Susan Wokoma is a British-Nigerian actress, author and director.
She is finest identified for her roles in Cheaters (2022-date), the Enola Holmes franchise (2020-date), The Ghost And The Home Of Fact (2019), Crazyhead (2016-2017) and Chewing Gum (2025-2017).
Wokoma makes her directorial debut in Darkish Pores and skin Bruises Otherwise, a deeply private brief movie that interrogates the best way society perceives Black kids. With a runtime of 11 minutes, it focuses on a trainer, Miss Lawson (Wokoma), who advocates for a troubled, peculiar Black scholar named Maria throughout a workers assembly.
In an unique dialog with The British Blacklist, Wokoma displays on childhood experiences, inventive processes, and platforming Black tales.
Please introduce your self …
Hello, I’m Susan Wokoma. Capricorn Solar, Libra Rising, Gemini Moon. North Peckham Property-born prodigy, by means of Rivers State, Nigeria.
Describe your life in a single phrase or a sentence.
‘I’m too delicate for this shit.’ Shout out to all of the ‘large feeling’ individuals studying this. That is actually not the perfect time to really feel just about every thing.
Why are we right here?
To speak about my directorial debut Darkish Pores and skin Bruises Otherwise.
Inform us what this venture is about in your individual phrases.
Darkish Pores and skin is a movie a few trainer, Ms Lawson, who’s attempting her finest to talk up for a seemingly troubled scholar of hers referred to as Maria. Nevertheless, an incident arises that causes Ms Lawson to decide on between doing the precise factor or the egocentric factor.
The place’d this story come from?
It got here primarily from my experiences with social companies as a baby, which I’ve by no means spoken about outdoors of my shut circle earlier than. This story has been percolating for a few years. I used to be additionally deeply affected by the brutal abuse and homicide of Victoria Climbié which occurred after I was round 12. It’s haunted me ever since. There have been so many alternatives to avoid wasting her and but she nonetheless fell by way of the cracks. Which kids are afforded safeguarding and care and innocence? That’s on the coronary heart of what I needed to discover.
How did your writing course of differ out of your final venture?
I’m fairly a quick author after I’m ignited, and I wrote this script in about two days. This brief is completely self-funded, which is a silly thought on this monetary local weather, however I knew if I used to be going to again myself and actually put my cash the place my mouth is, it might be with this story. And I do suppose there is no such thing as a larger time to again your self than when everybody has lastly deserted Black Sq. Summer time.
You selected to each direct and star on this movie. How did sporting each hats inform your strategy to Sarah Lawson’s character?
It was fascinating as a result of I needed to work out the best way to be a director and producer who’s throughout completely every thing – that’s the other to how I work as an actor. I’ve labored with actors who will test each take, however as an actor I by no means watch playback, ever. Until it’s a stunt or a intercourse scene, I go away myself alone and belief my instincts, my director, and the movie editor. My job as a performer is to provide sufficient nice selections within the enhancing suite for them to select from; outdoors of that, it’s none of my enterprise. I feel that strategy retains me from being useless and making selections that don’t serve the story. So yeah, that was a problem however a deeply thrilling one, and I feel we pulled it off efficiently.
The title is each actually referenced within the dialogue and metaphorically highly effective. How did you arrive at this phrase, and what does it signify past its floor which means?
It was at all times the title. Maëva my producer and I thought-about others, I assumed it may be too lengthy or too on-the-nose, however nothing else caught. The idea got here from after I was in major faculty and would fall over and bash my knee. Each time I went to a white nurse, I’d usually get ‘oh nicely I can’t see something, you’re positive’ – the absence of a bruise equalled the absence of trauma. It received me pondering as an grownup about whose trauma story is believed and whose isn’t. Additionally, it wasn’t too way back that sure medical textbooks claimed that darkish pores and skin was harder and extra resilient than white pores and skin. That’s terrifying.
You accomplish a lot in simply 11 minutes. What have been the most important challenges in distilling such a fancy concern into a brief movie format?
Not writing too a lot dialogue. Movie is a largely visible medium and I’m a wordy gal after I get going. So, trusting within the silences and the moments of stillness was key. Pacing is every thing in a brief movie, as you don’t have a lot time. Additionally, TV is a really edited medium and I’m from a largely tv background. It wasn’t a problem as a lot because it was a pleasure to not be afraid of staying in a scene or staying with characters – resisting cutaways and being steadfast in my resolution to remain within the motion.
How did you direct Moizelle Olaleye’s efficiency to convey a lot by way of expression and physique language?
I used to be really filming season two of Cheaters while we have been casting for Maria, and our director Elliot Hegarty gave me some nice recommendation earlier than the casting session by which me and our casting director Tamsyn Manson discovered Moizelle. He stated ‘discover a child who can simply do it …there’s a magical alchemy that occurs with baby actors who can simply do the half. Don’t problem it.’ Moizelle is pure magic. My fundamental job was to verify she felt protected, regarded after and free. The remainder was all her doing.
