Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY
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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 15 February 2018
Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya is having a good year
By LINDSEY BAHR io' I took a year and a half
AP Film Writer off and I just read scripts
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) and wrote and did my thing
— One year ago, most au- and I think this is all kind of
diences didn't know the representative of my force
name Daniel Kaluuya. and that year off and what
Now, the 28-year-old Brit- I'm about and what I want
ish actor has a best-actor to do. I think it's important
Oscar nomination for star- to go, 'Let's press pause
ring in one of last year's and see what opportuni-
biggest films, "Get Out"; a ties are out there.' I want to
culture-shifting blockbuster make things that have stuff
opening this week ("Black to say and work with peo-
Panther"); and a Steve Mc- ple who have something
Queen film on the horizon. to say. I want to continue
The Associated Press, which doing that and I'm willing
named Kaluuya one of its to wait, and I was willing to
breakthrough entertainers wait. I was writing my script
of 2017, spoke to the ac- and I saw 'Get Out' and I'm
tor recently about his cra- like, 'I need to do this,' and
zy year, the life-changing 'Black Panther,' I thought, 'I
nomination and his mom's need to do this' and 'Wid-
practical advice on Oscar- ows,' and it's like 'do this.'
nomination morning. AP: Are you getting excited
Remarks have been edited for the Oscars?
for clarity and brevity. KALUUYA: I don't know. ... I
AP: You've had quite the have no idea. I don't know
year! To think, you were what's happening. I haven't
shooting 'Black Panther' thought that far.
when 'Get Out' was about AP: What were you thinking
to come out last February. when Tiffany Haddish mis-
KALUUYA: When ('Get Out') pronounced your name on
was in Sundance I was in nominations morning?
Atlanta preparing. Literally, KALUUYA: I haven't
I had U.K. press on my day Daniel Kaluuya poses for a portrait at the "Black Panther" press junket at the Montage Beverly Hills watched it yet! I haven't
off of 'Black Panther.' It's on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. seen the announcement. I
been a run. Associated Press just can't. I just can't. I have
seen clips of my friends
AP: Did you ever think "Get day. It's like seven days. Just watching it. And when my
Out" would be this big? as I was like getting into, name comes up everyone
KALUUYA: No, I didn't. An 'Oh what does this mean?' screams. So I know what
indie horror?! No inkling. I then I see 'Black Panther,' she did. She's East African
had a feeling 'Black Pan- and it's like boom. so it's cool. And it's so life
ther' would be big. It was AP: How do you choose changing for me anyway.
an ensemble, it was obvi- what you work on? You It's a life changing thing for
ously a different thing. I'm have Steve McQueen's me. 'Get Out' was my sec-
English and 'Black Panther' "Widows" coming up next. ond American job. I didn't
is my third American job. KALUUYA: I'm drawn to sign up to an indie horror
It's kind of like me under- projects where I don't for that. I did it because I
standing how it works on know what happens next. thought it was cool and I
this level. I was blessed to That's what happened wanted to watch it.
have this opportunity. And with 'Get Out,' I was like, AP: Is your family excited
I didn't expect 'Get Out' to 'I haven't seen this, let's for you?
be the horse that it's been, do it.' Because you don't KALUUYA (laughing): I
just riding through the know what's going to hap- FaceTimed (my mom) in
whole year and picking up pen. With 'Black Panther,' the morning and she was
pace. It looks like I have this I have ideas now that I've like, 'Hopefully you can
master plan, but I just do watched it. I think it'll be convey that into a job.'
stuff that I believe in and sold out for three weeks. Very practical. Very practi-
am interested in and work AP: Has the phone been cal. 'You haven't got a job
with filmmakers I'm a fan of. ringing more often? at the moment. You need
AP: Has life changed for KALUUYA: I've been on a job.'q
you? 'Get Out' for like a year. I've
KALUUYA: I mean I'm sit- been scheduled. My year
ting here and this balcony was sewed up in Septem-
is bigger than my flat. But I ber the year before, do-
think it's still happening for ing 'Black Panther,' doing
me to understand the ac- 'Widows,' writing my script.
tual change of it. I think it's At the moment it's like, af-
when it goes quiet you go, ter March, after the Oscars,
'What's changed?' But like we'll see what happens. I
the nom came out Tues- kind of like that. After 'Sicar-
