Naomi Ackie Knows She’s Good. When Will the Box Office?

As I delve into the captivating journey of Naomi Ackie, a profound sense of admiration and empathy swells within me. Her story is one that resonates deeply with many artists of color who strive for recognition and respect in an industry that often favors certain backgrounds.

On a pleasant July day in North London, I encountered actress Naomi Ackie near Angel Station. Following the customary small talk about the weather, we turned right and descended some steps onto a narrow path alongside a canal filled with houseboats. Ackie began these daily strolls during the pandemic after moving into her own place from a shared residence, yet she clarified that she’s still renting, stating modestly, “I don’t come from wealth.” While we chatted, she skillfully maneuvered around cyclists and expressed affection for adorable dogs. She expressed a deep connection to this neighborhood, mentioning, “I can’t imagine ever leaving.”

Around the same period when she landed the starring role in the music biopic “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (2020), she relocated from Tottenham to Angel. As she was gearing up for that movie, she received an opportunity to play the lead in the upcoming psychological thriller, “Blink Twice.” In the following year, she’ll be featured in Bong Joon Ho’s anticipated sci-fi production, “Mickey 17.” With a smile, she remarks, “When it pours, it really pours.”

Under the direction of Zoë Kravitz, who collaborated with E. T. Feigenbaum on the script in 2017, the film titled Blink Twice, previously known as Pussy Island, delves into the complexities of power dynamics and trauma associated with the superelite. The character portrayed by Ackie, named Frida, is a caterer who holds a secret infatuation for billionaire tech entrepreneur Slater King, played by Channing Tatum in an unsettling manner. Slater has recently faced backlash for an unspecified transgression. After being charmed by Frida and her friend Jess (Alia Shawkat) at a dinner, he invites them, along with a few others, to his private tropical paradise. The group includes a former reality TV contestant (Adria Arjona) and Slater’s manipulative right-hand man, Vic (Christian Slater). While they indulge in extravagant meals and wild parties fueled by drugs on the island, Frida eventually senses something deeply amiss.

The film “Blink Twice” is rich in feminist themes and symbolism, much like a blend of the subtle approach found in “Promising Young Woman” and the direct messaging of “Get Out”. It’s intriguing to note that this movie was developed during the year when the Me Too movement started gaining significant momentum.

Kravitz’s direction is strong, but it’s Ackie who makes the movie truly shine. From the very first scene, her face displays a vibrant range of emotions, and her eyes gleam with a chilling certainty. This performance is nothing new for Ackie, who has stolen scenes in numerous roles since she graduated from drama school in 2012.

Frida might be poised for stardom, as some have been suggesting since she was awarded the British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer in 2017 for her role as Anna in “Lady Macbeth.” She followed this up with a Best Supporting Actress BAFTA TV Award win in 2020 for her chilling portrayal of a stalker in the dark-comedy series “The End of the F***ing World.” Over the years, she’s had several opportunities that seemed set to launch her into stardom, such as her roles in the “Star Wars” franchise, the Whitney biopic, and now “Blink Twice.” Reflecting on her career progression, Frida says, “I’m still breaking through. You know what? Cool.”

Naomi Ackie Knows She’s Good. When Will the Box Office?

At the conclusion of our stroll along the canal, we make our way to a trendy restaurant-pub in London Fields. “I adore this spot,” she remarks, even though she can’t recall its name. She relaxes in her seat and requests gin-and-tonics for us both.

31-year-old Ackie hails from North London, the child of second-generation Grenadian parents who worked for the National Health Service and London’s transport authority respectively. From an early age, Ackie harbored dreams of becoming an actress: “There was no other path in my mind! It transitioned from ‘I’m a kid; I enjoy playing pretend’ to ‘I’m going to be an actress’ by around 11.” After completing college, she was accepted into the esteemed Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. The journey wasn’t straightforward; by Ackie’s final year, she was one of the few Black students remaining. Upon graduating in 2012, she took on a series of stage roles, including performances in ‘The Snow Queen’ at Greenwich Theatre and ‘Billy the Girl’ at Soho Theatre in 2013. Her small-screen debut came in 2015 with the classic British sci-fi drama ‘Doctor Who.’ In 2016, she landed her first feature film role in ‘Lady Macbeth.’ Over the years, Ackie secured smaller roles in various UK productions, such as Idris Elba’s directorial debut ‘Yardie’ in 2018 and the character Ruby in the Channel 4 comedy ‘The Bisexual’ the same year. In 2019, her career experienced a significant leap with her role as a stormtrooper in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ This was followed by appearances in season two of the critically acclaimed series ‘The End of the F***ing World’ and playing Lena Waithe’s partner in season three of ‘Master of None’ in 2021. Ackie’s ability to adapt her performances, from comedy to drama, from maids to stalkers, is a reflection of her talent.

