates. So I kinda just used my own experience to get into the mode and the zone of Johnny being the newbie of the Boiling Point kitchen.
As your portfolio expands so does the people you get to work with and your experiences- what have you absorbed from the most recent projects?
Just the skills man, I mean, going onto Boiling Point was a very different kind of set in regard to what I’ve worked on previously. It was a very improvisational and naturalistic approach that Philip Barantini and Mounia Akl wanted us to implement in our performances. For example, we had a script and as filming went on, it was like they didn’t use the script we kind of just, we just went with the naturals of what our character would do. It was just very disciplined you know, it felt like theater, or like a live action film performance, it was different and it allowed me to broaden my skills in that sense and prove my improvisational skills. If that makes sense?
Yeah, that’s a really good approach to it because of the type of environment so freestyling in the character it gives that extra edge of realism.
I think that’s what Phil wanted, you know. I think he wanted actors that were able to improvise. In my audition process I was acting alongside another actor who was (laughs) just throwing curveballs at me. And what Phil didn’t want was an actor that would be, ‘Oh flip, sorry, you caught me off guard can we start again,’ he wanted someone to run with it and that’s what we did alongside all the other new additions like Shaun Fagan, Missy Haysom.
On the flip side, you act alongside Taz Skyler in both upcoming projects Boiling Point and the film Gassed Up, also soon to be released. Is it good getting to work alongside some of the same people across different productions?
Definitely! I mean it’s like, it’s the same vibe because you obviously know each other but just different work and it’s always good to just keep the relationship going in different projects man. It’s just nice seeing other people on different productions. I mean we’ve worked together [Taz] because of Hester Ruoff, one of the Executive Producers of both Gassed Up and Boiling Point, so just keep the family close and they use a lot of the same people… And me being the newbie like obviously just going in I feel like the new kid at school so it’s good to see a familiar face. Like going into secondary school and you don’t know nobody but then that one person from your primary school is like, ‘Ah shit, we’re in the same class!’ (both laugh)
A lot of artists get nervous going on stage- is it similar with acting for auditions or on set?
I think in the earlier stages of my career that might have been the case because it’s like you’re not as confident. But I think as time goes on and the more sets you go on you’re kinda just seeing it as another step on the ladder, it’s just the normality. I’ve done so many auditions, hundreds of auditions, obviously didn’t all go my way but it’s part of the works man, you’ve gotta be tough and hard-headed in that sense of just going in and doing the work. And the more prepared you are, is the more confident you are.
Do you feel a variety of authentic Black experiences outside of street culture are being reflected in productions and what types of roles or representations would you like to see more of?
I feel like if we’re talking about Britain I feel like we’re on the way up. I feel like there’s a lot more inclusion and diversity now for Black stories that are being told. For example we’ve got Dreaming Whilst Black now and that highlights a lot of Black experiences across the board. I mean, back then you only used to really see street culture and that’s not all Black stories are about. So it’s good to see different projects like Riches on Amazon Prime and all these things coming to light and I feel like it can only get better really.
Is expanding your work internationally in your interest for future projects?
Definitely, I mean, I want my work to be seen worldwide and obviously Britain's got its own audience but as far as taking my career further going to the States is something that’s on my bucket list (laughs). I wanna work abroad and just gotta sharpen the accent… I don’t want to be typecast. I want to work in different things that’s going to challenge me so when the right opportunity comes along and can make it work, yeah, I’m all for it.
In light of the US industry strikes, what would you like to see more of and less of in the UK film industry?
I know we’re still evolving but I’d definitely like to see more diversity and more stories being told from different cultures. Because at the end of the day we’re in a multicultural country and I don’t feel like it's fully represented and I don’t necessarily mean just the Black stories, I mean I feel like there’s a lot of Asian that can be told and Hispanic, there’s a big culture of them in London, I’d love to see more of those things. Less of, I’m not really complaining. I just want to see more stories being told.
How important is it as an actor to stick to your boundaries with the brand that you’re building and balancing that with the competitiveness of the industry?
Do you know what, that’s always a question I am asking myself man, and sometimes you wanna do things because... like before Blue Story came, I mean I’d do anything (both laugh) just to put myself on the map. As time goes on, you kinda get an idea of what you wanna be doing and what projects you’re gonna be involved in and messages you wanna put out. So after doing a couple of urban roles, my initial thought process of getting involved with those (roles) was to put a message out to the youth because I’d obviously been in a position where a lot of the roles I’ve played in I’ve kinda seen myself in before. For example in Blue Story I was a young boy in school that kinda did get caught up in that world but then it takes external factors to take you out of that world. For me, it was my older brother who kinda just spoke to me and made me see life in a different way. But going forward, I just wanna be involved with stories that people can relate to and take something away from my performance.
