Latest news with #British-Nigerian
Refinery29
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
F1's Damson Idris Just Wants To Make His Black Women Fans Proud
Damson Idris is racing straight to becoming a household Hollywood name. But no matter where his career takes him next, we can say that we saw him first. The 'we' is Black women, of course, who dubbed the British-Nigerian actor as a certified Internet Boyfriend long before his starring turn in this summer's first big blockbuster. After captivating audiences as Franklin Saint in Snowfall, Idris is shifting gears — literally — into high-octane territory with his leading role in F1, the Formula 1 racing film from director Joseph Kosinski and producer/ star Brad Pitt. Whether he's embodying a South Central kingpin or donning a racing suit opposite Hollywood heavyweights, Idris brings depth, precision, and a quiet confidence that continues to set him apart. And as Unbothered's very own Christa Eduafo found out when she sat down with him recently in New York City, the actor is well aware that his Black female fanbase bet big on Damson Idris stock early. 'I can't wait for them to go on this journey with me throughout my career,' Idris said with a smile. Here, Idris opens up about the evolution of his career, his mother's influence as both an anchor and a humbling presence (African moms stay on brand), and the unwavering support he receives from the fans who've been riding with him since day one. He also teases his upcoming role in Children of Blood and Bone, the hotly anticipated fantasy epic based on Tomi Adeyemi's bestselling novel. Between blockbuster projects and staying rooted in purpose, Idris is proving he's not just a rising star, he's shaping the future of Black storytelling, barrelling full speed towards superstardom — and we're riding shotgun. Unbothered: You're starring in what's going to be the blockbuster of the summer. Walk me through when you found out you were going to be in F1. Was it shock? Was it readiness? How did that feel? Damson Idris: Man, I was in Turks and Caicos. So I was on vacation, I was looking at the sunset, and then I got a phone call: 'Hey, do you want to be a Formula 1 driver?' And I lost my mind. I just screamed to the heavens. This is a part that I prayed for. I dreamed of this, so being able to accomplish it, and to be at this place today where I believe we made a brilliant movie, is a dream come true. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Unbothered (@r29unbothered) You mentioned prayer. You've said that you manifested this role. In a previous interview, you said you downloaded the Formula One game and named your player, Joshua Pierce, which is the name of your character in the film. So do you manifest often? DI: 100%. I understand how powerful we are as beings and with the characters that I play, I do believe that what's mine is mine. So it's really a feeling that I tend to chase. With Snowfall, I really wanted to work in the States and I loved those kinds of gangster movies, like Goodfellas, American Gangster and the like. And then with this movie, I really wanted to play an athlete because of my football background. But I was also ready and prepared for a movie that I believe was going to reach every corner of the world. So when this opportunity came, I knew it was mine and I wanted to do a really good job. So hopefully I made everyone proud. You were amazing in the film. I'm a big manifestation person as well, and it's just about knowing, just being certain, and that's really it. So between Joshua Pierce and Snowfall's Franklin, you play characters that have a lot of aura to them. So I was wondering, would you say you have aura? DI: I just learned what aura is the other day. Do I have aura? I don't know. No, I'm the worst person to ask. I'll never admit that I have aura. I'll never admit it, but I don't know. Alright, yeah, I got a little, tiny, little sprinkle of aura [laughs]. ' [My mum] is my biggest fan. When the movie comes out, the opinion that's gonna matter most to me is hers. damson idris ' You said recently that you're most excited for your mom to see this film, and that she would call to check on your safety when you were on set. What were those calls like? DI: Just her screaming in Yoruba, 'you better be safe!' She's my biggest fan. So when the movie comes out, you know, the opinion that's gonna matter most to me is hers. Your character in the film, Joshua, has such a beautifully close relationship with his mother. And I know you mention all the time that you have one with your own. So I was wondering, how does your mom keep you grounded as your star is rising? DI: I call her all the time. Every day I call her. On this career [journey] that I'm on, you know, you spend so much time in the back of a car alone, alone in a hotel room, you know, alone on a plane, so to have someone that I can call that just constantly reminds me of where I came from is so important to me. And my mom is that person. That's so valuable to have. I'm Ghanaian, so African parents can be our biggest cheerleaders, but they can also humble us lovingly. So I was wondering if you have an example of a time that your mom lovingly brought you back down to earth. DI: Oh my gosh, when I first started acting, working in a theater is this revered thing in the UK. So I would be doing plays, and my mom would come and watch the plays, and she'd be like, 'yes, theater is okay, but when are you going to be on EastEnders or Hollyoaks? Because my mom loves soaps. So in my head, funny enough, through that was how I said to myself, Man, I