10 questions for 10 years – Noma Dumezweni

So pleased to have one of my favourite actresses take on the 10 questions for 10 years challenge – all hail Noma Dumezweni!

Although she was already an Olivier award-winning actor by the time I started blogging, there has been a particular thrill in seeing Noma Dumezweni’s star rise the way it has over the last decade. A thrilling Paulina and Nurse wherein I first fell in love, absolutely bossing the Royal Court, even taking the time to make her mark in Doctor Who. Oh and the small matter of her mind-expanding Hermione, a triumph onstage naturally but also showing off a grace on social media that we would all do well to emulate.

It is the intimacy of A Human Being Died That Night that sticks most in my mind and Noma kindly shared some thoughts around that production:

“Apart from sharing the stage with ’The Marsh’ – that show put me contact – via a confluence of timings and moments – with my father in SA, after over 30 years… so, it’ll always be special, let alone getting to meet the real life people Matthew and I portrayed in that piece. It was a pretty awesome time.” 

  • Where were you 10 years ago?

    Working on the last two year ensemble at the RSC – I finished bruised, grown and elated with the whole experience. Final shows were at The Armory in NY.

  • Best show you’ve seen in the last 10 years?

    No. Too many great shows, for different reasons. Either a performance or the setting or the surprises in the play, the direction.

  • What has been your professional highlight of the last 10 years?

    I suppose HP&tCC was a ripple… also, personally, directing I See You at the Royal Court theatre Upstairs – it made me curious and want to explore storytelling from a different angle.

  • Top flavour of interval ice-cream?

    Malbec

  • What show do you wish theatres would give a rest for a few years?

    Nope. It’s all practice. Can be super frustrating, but not any particular show/play – usually it’s the feeling of time wasted creatively that pisses me off.

  • Name someone who you think is a really underappreciated talent (in the world of theatre)?

    Clare Perkins. And happy to see her going strong with a full life.

  • Elphaba or Glinda?

    New ice cream flavours? No, I haven’t seen Wicked

  • What is one thing that you think would help theatre survive and/or thrive the next ten years?

    Risks in stories, writers, perspectives…

  • Which is your favourite theatre?

    The theatre I first fell in love with – The Swan, in SUA. You can truly just talk.

  • Can you say anything about what’s to come for you, (in the next ten years or otherwise)?

    Just finished filming an HBO limited series with at least 3 of the best film and TV actors around. That was insane. It was bumpy from my end, I was relearning after mostly theatre the last 5 years.

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