Known for starring in Sex Education and Barbie, Ncuti Gatwa has opened up about the demanding standards often imposed on Black individuals in the film industry. The 31-year-old actor is set to take on the iconic role of Doctor Who in the show’s upcoming season, slated to premiere this summer.
He would also be the first Black actor to portray the character in the show’s history. In his recent interview with Attitude Magazine, he reflected on the critical responses to his casting, while highlighting the unequal treatment of Black individuals.
Ncuti Gatwa Reflects on the Challenging Standards of Black Excellence
In a candid revelation, actor Ncuti Gatwa opened up about the struggles of self-acceptance, particularly due to challenging standards that are often set for Black people. In a conversation with Attitude Magazine, he reflected on how mediocrity is celebrated differently based on race.
The actor noted that whether it’s Hollywood or any other profession, “there’s so much white mediocrity that gets celebrated.” However, when it comes to Black individuals, they are expected to meet exceedingly high standards of perfection, yet they do not get the same recognition.
The Barbie actor shared that he has been in the process of embracing self-love regardless of such societal expectations and it has taught him to be more compassionate not only towards himself but also towards others.
He said,
“So, I’m slowly training myself out of that and being like, ‘No sh*t. You deserve love just for existing.’ And that has taught me to be a lot more loving as well, in a weird way.”
Reflecting on the prevalence of racism, he said, “Microaggressions exist everywhere. I’d say that is a daily thing.” However, he emphasized the importance of selectively addressing and processing such experiences to maintain his emotional well-being.
Ncuti Gatwa Addressed Negative Reaction to His Doctor Who Casting
Doctor Who has been one of the longest-running TV shows and has constantly evolved with time. Ncuti Gatwa’s casting as the first Black actor to play the lead in the series can be seen as a significant step in the show’s ongoing evolution.
However, the news has not been embraced by everyone. And the actor addressed the negative reaction to his casting in the show in his recent interview. Gatwa shared that he refrained from engaging with such things.
“I got a brief glimpse of it in initial casting,” he said before adding. “But it’s not something I’ll avidly keep up on.” He further responded to the criticism surrounding his casting, saying,
“It is kind of fascinating to me because there’s so much energy they’re putting into it. You are so angry over something so inconsequential that you can’t be an interesting person. You can’t have much in your life. I don’t have the time to do that. And so, I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing.”
He attributed the backlash to evolving “positions of power and in the status quo” within the industry. However, he also acknowledged that although at a gradual pace, there is a noticeable shift occurring in various aspects of the industry, including casting decisions among other things.
The new season of Doctor Who is scheduled to premiere on May 10, 2024, on Disney+.