With recognition there’s an increasing number of movements by Black people to acknowledge ourselves rather than just waiting on mainstream like the Guap Gala earlier this month. Do you feel a sense of collaboration and community growth among Black British creatives?
Definitely, I feel like with the help of social media there’s more a sense of togetherness. I love things like the Guap Gala and even fashion shows; like on the weekend I went to the Labrum fashion show, shoutout to Lauren! It was good to see a brand that’s owned by an immigrant really and he goes by that theme a lot and has achieved so much. It was just good to see a lot of Black faces in those places because we’ve evolved, and I don’t wanna always say, ‘Oh we don’t usually see those things,’ but the truth is we never used to and I feel like we’re just in space where it’s becoming more common, which is definitely a good thing. Yean man, I’m loving the togetherness and like I said with the Black stories stuff, I feel like it can only get better, you know.
Make it stand out
Being in the public eye and as your following grows how do you feel about balancing privacy and things like negative press?
I mean... I’m just cutting through man (laughs) I’m just doing me. I don’t get caught up in no badness you’ve just gotta move smart and accordingly to how things can get perceived if that makes sense? You kind of know as things start to progress in your life you kind of just know how to move.
You stated in a previous interview that your dad is your icon which is beautiful to hear. What makes him your icon?
Ahh, my dad is a legend man. My dad is a very hard-working man, I mean he came into this country with nothing and just kinda worked and worked. If it wasn't for him, I don’t think I would have progressed in my acting because there’s been a lot of things that I’ve thought about getting into but I’ve just never kind of followed through. But I remember around the first times I wanted to get into acting I’ve told my dad and he’s thought ahh, this kid man he’s going through another phase but because I wasn’t the best behaved kid I think he kinda just saw like you know what, if there’s anything that he’s going to keep his mind to let me be a part of that and he helped fund my drama school when I was sixteen. It’s one of the reasons why I stuck to pursuing this career and yeah man, he’s a legend for that. He didn’t come from a rich background, any money he had he had to take care of us for the shopping, the bills so for him to do that and fund my drama school which was not cheap it meant a lot man. It’s made me think when I’ve got kids regardless of what money I’ve got (laughs) God willing I’m good, but if my kids have something they wanna pursue I definitely wanna be involved and invest in whatever they want to do.
What legacy do you want to leave for yourself, and lasting messages you leave through your work? Ultimately.
You know what, if I’m being very honest Charlene, I feel like I’m still figuring it out. I do know that I definitely want people to take messages away from my performance and be able to relate somehow. At the moment I feel like I’m doing a good job; with Blue Story I had a lot of messages from people saying that they’ve once been that boy and luckily, they had an external factor that brought them out of that, obviously Timmy wasn’t so lucky. But even with A Violent Man I’ve had people that’s said it’s legit how it goes in prison, you just get caught up in the system. I wish I had done more things in terms of prison reform with that campaign. But at the end of the day, I just wanna touch people with my stories man. The specifics of it I’m still figuring out, but that’s the main thing and I’m happy.
Ending on a light note, do you have any short funny stories from being on set?
Do you know what, I don’t know how this happened but for some reason on Boiling Point I think I was just the joke of the group, maybe it’s the new kid inauguration (laughs). But a lot of the times they would play pranks on me, like there was one time I walked into the greenroom and everybody was chilling. And I don’t know why I chose to sit on this seat because nobody told me, perfectly neat, pillows, everything. Everyone was talking and this loud fart noise came out of nowhere and I knew it was coming from where I was but I didn’t know how to explain it (laughs). So I was just like, ‘Guys, it wasn’t me, but I dunno how to explain it,’ but obviously it was a prank played by Ray Panthaki who’s playing Freeman and yeah, that was one of many. It makes days go by quick man, everyone’s just got banter and is cool.
Is there something that’s close to your heart that you never really get asked in interviews?
I’d appreciate it if me and just in general for other actors, if people asked how they’re doing mentally. Because I feel like this industry is very cut-throat and we do get a lot of imposter syndrome. With me anyway, coming into this industry I got rejected hundreds of times and when you finally get that role or that break you start to think because of the rejections maybe subconsciously you kind of start to think am I supposed to be here? Am I good enough? And sometimes I still do get that feeling. The thing is a lot of other actors feel the same way and I feel like that’s something no one really talks about because it’s such an internal feeling. So I’d like to see more people voice it, then there would be a more comfortable space for that conversation.
It's true, how do you navigate all the things thrown at you as well as just trying to work. Artists aren’t always given their dues for what they contribute, which is very valuable. Thank you and it was great speaking with you.