The movie tackles the systemic neglect of Black kids in UK faculties. What analysis did you conduct to make sure genuine portrayal of those institutional failures?
I used to be a black baby who went to highschool within the UK. 4 totally different major faculties in actual fact. I additionally used to work as a educating assistant for some time after I left drama faculty. I skilled some large failures, notably in major faculty, and I witnessed it with my friends. However outdoors of my very own private expertise, the script was crafted from creativeness.
The opposite lecturers’ dismissive attitudes really feel painfully practical. How did you’re employed together with your solid to painting this institutional bias with out creating caricatures?
We solid great curious actors who weren’t excited by enjoying two-dimensional characters, which simply makes issues a lot simpler. There was quite a lot of dialogue with every actor concerning their elements and it was helpful having the author on set on a regular basis to assist with any questions (the author being me, hahahahaha).
Would you take into account increasing this story, and in that case, what elements would you discover additional?
I’ve a complete function movie define I wrote about 2 years in the past. In that model, the character of Ms Lawson was white. It was solely after I sat down and wrote the brief on the finish of 2023 I made her black. I assumed it was a lot extra fascinating to see a black girl who is aware of what it’s prefer to be that black baby, to see this trainer battle for that baby, and to see the moments she lets her down – then it turns into a form of self-betrayal, doesn’t it? Way more fascinating. However we’ll see which model will get funding … *winks*
How does this movie match into your broader physique of labor and your targets as a filmmaker?
It’s positively extra dramatic than a few of my different work – there’s not many laughs in Darkish Pores and skin. However I positively suppose I’m determining my childhood in some methods with my work. The primary brief movie I wrote was a comedy referred to as Love The Sinner and it was a few younger lady watching her Nigerian mom grieve Princess Diana. I’m at present growing this right into a function. I really feel like I’m documenting an expertise that usually will get ignored in movie.
Nevertheless, in relation to style, I kinda do no matter I like. That’s how I’ve operated as an actor – I’ll do this drama, I’ll do this foolish comedy, I’ll go off and do Taskmaster, I’ll go do a Tom Stoppard play, I’ll go direct my very own brief movie. I do what I like.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
If not an actor, then you definately’d be? Properly I needed to be a novelist at major faculty, so possibly that.
What’s made you unhappy, mad, & glad this week? The actual fact the Freedom Flotilla was intercepted by the IDF made me unhappy, every thing about society makes me mad, and the truth that boycotting as a way of political motion is gaining traction is making me glad. Don’t purchase the brand new iPhone. You don’t want it. #FreeCongo #FreePalestine
What are you watching? I watched Married At First Sight for the very first time. Everyone seems to be mad.
What are you studying? A Thousand Threads, Neneh Cherry’s memoir.
The final movie you watched? I rewatched Bend It Like Beckham on Netflix not too long ago – it’s an ideal movie. Parminder Nagra is a quiet revelation.
The final play you noticed? Punch by James Graham. Completely broke my coronary heart.
The final stay music occasion you attended? I went to New York shortly after my mum’s funeral to attempt to course of issues and I went to my favorite jazz supper membership Smoke within the higher west facet. I’ve been going there since my first play on the market in 2013. I took my buddy Somalia Seaton on a date there this time and we noticed the Jon Faddis Quartet play. Gorgeous.
What’s at present in your playlist? ‘The place Is My Husband’ by Raye. I’ve by no means needed a husband however this tune makes me want I needed one so I might sing it with my chest.
What podcast are you listening to? Good Grasp by Amy Poehler. The current episode with Regina Corridor is elite.
What’s in your bucket listing? I’ve by no means seen an elephant. I feel they’re such lovely, deep animals.
The place’s your completely happy place? Wherever my chosen household are.
Have a good time another person … Emma Dennis-Edwards and Shereen Jasmin Phillips have simply launched Utilized Script Arc, a firm that gives a script improvement programme and management consultancy to International Majority creatives. It additionally creates house for inventive engagement with marginalised communities.
Have a good time your self. I’m nonetheless right here. Those that know, know.
What’s subsequent? I’ve simply shot two thrilling movies this 12 months, each of which I can’t discuss but, however they’ll be out in 2026 and 2027. I’m additionally writing a musical referred to as Clara At The Door With a Revolver alongside the fantastic Ayanna Witter Johnson, in addition to plenty of different stuff.
The place can we discover you? @susiewoosie12 however I’m very a lot publish n go – sorry I don’t have interaction a lot. The web is simply too scary, I’m afraid.
The place can we watch you at work? All around the gaff on BBC iplayer, Netflix, Channel 4 on demand. However do maintain an eye fixed out for Darkish Pores and skin Bruises Otherwise at a movie competition close to you.
Darkish Pores and skin Bruises Otherwise screened at this 12 months’s BFI London Movie Competition.