Despite her undeniable talent and captivating appearance – reminiscent of an off-duty pop star in a white vest, pearls, blue jeans, and a gray cap perched over long braids – she’s become wary of Hollywood’s perception of her. She seldom gets offered roles as a romantic lead, she remarks. “I have large breasts, thick thighs, a wide smile with a noticeable gap, and distinctly Black features,” she jokes. In her younger years, she admits that she attempted to conform to the industry by being overly friendly and non-confrontational, but it made no difference.

Initially, Naomi Ackie envisioned a pivotal instant where her career would undergo a dramatic shift overnight, perhaps through portraying Whitney Houston. However, she admits that the experience was isolating and left her behaving “intensely in an unpleasant manner.” She had to make amends with her family for her strange behavior afterwards. The filming’s conclusion marked a six-month hiatus during which she wept daily: “There were high stakes involved for me.”

Ackie suggests that it’s more straightforward for people to recognize and appreciate talent from white individuals compared to those outside of this group. She uses the example of Austin Butler portraying Elvis and the Whitney biopic, noting the stark contrast in their subsequent successes. Although the circumstances surrounding these films were distinct, she can’t help but notice the disparity. She acknowledges that her white peers are on their own paths, working diligently, but also emphasizes that their experiences are less complex than those who are racialized. She aspires to have a career like Daniel Day-Lewis, who releases one acclaimed film every five years and is highly respected. However, after the Whitney biopic, she says, “nothing significant happened.”

Currently, her perspective towards her career is quite pragmatic. She considers acting as merely her occupation. Despite frequently traveling for work, she adamantly chooses not to reside in L.A., finding the city overflowing with actors, writers, producers, directors, and Instagram models. In her free time, she indulges in fantasy novels, particularly looking forward to the upcoming release of Children of Blood and Bone. She also enjoys weight training at the gym, socializing with her partner, and occasionally finds joy in roles that challenge her acting skills, like Frida, which is a rare opportunity for Black actresses. Upon reading the script for such roles, she mentions that she finishes it within an hour and a half. What excites her most is the diversity of emotions one character can exhibit, as it transforms going to work into something less like labor.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I’ve been following the making of “Blink Twice” closely, and it was quite the journey to see this project come together. The cast and I found ourselves residing in a Mexican hotel during filming, which served as our temporary home for the duration of production. The initial two weeks were spent getting acquainted with each other, going through fittings, and gradually stepping into our respective characters without even realizing it.

Kravitz initially learned about Ackie through recommendations from her casting director. “I delved into her portfolio, which included ‘Master of None’ and ‘The End of the F***ing World’, leaving me utterly impressed,” said Kravitz. “We conversed, and she demonstrated such a profound grasp of the film’s mood and the character’s development.” Kravitz added, “Her skill set simply exudes in a way that is effortless.”

In the upcoming year, Ackie will share screen time with Robert Pattinson in Bong Joon Ho’s film “Mickey 17”. Bong Joon Ho’s team approached her while she was working on “Whitney”, and due to exhaustion from shooting, she found herself being more open during their conversations. She feels this authenticity may have played a role in landing the part. Filming took place at the Warner Bros. lot in London, creating a cinematic experience with lavish sets and a substantial budget. Despite the grandeur, Bong Joon Ho managed to foster a warm, friendly atmosphere on set. Working alongside Pattinson was another memorable aspect for Ackie, as she found his acting choices captivating and unlike anything she had seen before.

She’s found a balanced perspective about her career in general. Whether these films will propel her into greater stardom is no longer at the forefront of her mind. Instead, she prefers to dedicate herself entirely to each role, much like the actors she admires. “The greatest compliment I’ve ever received from someone who truly knows me,” she says, “is when they say, ‘I didn’t even realize it was you.'”

2024-08-15 15:54

Naomi Ackie Knows She’s Good. When Will the Box Office?

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