Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (they/them) returns to Netflix’s Wednesday for its second season, getting into the position of Sheriff Santiago because the city of Jericho faces new risks.
Born in Johannesburg and raised in South Africa’s Jap Cape and Mpumalanga provinces, Lewis-Nyawo has constructed a profession throughout stage and display screen with credit together with Prime Boy, Again in Motion, Prime Video’s Tips on how to Date Billy Walsh, and the Physician Who universe.
Alongside performing, they’re additionally growing initiatives for stage and tv that reframe African histories and problem concepts of energy, queerness, and ancestry.
With Wednesday increasing their attain to a worldwide viewers, Lewis-Nyawo displays on rising with a personality whereas shaping tales of their very own.
Please introduce your self …
My identify is Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo. I’m a queer, non-binary actor, author and TTRPG participant. I’m a primary technology immigrant initially from South Africa and I’m each Zulu and Xhosa clan. I’m a Sagittarius solar, Capricorn moon, Aries Rising which basically quantities to decided chaos.
Describe your life proper now in a phrase or sentence…
Intentional.
You’re again in Wednesday Season 2. Now as Sheriff Santiago. What’s it been like returning to this universe, and the way has your character developed from deputy to sheriff?
I feel in season one Santiago merely “adopted orders”. It wasn’t actually her place to have an opinion (regardless of having many). In season two she actually will get to return into her personal.
She’s received a giant betrayal to place proper in the neighborhood. There’s belief to rebuild and I feel she has a special imaginative and prescient for the Sheriff’s Division in that the ‘Normies‘ and ‘Outcasts‘ alike are to be handled equally. Whether or not she succeeds on this purpose is one other matter completely, however that’s the hope.
In Season 1, Santiago had this understated however sturdy presence. How did you method constructing her additional in Season 2 now that she’s carrying the badge?
She’s received this actual impediment she has to take care of so this season she’s coming in scorching. Actually decided, actually desirous to take management of the state of affairs and most of all open to collaborating. On the finish of the day Nevermore is a college and these are youngsters who deserve respect and care. As a black lady Santiago is aware of what marginalisation appears like. Possibly idealistically she desires to make her division approachable. It was actually enjoyable to be daring and actually take up area on this position.
Wednesday blends horror, thriller, and sharp comedy. What do you get pleasure from most about performing inside that distinctive tone, particularly as a grounded, human character amongst bizarre and odd?
I actually needed to lean on what’s in main, what’s in minor with this position. Santiago is that hyperlink to the Normie world so we actually performed with that procedural tone, however not too severe. I feel it’s important to have your tongue firmly in your cheek on this world. I actually cherished leaning into the distinction and never being afraid to actually make it stark. It was such a pleasure working with Tim Burton (director) and Miles Millar (co-creator/co-showrunner) who’s fairly palms on. They had been nice and we had numerous enjoyable tweaking the texture of these scene.
You’ve had a wealthy profession throughout Netflix, Prime Video, the Physician Who universe, and extra. How does engaged on Wednesday examine to your different experiences, and what have you ever discovered from it?
I’ve been blessed. Gifted, actually with the chance to do what I like on a regular basis throughout a number of mediums. I’m a large nerd as effectively so to be part of these worlds is a literal dream come true.
It’s actually tough to check as a result of each venture has its personal distinctive necessities however the primary take away from all of it is that I’m able to no matter I need to do on this life. There’s no perceived barrier or limiting self perception that’s going to carry me again.
It may usually be robust to carry on to your mild on this enterprise however there’s an actual distinction between business and craft. One is changeable and out of your management however the different, now that’s the particular factor. That’s yours completely that may be met irrespective of the place you end up. That’s what I come again to, that’s what I hold honing.
You grew up in South Africa, and your journey into performing began early, taking part in ‘Baloo‘ in The Jungle Ebook. What’s one reminiscence out of your early days on stage that also stays with you?
Ah, my dad and mom yelling ‘that’s my little one‘ soooo loud in the course of the curtain name.
You’re not simply performing, you’re creating. Are you able to inform us extra concerning the initiatives you’re growing, particularly the theatre piece impressed by African Antiquity?
I’m engaged on a colonial horror TV pilot wherein I actually need to discover how the collective colonial expertise has formed the capitalist constructions wherein we reside as we speak and as corrosive as these forces could also be, what may preventing again seem like? What are our ancestral items not simply our ancestral traumas? However make it messy, and epic and queer as hell. I would like characters that simply occur to be queer in all types of narratives. I like to consider my work as a bit incendiary, like a battle cry.
The theatre venture is a classical piece meets political thriller set in historical African kingdoms. There’s a gross misrepresentation of our continent and our histories. A whole lot of that naturally has to do with how colonisation operates, it twists historical past to serve its purpose. I need to convey our nice Kings and Queens, Healers and Thinkers to the forefront.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU …
If not this, then what? A PhD in Anthropology with a give attention to precolonial Africa and Asia.
What’s made you unhappy, mad, and glad this week? Unhappy: The fast descent into fascism. Mad: See the above. Glad: Being on set with the very best bunch of queers on Tip Toe.
What are you watching? Alien Earth, it’s unbelievable and Chief of Conflict, it’s stunning, and Dimension 20: Cloudward Ho!
What are you studying? Robin Hobb’s Murderer’s Quest and The Lie of 1652: A Decolonised Historical past of Land by Patric Tariq Mellet.
The final movie you watched? Collectively (2025).
The final play you noticed? A Winter’s Story on the RSC.
The final reside music occasion you attended? Laura Veirs.
What’s at the moment in your music playlist? Laura Veirs, 9 Inch Nails, Skunk Anansie, Eckle, UmZulu Phaqa, Aleph, Princess Nokia, Alewya, Fattu Djakite, Sofia Isella, TV on the Radio, Docheii, GUNS, Clozee.
Which track are you listening to on repeat in the mean time? Floating Phonics (Internal Voice) by Eckle.
The place can we discover you? Instagram @luyandaunatilewisnyawo.
The place can we see you at work? Wednesday Season 1 and a pair of is streaming now on Netflix.