IN CONVERSATION WITH AMAKA OKAFOR
interview by JANA LETONJA
British actress Amaka Okafor has quickly become one of the UK’s most compelling screen talents, known for bringing intelligence, heart, and intensity to every role. After leading Netflix’s chart-topping ‘Bodies’ opposite Stephen Graham, she now steps into the high-stakes world of ‘Black Rabbit’, a gripping new limited series premiering on 18th September. Described as ‘Succession’ meets ‘The Bear’, the show dives into the chaos of New York nightlife, family loyalty, and dangerous ambition. With ‘Black Rabbit’ and upcoming role in ITV’s ‘Secret Service’, Amaka is cementing her place on the international stage.
‘Black Rabbit’ has been described as ‘Succession’ meets ‘The Bear’. How would you describe its energy from the inside?
Shooting in the kitchen always felt high-pressure, but not in a stressful way. It was incredibly focussed and precise. Everything had to be exact, which was really energising. But then I also had these wonderful scenes outside the kitchen where I was just out in the world. There’s a whole chunk where I got to go upstate and shoot in the countryside, which was so peaceful and beautiful. I really loved that. I had little pockets of story that weren’t confined to the intensity of the kitchen, and that balance felt really true to life. Sometimes you’re in those high-pressure moments, and then you get these windows of stillness and calm. The show captured that rhythm beautifully.
Roxy is an ambitious New York chef. What did you want to bring to her that felt unique or unexpected?
I felt her spirit so clearly when I read the script. It was all right there on the page, who she is and who she was. My goal was to honour what Kate Susman and Zach Baylin had written, while also bringing as much of myself to her as I could. I really identified with her, so I wanted to pour my own spirit into the performance. Everyone is unique, there’s no one exactly like you, so if you bring an element of yourself to a character, you’re giving the audience something they’ve never seen before.
jacket 16ARLINGTON
trousers RÓHE
shoes STEVE MADDEN
The show explores high-pressure kitchens, nightlife chaos, and family drama. What part of that world excited you most as a performer?
The nightlife element was such a thrill. We’ve got this VIP room, a sort of private club above the restaurant, and I’ve never done anything like that on screen before. I’ve never explored that chaotic world of people partying hard, where things can spill into really different places. Sometimes it’s euphoric and unforgettable, other times it can turn messy or destructive. But those are the legendary nights you remember for the rest of your life and capturing that felt so exciting. Honestly, the whole thing is just so juicy, every part of it.
How was it working opposite Jason Bateman and Jude Law, and what did you take away from their approach to the work?
Jason is just really sharp, he's so smart and gets to the truth and point of a scene very quickly, and knows how to turn it up and intensify it. He's brilliant at that. I really enjoyed being directed by him. He sort of leaves you alone and then creeps up to you, whispers something in your ear and lets you get on with it. He really sees what you're doing and I really appreciated that about him.
And Jude is just the loveliest man, the biggest collaborator, kind, and very present. He's very with you and generous in the scenes, he really shares it with you. I remember doing a scene with him where I was being interviewed and all Jude had to do was stand behind the bar and pour a glass of water, and he did it. He wasn't pulling focus, but he did it in such a classy way. He really knows how to let the camera see him. And it didn't feel like he was trying to stretch it out, he’s just really good at letting the camera in and holding things and sitting in a moment. He's incredibly watchable.
Your breakout in ‘Bodies’ reached number one globally. How has that momentum shaped the roles coming your way now?
How amazing that ‘Bodies’ hit number one. It stayed in the top 10 for weeks, which was just so cool. I was so happy about that. When it came out, we were right in the middle of the actors’ strike, so I wasn’t really allowed to promote it, which was gutting because it was my first time playing a lead on television, and on Netflix. And what a brilliant, juicy character to sink my teeth into. So yes, I was sad not to be able to shout about it at the time.
For me, my career has been a slow, steady build, and I feel like ‘Bodies’ put me on the radar for people who maybe didn’t know my work before. I’m still learning how the show is changing things for me. It’s a strange and lovely experience. You forget that with streaming, people discover a show on their own time. There are still people sitting down to watch it for the first time now, which is completely new for me. I’m so used to doing plays. They’re there for a few weeks or months, and then they’re gone, like they never happened. But with ‘Bodies’, it feels like it’s still unfolding, still finding its audience, and still shaping what comes next for me.
You move between crime thrillers, musicals, and intense dramas. How do you choose what to take on next?
Fun is a big factor for me. What feels fun, what feels like a challenge, what feels meaty. I really love variety, doing something that feels fresh and different from what I’ve done before. I’m drawn to exciting, surprising stories that keep me on my toes.
‘Black Rabbit’ is about ambition, loyalty, and risk. What risks have you taken in your own career that paid off?
I think I’ve taken risks every time I’ve tried to move things forward. Every time I’ve wanted to take my career to the next level, it’s required risk. Often saying no to work so I can elevate. That takes bravery because it means accepting periods of unemployment while you teach the industry that you’re ready to move on, that you don’t want to be put in the same box anymore, that you want to broaden. Every step up has come with that risk. Saying no, and risking not being able to put food on the table.
With ‘Secret Service’ and the second season of ‘The Responder’ also on the horizon, what can audiences expect from you in the year ahead?
The second season of ‘The Responder’ is already out. It actually dropped while I was in America, so I didn’t get to watch it at the time. I’m just catching up now, and I’m really enjoying it. Then there’s ‘Secret Service’, which I’m so excited about. I play a politician in that, which is completely different from ‘Black Rabbit’.
And ‘Black Rabbit’, I honestly cannot wait for people to see it. I’m so curious to hear what audiences make of it, because viewers are so insightful and creative. They always find parallels you didn’t even realise were there, and they see the truth in the work. I can’t wait to see what conversations it sparks once it’s out in the world.
I also have another project coming up that we’re just finalising, it’s written by a woman I’ve admired for years, and I’m incredibly excited about the chance to play a character so unlike anything I’ve done before. It’s all just so exciting. I love the variety.
You’ve been named one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow. How do you handle the expectations that come with that kind of recognition?
That was a complete surprise. That kind of accolade usually goes to people much younger than me, so I’d honestly reached a point where I thought “Okay, I’m never going to get newcomer recognition or a breakthrough award, and that’s fine.” I’ve always thought of myself as a slow-build kind of actor. To receive that in my 40s was just thrilling. I didn’t feel pressure or expectation with it. Instead, I felt like it was a recognition of years and years of hard work. It was pure joy, honestly. Even now, every time I think about it, I still feel that little bubble of excitement bursting in my stomach.
Tell us a bit more about yourself outside of acting. What do you enjoy the most in life when not on set?
The countryside, honestly. London is incredible, vibrant, and full of energy, and it’s great not to feel like such a minority there, but my heart is really in the countryside. I’m a country girl through and through, so whenever I can leave London, I do. I’ve just booked a solo trip to the Lake District at the end of September, and I’m so excited. It’s this incredible place full of mountains, lakes, beautiful walks, and lovely pubs. Exactly the kind of thing I love to do.
TEAM CREDITS:
talent AMAKA OKAFOR
photography DAVID REISS
styling SARAH HARRISON
makeup DOMINIQUE DESVEAUX
hair DEBORAH LOLA
interview JANA LETONJA