need to be on a screen. So, yeah, I guess my mom was a huge motivator for that. She was underwhelmed by my theater parts. ' I'm grateful that [Black women] support my work. I can't wait for them to go on this journey with me throughout my career. I always want to make Black women proud. damson idris ' You have a lot of Black female fans. You're a little bit of a heartthrob. What has that attention been like? Is that a new experience, something you pay attention to or is it just kind of background noise? DI: I don't pay attention to it but I'm grateful that they support my work and that they support my aura. I can't wait for them to go on this journey with me throughout my career. You know, I always want to make Black women proud. I was raised by one. Can you give a little message to your Black women fans? DI: To my gorgeous Black women out there who are supporting me, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I can't wait for you to watch F1. I promise you, Joshua has aura [laughs]. ' You know exactly how we felt when we walked out of Black Panther? That's how we're going to feel with [ Children of Blood and Bone ]. We put everything into it. damson idris ' Children of Blood and Bone is next for you. It just wrapped. That was a stacked cast. You worked with a lot of members of the diaspora there. What was the most exciting part about being a part of that film? DI: So many of them are my friends that I've known for so long. In passing on this journey, we always say the same thing to each other: 'When are we going to work with each other?' So I tip my hat to Paramount and Gina Prince-Bythewood for assembling a juggernaut of a cast. We spent six months in Cape Town filming and we just wrapped. Every day, a new heavyweight would come in and just prove why they exist. You know, from Idris to Viola to Chiwetel to Regina to Cynthia. I could just say their first names and you know what time it is. But also just watching a lot of us, younger actors, find our way and own our power too. Tosin Cole and Amandla Stenberg, and Thuso Mbedu, our lead, who I just think is such a beautiful actress. I can't wait for her career to blossom too. So, I just feel really blessed. Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, there was a so much great energy on set. You know exactly how we felt when we walked out of Black Panther? That's how we're going to feel with this picture. We put everything into it. We showed so much respect to Africa, and we showed so much respect to the story too.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
With ‘F1,' rising star Damson Idris enters Hollywood's fast lane
Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane summer movie 'F1' with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series 'Snowfall,' there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but 'Franklin Saint,' too, the name of his drug kingpin character on 'Snowfall.' 'It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows,' Idris, 33, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Revving up to the next level Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with 'F1's' fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things are poised to rev up even more when 'F1' opens globally Friday. Speeding into theaters on a wave of great reviews and the promise of a 'Top Gun: Maverick'-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout 'Joshua Pearce' at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. 'I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star,' Kosinski said. 'I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch.' Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible — from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the 'F1' script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. 'I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that,' Idris said. 'When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did.' Giving it his all at 180 mph 'F1' wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 180 mph. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. 'It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen,' Idris said. 'In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell.' There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in 'F1,' in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. 'I speak to them every day and I ask for advice,' he said. 'The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career.' Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realized he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. 'When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good,' he said. 'Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt.' Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's 'Pandora's Box' over 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. What's next for Damson Idris Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation 'Children of Bone and Blood' in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. 'It's not just a namesake,' Idris said. 'I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice.' Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's 'Miles & Juliette,' about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well — his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in 'F1,' Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. 'It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded,' Idris said. 'I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. 'That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings.'
