Daniel Kaluuya Says Ashley Walters Inspired Him to Become an Actor Despite Being ‘Sidelined’ by the Industry: ‘You Get Defined by Your Mistakes, Especially if You’re Black’

As an admirer, I find Daniel Kaluuya‘s journey in the world of cinema truly inspiring. His humility and appreciation for those who paved the way for him are commendable. The story of seeing Ashley Walters on a magazine cover in a supermarket is a powerful testament to the impact of representation and its role in fostering belief and aspirations.

On Wednesday during the kick-off of the BFI London Film Festival, Daniel Kaluuya shared insights about the initial stages of his acting career in a Screen Talk session.

To his fellow actor and good friend Ashley Walters (known for “Top Boy,” “Bulletproof,” and “Get Rich or Die Tryin'”), the Oscar-winning individual graciously acknowledged, expressing appreciation to the Screen Talk host who had been a significant inspiration during his early days in the mid-2000s.

While browsing through magazines at the supermarket, Kaluuya remarked that spotting Walters’ face on the cover was the moment when he truly felt it was possible… He exclaimed, “Wow, he looks just like me!

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but acknowledge the incredible talent and recognition Chalamet currently enjoys in Hollywood – with his recent star on the Walk of Fame in LA being a testament to this. However, it was the inspiring work and achievements of Sir Ian McKellen that truly ignited my dreams of becoming an actor. I felt he had been somewhat overlooked by the industry, not receiving the recognition he deserved for his remarkable contributions to cinema.

He expressed that they haven’t truly appreciated your artistry and accomplishments, including the difficulty involved, he added emphatically. He emphasized this point because, unfortunately, when one makes mistakes in life, especially if you are Black, people often remember those mistakes more than your achievements. Your work is rarely recognized for its merit if a mistake has been made.

Years later, Kaluuya revealed that watching Benicio Del Toro act on the set of “Sicario” significantly influenced his acting style, especially in terms of how he handled dialogue. Instead of reciting lines from the script, Del Toro often omitted them, choosing instead to convey his character’s emotions physically. He explained this by saying, “He was always cutting, cutting, cutting, and then said, ‘I can demonstrate it for you.’

Kaluuya shared that he attempted the action depicted in a particular scene at the director’s request, which excited Denis Villeneuve greatly. However, upon rewatching it on-screen later, he expressed surprise and admiration, stating, “I was truly amazed by what [Del Toro] accomplished.

A significant influence on actor Daniel Kaluuya’s career was the late Chadwick Boseman, who provided valuable guidance during the filming of “Black Panther.” As Kaluuya’s major Hollywood breakout, “Get Out,” was about to be released, Boseman noticed that his life was undergoing a dramatic transformation and offered advice. Before Kaluuya had even secured a publicist, Boseman helped him navigate the industry by sharing tips on what to say and what not to say, thus offering crucial support.

Last year, Steven Kaluuya unveiled his first directorial project, “The Kitchen,” as the closing night feature of the London Film Festival. Collaborating with Kibwe Tavares, he also co-directed this sci-fi drama and jointly penned the script with Joe Murtagh. The film was met with mostly favorable criticisms upon its premiere and was made available on Netflix in January.

Following his debut in Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” in 2017, Daniel Kaluuya has since appeared in Marvel’s “Black Panther”, Shaka King’s “Judas and the Black Messiah”, earning him an Oscar for best supporting actor, and most recently in Peele’s latest film “Nope”. He also voiced Spider-Punk in 2023’s superhero sequel “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”, a role he is set to reprise again in the franchise’s upcoming third installment, titled “Beyond the Spider-Verse”.

Previously, Kaluuya has been linked to co-produce a feature film with Mattel Films regarding the children’s series “Barney & Friends”, dating back to 2019. Last year, development on the movie was ongoing, as Kevin McKeon from Mattel Films shared with The New Yorker that the script bears resemblance to an A24 production and features elements found in the surrealistic films of Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jonze.

At the time, McKeon emphasized that the show was more centered around the struggles of Millennials in terms of property ownership, rather than making it suitable for children. Essentially, it’s aimed at adults, though it won’t be rated R. The storyline will explore some of the challenges faced by people in their 30s who grew up with Barney, focusing on the sense of disappointment within their generation.

2024-10-09 15:46

Daniel Kaluuya Says Ashley Walters Inspired Him to Become an Actor Despite Being ‘Sidelined’ by the Industry: ‘You Get Defined by Your Mistakes, Especially if You’re Black’

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