Bayo Gbadamosi
Bayo Gbadamosi, a British-Nigerian actor from London, is most known for his current roles as Kariem on Disney+’s War of the Worlds and Arkady on Hulu’s The Great. Getting his start in acting in the theater, he made his TV debut in the show Casualty in 2017.
Yellow Shirt by King & Tuckfield
Black Trousers by King & Tuckfield
Did you always know you wanted to be an actor?
To be honest, acting wasn’t ever a job I considered early on. I didn’t have anyone around me who worked in the arts while I was growing up. I always imagined myself working as a lawyer, which is what I actually studied at the university. My first real interaction with acting came just before Uni, when I chose drama as one of my A-levels. I thought it would be a fun alternative to my other academic subjects. During that time, we went on many theatre trips and that’s when I started to develop an interest in acting.
Did you imagine yourself having a career in the theatre?
Definitely! Deciding to become an actor and working in the theatre came hand in hand for me. On one of those theatre trips, I saw The Brothers Size by Tarrell Alvin McCraney at The Youngvic Theatre and was so incredibly moved by that show that I started to develop a serious passion for acting and, in particular, acting on stage.
Left:
Micro Houndstooth Suit by Ben Sherman
Yellow Roll Neck Top by Stylists own
Right:
Red Patchwork Tracksuit by Bethany Williams
Black Leather Loafers by Grenson Shoes
How did you know that your switch from Theatre to TV was right for you?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it a switch as I want to continue to work in theatre. I’ve always wanted to have a career that involves working across a variety of mediums. Whether that’s in theatre, film, TV, animation, etc. I just really enjoy the various ways in which I can explore my craft as an actor. So, working in TV has been a natural continuation of that journey.
Left:
Red Patchwork Tracksuit by Bethany Williams
Black Leather Loafers by Grenson Shoes
Right:
Micro Houndstooth Suit by Ben Sherman
Yellow Roll Neck Top by Stylists own
White leather and suede trainers by Grenson Shoes
What were the biggest challenges that you overcame during that switch and what aspects carried over?
I think initially I was surprised by the number of distractions there are on a TV set. There are so many people simultaneously working on set to create the show. You could be filming an intimate scene, between just two characters, but the reality is just above you, out of shot, is a boom mic held by someone from the sound department and just below you, someone from the lighting holding a foam pad towards your face to light you properly. It’s this beautiful synergy between so many departments that is essential for making TV. You also almost never film in chronological order either. You may be asked to jump in at any point in the story and film a scene from it. Whereas in theatre you rehearse and perform the play in sequence. I wouldn’t say these were excessively challenging, but certainly required some acclimatising on my part. I do believe at their core acting on screen and stage are the same thing. Some adjustments may have to be made, like warming up daily to ensure your voice is prepared for the demands of a packed theatre. But when it comes down to it, the aim is always to be truthful to the character you’re playing and the preparation and work that goes into achieving that is very similar, if not the same.
War of the Worlds and The Great are so different. What are your favorite parts about each?
That’s my favorite thing about working on both shows: how different they are from each other and how they allow me to tap into very distinct head spaces. War of The Worlds is a modern day post-apocalyptic show about an alien invasion. I play Kariem, a former child soldier and refugee who is constantly in survival mode. He is quite sensitive and has a moral compass set on selflessness. He often takes it upon himself to protect those around him, and the tone of the show is quite dark and heavy. On the other hand, The Great is a comedy set in the 18th century about the rise of Catherine the Great. I play Arkady, a party loving nobleman who comes from extreme wealth and privilege and is primarily concerned with self-preservation and climbing up the ladder of power. Having the opportunity to portray such contrasting characters has been an absolute joy and my favorite part about working on both shows.
Left:
Pale Pink Jacket & Trousers by M.C Overalls Fuschia
Shirt by King & Tuckfield
Navy suede trainers by Grenson Shoes
Right:
Wool Patchwork Jumper by Waste Yarn Project
How do you prepare for your roles? Do you do anything special?
Other than reading and analyzing the script over and over again, I don’t have a set way in which I prepare for a role. It’s constantly shifting and entirely dependent on what I feel is necessary for the specific job I’m working on. I always imagine that with every role, I start with a distance between myself and the character, and my preparation consists of the things that help close that gap, to the point where I feel capable of being a vessel to tell that person’s story. For example, in War of The Worlds I worked with a dialect coach (Hazel Holder) to discover Kariem’s voice and accent. It was also really important to me that I understood his past as a child soldier in South Sudan and his experiences as a refugee. I watched many documentaries and read books that helped clarify the history of the conflict in South Sudan and some that gave a more intimate perspective on what it’s like being a child soldier. Ishmael Beah’s memoir, A Long Way Gone in particular, is one I read many times. It was also pivotal that I understood in detail what Kariem lost as a result of the conflict, so I wrote a backstory detailing who his family members were and what his life was like before it was touched by war. I also spoke to some people who volunteered in Calais, where we find him at the start of season one and charted his journey to Calais from South Sudan in a diary. We don’t see any of this in the show, but it certainly helps me feel more rooted and truthful when playing Kariem.
What !s your dream role? And who inspired you growing up?
My dream role is probably something I haven’t thought of myself, but once I read it, I just know it’s something I have to be a part of. I think that’s because I’m more drawn to the idea of working with exciting storytellers than playing a specific role. I would love to work with directors like Barry Jenkins, Chloe Zhao, Steve McQueen. & Bong Joon Ho, to name a few. I also really love a lot of what A24 and Plan B make. Having said that, I’ve been a massive comic book fan since I was 10 and it’s been a real joy to see Marvel develop the MCU across both film and (more recently) TV. So that’s definitely something I would love to be a part of. Someone that inspired growing up is my Mom. That probably sounds cliché, but it’s a fact. She’s such a hardworking woman, who is guided by love and her faith and is just someone who has been a great mentor and inspiration for me on this journey of life.
White Cotton Shirt by N Palmer
Is there a most impactful project that you worked on?
I did a play a few years ago called I SEE YOU at The Royal Court Theatre in London. The play is set South Africa and we took the show out on tour to Johannesburg and Cape Town. It was the first time I had been in an African country other than Nigeria. I felt an intense affinity for both places: the culture, people, music, and food. It’s hard to explain but it felt like a home away from home and it’s easily one of my favorite places in the world. I 100% recommend visiting that country.
Green Micro Cord Varsity Jacket by Lacoste
Green Roll Neck Sweater by Stylists own
Is there a certain genre that you have not tried yet that you want to?
So many! There’s so much I haven’t done that I’d love to do, including thriller, Rom-Com, Horror, Action, Western, Noir, Animation. The list goes on.
Where do you see your career going?
It could go any number of ways. Naturally, I have aspirations for the sort of career I’d like to have and artists I’d like to work with. But, ultimately, I want to continue to develop as a performer and work on projects that continuously challenge me and push the limits of what I think is possible.
What are your socials?
Instagram: @gbadamosi
Twitter: @bayo_gbadamosi
CREW CREDITS:
Photographer: David Reiss
Talent: Bayo Gbadamosi
Fashion Stylist: Steph Kelly
Barber: Oakley from Oakley Barbers
Tearsheets: Daniel López, Junior Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview: Bridget McDonald, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