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox Sports
With 'F1,' rising star Damson Idris enters Hollywood's fast lane
Associated Press Damson Idris was trying to tune out the noise, but that's a little difficult at a Formula One race. The British-Nigerian actor was in the zone, in character, filming the high-octane summer movie 'F1' with Brad Pitt at some of the world's most famous racetracks. While Idris' profile has been rising in recent years, after six seasons starring in the FX series 'Snowfall,' there's nothing like being next to globally famous Formula One drivers and a Hollywood megastar to put things into perspective. He was pretty sure he was going to coast under the radar. Then he started hearing not just his own name from fans in the crowd but 'Franklin Saint,' too, the name of his drug kingpin character on 'Snowfall.' 'It's funny, because I see myself as a young actor who nobody knows,' Idris, 33, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. Revving up to the next level Anonymity may already be a thing of the past for Idris, though. In May, he made a splash at the Met Gala, arriving in a full racing suit (branded with 'F1's' fictional team name APXGP) and a Swarovski crystal-studded helmet that he and two ushers removed to reveal a second look underneath. The boldness and theatricality of the stunt made it one of the most talked about moments at an event where everyone is trying to stand out. And things are poised to rev up even more when 'F1' opens globally Friday. Speeding into theaters on a wave of great reviews and the promise of a 'Top Gun: Maverick'-style spectacle, filmmaker Joseph Kosinski is pretty sure Idris is going to start hearing people shout 'Joshua Pearce' at him too. That's the name of Idris' character, the hotshot rookie driver of the worst team on the circuit who's desperate to prove himself and hang on to one of the coveted seats. 'I'm very excited for people to see him own this character and go toe to toe with a giant movie star,' Kosinski said. 'I think he can do anything. He's just super talented, and I feel like I'm lucky to see him at the beginning of what's going to be a pretty stratospheric launch.' Idris tries to seek out projects that challenge him and characters who are as different as possible — from each other and, especially, from him. Joshua Pearce fit the bill in a moment when he was preparing to say goodbye to Franklin Saint. After he read the 'F1' script, the character even infiltrated his dreams. 'I said to myself, 'Man, no one's going to be able to play this part like I will.' I remember writing Joe (Kosinski) a letter and telling him that,' Idris said. 'When we finally jumped in the cars for the first time, I was hooked. I was like, 'Yep this movie's mine. It's no one else's and I can't wait to give my all to it.' And that's exactly what I did.' Giving it his all at 180 mph 'F1' wouldn't just require playing a part. Both he and Pitt had to learn how to drive the cars at speeds of up to 180 mph. It took months of training behind the wheel the supervision of stunt drivers Luciano Bacheta and Craig Dolby, as well as physical training to adapt to the G-forces they'd feel in the car. When it came time to film, which they did with special cameras attached to the cars, sometimes they were driving during breaks at real races with hundreds of thousands of spectators around. Every time you see Idris' or Pitt's face in the car, Kosinski said, they're really driving that car. 'It's so insane. It's actually quicker in real life and it looks really fast on the screen,' Idris said. 'In a split second, a decision could be really detrimental. But I couldn't imagine doing this movie any other way. If it was on green screen, you'd be able to tell.' There's a bit of art-meets-life symmetry wrapped up in 'F1,' in which an up-and-comer teams up with a veteran. In the film, it's a reluctant pairing of two alphas. The mentorship is fraught, the lessons are hard-earned and the competition is not exactly friendly. Unlike Joshua, Idris is more than willing to get advice from those around him, whether it's producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Jeremy Kleiner, his director Kosinski, or his co-stars, from Pitt to Javier Bardem. 'I speak to them every day and I ask for advice,' he said. 'The main focus is on stories, playing characters that I can be proud of and range. That's everything I'm setting out to do in this career.' Acting was not always the goal for Idris. Like many kids in South London, he once dreamed of being a soccer player. Sure, the idea of being a renowned athlete held some appeal, but he also loved the sheer discipline it required. Then, at age 18, he realized he'd never be as great as Lionel Messi. 