Kingsley Ben-Adir Buzz Talks Awards And Become a Calum X in ‘One Night in Miami’

“I understood who Malcolm X was and what those stereotypical optics were, the lacerating demagogue and the rabble-rouser. That version of it was strong in my mind, ”admitted Kingsley Ben-Adir, who shows the famous campaigner One night in Miami.

“However, I think it was very clear from reading the Kemp Power screen, especially before I came to the end, this piece wanted a different heartbeat. At the heart of this story is the vulnerability of these men. Without the love and the joy and the friendship, it wouldn’t work, just from an actor’s point of view. It was about trying to find out what Malcolm’s role was in this context. It’s good to play Malcolm X, but what is Malcolm in the story you’re going to play? ”

He said, “It is clear that the Malcolm in this story is a man who is going through a very difficult moment on a very special night. I dug into the world and discovered more of the details, and when I did, I realized that it was an amazing opportunity, to explore how subtle it was. and what was going on. ”

Did the British actress think twice about taking part in such a controversial figure in Regina King ‘s feature management debate?

“When I first met Regina after seeing her test tapes, my conversation with her was the idea of ​​showing Calum in this different way and how important it was. their vulnerability. I was subconsciously trying to convince her that I was confident enough, scared enough, and that I was excited about the opportunity, ”Ben-Adir recalled. “I felt that, as they had lost Calum and had to find a new one very quickly, I did not want to put any pressure on that process for Regina. I was trying to give myself the impression that I was up for the challenge. Looking back, I don’t know how true that was or if it was deep, I just saw myself. ”

“By the time Regina threw me, it was a few days before Christmas 2019, and I was like, ‘I have 12 days to prepare Calum X. I don’t know if this is a career suicide, ‘or I was just like,’ What the f ** ka am I going to do? ‘I was in New York, and I went for a walk. I took the call from my representatives, and said, ‘I’m going to call you back. ‘I was walking down to the east town and thinking,‘ I have to do it. I have no choice. The opportunity is amazing, and jobs like this don’t come often. I need to do anything to get it to work. ‘But, yeah, there was a moment when I was walking down to the street and giving myself this pep talk. I’m so glad I listened to myself tell me I had to do this, and I’m so glad Regina believed in me. ”

Made for $ 16.9 million, One night in Miami This was the first film by a Black female director selected for the Venice Film Festival, where it premiered in September 2020. Boasting an ensemble team that includes Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr., will land on Prime Video on Friday. , January 15, 2021.

Ben-Adir had no doubt that the King’s clear creative vision was the main driver of the film’s success.

“Regina had so many interesting ideas, and so many different perspectives. I remember one of the first things we burned was a prayer scene. I don’t think we were going to do anything special, but then Regina gave me some Arabic to learn the night before, ”said the actress. “She said she wanted me to learn it because Regina was going to shoot it in a certain way and then cut it into something else, so she had a very clear vision and hard ideas about essential details. and special times. ”

“That was creatively so cheap. We were always on offer to each other, and Regina made the main focus for everyone, for the team, for her, for us, on performance and acting and emotional details that were so important. We were always in it, and it was a really fun discovery together but led by someone who understands the process in such a deep and multifaceted way. ”

Ben-Adir’s performance as Malcolm X has already put him ahead and center for the awards season. Having been awarded the Gotham independent film award for Breakthrough Actor, he is also campaigning as a Best Actor nominee for this year’s Oscars. Did the actor think his trip was by One night in Miami would he take it forward?

“I didn’t give myself time to think about that, certainly not at the time,” he admitted. “Sometimes sets can be very appealing. What I have learned in the last ten years, and I have made so many mistakes on TV, is that for my process, when I work, I have to live in deep concentration about the work. That was especially important with One Night in Miami because of what it is. Working with Regina King, this is not just about her talent. She is also a national treasure here in the States and an Oscar winner, and has great status. By just being tied to it, or next to it, you know there will be eyes, and you have to do it justice. ”

Things have already started to change for Ben-Adir.

“We’ve been very busy doing the media, but I’m meeting a lot more people, and people are posting things and job offers without meeting. I find that kind of difficult, it’s a bit surreal, but I’m so grateful and thankful, ”he said. “Regina has changed a lot, and that’s a real incentive to work hard. When Regina was happy, when she said, ‘We’re moving on,’ it felt amazing. Regina’s kind and affectionate words as we fired were really the things that lifted my confidence. “

One night in Miami available on Prime Video from Friday, January 15, 2021.