Letitia Wright on fame: 'Why is my pilot telling me 'Wakanda Forever' in the middle of the sea? Land safely please!'

For most people, such an enormous franchise might be the defining feature of their career. But Wright, who arrived in the UK from Guyana at the age of seven, has never sought to be defined by her blockbuster roles. Her choices are refreshingly eclectic, with a career that seamlessly straddles indie dramas like Aisha, which charts the experiences of a young Nigerian woman as she seeks international protection in Ireland, and cinematic hits such as Kenneth Branagh's Death on the Nile. "I just chase the truth," she explains simply. "And just chasing the next project that could help me to connect more with people that watch my projects."

Her instincts for storytelling are perhaps most evident in her recent foray behind the camera. During lockdown, she founded her own production company, Threesixteen Productions, as a way to tell stories that often go unheard. One of her first projects, a short film titled Highway to the Moon, features a cast of mostly young non-actors. "They just needed someone to just see that talent in them and give them an opportunity," she explains. But being on the other side of the camera has also given her a newfound respect for the directors she worked with, laughing, "like my director's going through some stuff". The star is excited about exploring this aspect of her career but wants to "take her time with it" to "really make things that make me like that are impactful."

Kaluuya is one of Wright's closest friends, alongside fellow British star John Boyega, also came up through London's Identity School of Acting, and share a bond forged in the early days of their careers. That camaraderie extends to her Black Panther co-stars, particularly Angela Bassett, who has become a mentor of sorts. She says of Bassett's advice "[she told me] 'anytime you have difficult days and difficult days will come, keep your head up, keep looking up.' You know, she means, 'keep your eyes on God. Like, don't waver.'"

Her gratitude for the mentors in her life is palpable. She speaks fondly of McQueen, who directed her in Small Axe, an anthology series exploring London's Caribbean communities between the 1960s and 1980s. "Steve [McQueen] would turn around and just be like, 'I know you have to go to Hollywood and you have to do the big films, but always find your way back to these independent, you know, more grounded stuff'."

Wright's skill in balancing the glitz of big-budget Hollywood with her grounded, authentic roots is a rarity. Yet, fame comes with its own peculiar challenges. She reflects on the surreal side of modern stardom, sharing stories of being recognised in the most unexpected places, which she admits is "kind of weird, but cool". "I was just in the middle of, like, the Maldives just trying to get a holiday, and then someone's like, 'Wakanda Forever'. I'm like, 'What the hell? Why is my pilot telling me "Wakanda Forever" in the middle of the sea? Like, please get me safely to my resort!'" she laughs.

But she acknowledges that not every fan interaction is as lighthearted. "It's just moments of like, I'm having dinner with my mum, like, please don't do this right now. You know, I really want to take that picture for you but not right now. But if it's a kid, I will say, I would stop everything... you know, because that's just so sensitive and so beautiful. I can't break a kid's heart, but adults, absolutely I can break it." She's learned to set boundaries, even as she remains grateful for the support of her fans. "Some days, like, someone could just be like, walking past you, and they're like, 'you're dope', and I'm like, 'thanks.' And they're like, 'keep doing your thing'. And I'm like, 'I will'. You're like, 'great'. And then it's done, it's finished. They're like, 'I don't even want a picture. You're just awesome.' And then you just leave you alone. I love moments like that."

Wright's ability to balance the demands of her career with her personal life is no small feat, especially in an industry that often blurs the lines between the two. But she seems to approach it all with a sense of humour and a quiet resilience. Even as she takes on new challenges, like serving as a judge for the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award—a full-circle moment, given her own win in 2018—she remains thoughtful about the role she plays in shaping the careers of others. "It's kind of strange being in this position," she admits. "I try to just be compassionate to everyone, as I would want someone to be compassionate when they're looking at my art."

Adding what she's looking for in the new crop of nominees, Wright shares: "It's just about the truth really, and what's their career looking like and is this going to really help them too? Because I know it really helped me, from there, I worked with Steve McQueen and Small Axe. And then I got another BAFTA nomination, which is great. So, the Rising Star Award does help, you know? So, it's like, 'who really needs it to just champion their career forward.'"