'When I see him one day, hopefully I'm blessed to meet him, I'm going to tell him that he's the reason why I quit football, because he was so good,' he said. 'Wonderfully, acting is a subjective industry, so I can at least cheat my way into working with Brad Pitt.' Cheating is, of course, a bit of cheeky hyperbole for an actor who studied drama at university and continued training at London's Identity School of Acting afterward. Since he made his stage debut in Ade Solanke's 'Pandora's Box' over 10 years ago, Idris has been hitting the pavement like the rest of his peers. And he's just getting started. What's next for Damson Idris Idris recently wrapped filming the Tomi Adeyemi adaptation 'Children of Bone and Blood' in Cape Town, South Africa. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, Idris plays Prince Inan in the African fantasy that co-stars Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris' idol and real-life mentor Idris Elba. 'It's not just a namesake,' Idris said. 'I feel so blessed to be able to say that I'm like his little brother and I can call him and get advice.' Next up, Idris will prepare to portray Miles Davis in Bill Pohlad's 'Miles & Juliette,' about the jazz legend's romance with French singer Juliette Gréco. He's also founded a fine jewelry line, named Didris, inspired by his mother, and is getting into producing as well — his production company has a deal with FX Networks and wants to make opportunities for emerging talents. And like his character in 'F1,' Idris is learning to block out the noise. He knows that a film career is a long journey and there will be ups and downs. 'It's a huge moment, but I'm fortunate to have so many people in my life that keep me grounded,' Idris said. 'I've soaked in information from people I admire who say the same thing during these higher moments: Pinch yourself, stay grounded, remember where you came from. 'That's exactly how I'm walking through this portal and into these next couple of years. I'm excited, I'm humbled, I am blessed and I can't wait to see what the future brings.' recommended
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Film London Jarman award nominees range from Algerian mountains to Jamaican rivers and east London roads
Whether it's roaring through Lagos on the back of a motorcycle taxi or gently rafting down Jamaica's waterways, this year's nominees for the prestigious Film London Jarman award promise to take you on quite a trip. The six-strong shortlist for the £10,000 prize, which recognises British artists who work with moving images, also features work made in southern Italy and Algeria's Hoggar mountains, as well as the (arguably less glamorous) M11 link road in Hackney, east London. The latter work is by Onyeka Igwe, a British-Nigerian artist whose 2022 film The Miracle on George Green is inspired by the 1993 protests in Wanstead that attempted to save a 250-year-old sweet chestnut tree from being cut down. During the resistance, schoolchildren wrote letters addressed to the tree, and Igwe uses these as a starting point to explore radical protests dating back to the 17th century. Also firmly on the road is Machine Boys, a 2024 film by the Hamburg-based Karimah Ashadu that delves into the macho world of motorcycle taxi drivers in Nigeria's largest city. We hear the riders discuss their philosophy around death and rebellion amid the noise of revving engines and thick clouds of dust. Elsewhere on the shortlist are artist, writer and musician Morgan Quaintance, whose 2024 film Available Light uses interviews with people renting in both Tokyo and London in order to explore what the idea of home means in a big city, and George Finlay Ramsay, the Scottish film-maker behind 2024's Flesh, Wax and Glass II: The Age of the Son, which focuses on a grieving Calabrian lorry driver performing a bloody ritual during Holy Week. Named after pioneering film-maker Derek Jarman, the prize is known for spotting talent in the UK art scene. Now in its 18th year, previously shortlisted artists include Heather Phillipson, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Monster Chetwynd, Luke Fowler, Imran Perretta, Charlotte Prodger, Laure Prouvost, Sin Wai Kin and Project Art Works – all of whom went on to be shortlisted for, or to win, the Turner prize. Making up this year's shortlist are Manchester film-maker and researcher Hope Strickland and the artist duo Arwa Aburawa and Turab Shah. The former's 2024 film, a river holds a perfect