Page 534 - Guildhall Coverage Book 2020-21

It was a five-month period of intense work, shooting the roles back to back, while adding a few rom-
com appearances, opposite Zoë Kravitz in “High Fidelity” and Anna Kendrick in “Love Life,” as well as
an episode of the sci-fi anthology “Soulmates.”

“I’d never had a period with so much going on,” he reflects. “I look back and go, ‘Oh, it was so much fun
to work in that way.’ I don’t know if I’ll ever work that way again. There was something of a jobbing
nature about it, like I had one after another and they all came roughly at the same time.” Obama and
Malcolm X were just a few days apart.
The Chopard Trophy is a nice bookend to that intense year. “You want the work that you do, if it’s
good, to be recognized. That’s why I love TV and film more than theater, it can reach further. People
can watch it everywhere and I love the side of that,” he said.
“Malcolm was just such a joy to work on, to study him and spend that much time with him, to try to
work out who he was and what was going on for him at that time. It was fascinating to do in such a
restricted amount of time. I loved every minute of it,” the actor added.

He credits King for taking a chance on him. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Regina. I know it was a
difficult choice for her,” he said. Someone else dropped out of the role just weeks before filming. The
part came down to three actors. “I just happened to be the most experienced, and it wasn’t an easy
decision because I’m coming out of the U.K. and the situation is a little bit sensitive right now,” he says
of the high racial tensions in the U.S.

“She was just a wonderful person to work with creatively, her understanding of the acting process and
how she kind of allowed us to play with it. It still hasn’t sunk in how special the process of making that
film was. The honor of playing Malcolm X, like I just threw everything I had into it. I had two weeks to
prepare,” he said.

Ben-Adir hasn’t seen her in person since shooting wrapped a year and a half ago. Sadly the two will
miss each other in Cannes, as the director is due in town Friday. “I just wanna send her some love,” he
said.
Playing Obama opposite Jeff Daniel’s former FBI director James Comey was equally intense. “Looking
back, I had a lot of anxiety around Obama that wasn’t addressed,” he revealed. “After the first
rehearsal, I was really shaken, really shaken.”
Working with industry vet Daniels put him at ease. “Working with Jeff is probably the most significant
acting lesson I’ve had, just to watch him like an old pro, old school, super concentration and un-
budgeable. It was intimidating in a lot of ways and it was really interesting being around that force. He
gave me pointers, and a little wink here, and I was like, ‘What is going on?’ And on top of that, you’re
playing Obama. But then I just eased into it and was off, and it was fine because I was working with
such a good actor and he was right there the whole time.”

The actor is on a bit of a break after the festival. Despite being as official as his IMDb page, Ben-Adir
swears his role in the new Marvel spinoff “Secret Invasion” is not confirmed.
Here, he’s committed to staying hydrated in the South of France heat, swigging Pellegrino straight
from a green glass bottle in a light cream linen suit. “It’s a little bit ‘Great Gatsby,’” he says of
the Brunello Cucinelli suit. But the dapper day look is a one-off for the festival.

“This is not how I walk around Kentish Town,” says the North Londoner. Still, he stunned in custom
Dior at the BAFTA ceremony earlier this year, styled by Zadrian + Sarah. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, he
has model looks in a suit.

“I’m learning more about what I like and I don’t like. I like comfort. I’m not very interested in fashion, if
I’m honest. I’ve got a couple of old trousers and old T-shirts,” he says. Does he have favorite designers
or want to attend any shows? “Not really, no. But no one’s asked me yet.” Designers, get those
invitations ready.