Interviews
The Four Time BAFTA Winner – Michaela Coel
Michaela Coel is soaring through the industry, as she wins Leading Actress for ‘I May Destroy You’ at the BAFTA Awards.
London born Coel, began her years in Tower Hamlet, raised by her Ghanaian, devout Pentecostal Church mother. Following her English degree at University, Coel joined the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2009, whilst spending her evenings performing spoken word in several locations across London.
Coel commenced her career writing Chewing Gum Dreams, a play set in London, loosely based on her own experiences in a comedic manner and about the character wanting to know more about the world, following restrictions from religion. In 2015, Channel 4 collaborated with Coel, to produce a TV Sitcom of the play, shortened to Chewing Gum, which immediately captured the attention of viewers and won a BAFTA Television Craft Award.
Since the hit series aired, Coel hasn’t stopped producing, writing and acting iconic, comedic, TV dramas. Most recently, the actress wrote ‘I May Destroy You’, a series based around a writer’s trauma after being a victim of assault, trying to rebuild her existence. The script provided a catharsis for her personal experience of sexual assault that she endured, whilst writing the second season of Chewing Gum. ‘It’s been therapeutic to write about it, and actively twist a narrative of pain into something with more hope, and even humour.’
Now as an achieved script writer, producer and actress, with a platform to express her opinions, Coel continues to enlighten her viewers on the fundamental issues that need to be addressed in society, including sexualisation of women and racial inequality.
Coel has plans to continue writing thought provoking pieces, that help her to acknowledge and overcome trials and tribulations ‘I’m focusing on whatever challenge is in my hand.’
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