memory, traverses water from the Martha Brae River to Falmouth lagoon in Jamaica while subjects discuss concepts such as ancestral memory; the latter artists' And still, it remains (2023) takes us to the remote Algerian village of Mertoutek to study the lasting impact of the Reggane series of nuclear testing carried out by the French during the final stages of the Algerian war in the early 1960s. Last year, Maryam Tafakory was awarded the prize for works that had been inspired by her watching 417 films made in post-revolution Iran. She will be a member of this year's jury, who said in a statement that this year's shortlist 'is a powerful reflection of the richness and diversity of moving image practice in the UK today. The nominees each bring a distinct voice and vision, pushing the boundaries of form, storytelling, and experimentation. From intimate explorations of identity to bold political commentary, the works demonstrate an exceptional standard of creativity and innovation, reaffirming the vital role of artists' film in contemporary culture.' The winner of the Jarman award will be announced in late November at a ceremony in London. In the lead-up to that announcement, work of the shortlisted artists will be going on tour across cultural venues in the UK. They will also be presented as an exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, from 18 November until 14 December 2025.
Scottish Sun
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Anthony Joshua given hero's welcome on boxing trip to Ghana as Brit shows off his motorbike skills
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANTHONY JOSHUA got a hero's welcome - and a super-hero entrance - on a boxing trip to Ghana. Watford's two-time heavyweight world champ is on an R&R world tour following September's knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and elbow surgery. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Anthony Joshua with ex-boxer Azumah Nelson Credit: Instagram 6 Joshua showing off his motorbike skills Credit: Instagram 6 He was given a hero's welcome after touching down Credit: Instagram 6 AJ was mobbed by fans in Ghana Credit: Instagram The 35-year-old has enjoyed luxury trips to Oman, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. But he visited the legendary African boxing hotbed of Bukom for an outdoor show on Friday night, and thrilled the nation with his motorbike skills. When the London 2012 icon landed at Kotoka airport in the country's Accra capital, he was mobbed by fans, flags and flowers. A traditional drum band and dancers greeted his arrival, before a local lady grabbed him for a huge hug around the waist and a little girl was thrust into his arms and held above his giant shoulder. A young man then rode a scrambler motorbike into AJ's path and handed it over to the 18st Adonis. The two-wheeled convoy held up traffic for their hero, with some of the daredevil chaperones doing death-defying wheelies along the roads. The proud British-Nigerian, posed for photos with local police and military men, charged with guarding him on his stay. Later in the evening, AJ - on his first trip to the country - wore a Ghana scarf with the word 'Akwaaba' stitched in, meaning 'welcome'. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And once inside the Bukom boxing arena, he mixed and bumped fists with as many fans as he could, even dancing and singing songs. Joshua also met and posed for photos with Ghana legend and former two-weight world champ Azumah Nelson while linking up with Amir Khan. Jake Paul leaks 's***-talking' private messages with Anthony Joshua goading him about being KO'd as trash talk ramps up After American Andrew Tabiti won the headline bout, stopping Ghana's Jacob Dickinson in the fourth round, AJ exited on a motorbike once more, as fans chased him for photos. Promoter Eddie Hearn has been tipping Joshua for a September return to the ring but that looks unlikely. Tyson Fury is busy filming a Netflix series, so the overdue two-fight rivalry British fight fans have been waiting almost a decade to see is on ice. Until WBA, WBC and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk and IBF boss Daniel Dubois decide an undisputed ruler on July 19 at Wembley, the blue-riband division is on hold while the challengers and contenders see how the belts fragment. Despite the brutal KO loss to Dubois, Joshua remains a marketing and promotional dream. And the four major sanctioning bodies would jump at the chance to have him fight for one of their straps. 6 Joshua has been on a string of luxury trips of late Credit: Instagram
