Naomie Ackie, the dynamic British actor, has had an impressive career trajectory in recent years, but there’s one role that has always eluded her — being a part of the Harry Potter franchise. This remains her biggest regret to date. “I’m still desperate to be part of the franchise in some way! Growing up, I was such a huge Potter fan and I was so jealous of all the kids who were cast in the movies. I really wanted to be Hermione (Granger), but obviously, that part was already taken and played beautifully by Emma Watson,” Ackie reminisced.
When she was just 15, Ackie auditioned for the role of Lavender Brown and even made it to the second round of auditions. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Ah well, maybe they’ll let me audition for them once more,” she sighed, reflecting on the pivotal moment in her early acting career.
While she may not have donned wizarding robes or cast spells yet, Ackie’s career trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. She gained critical acclaim for her performances in films like “Lady Macbeth” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” Her remarkable roles in hit television series like “The End of the F***ing World” and “Master of None” firmly cemented her status in Hollywood. She then delivered a stellar portrayal of Whitney Houston in the biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” earning universal praise and acclaim.
Next up for Ackie is starring in Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, “Blink Twice,” which is set to release this week. This marks her second collaboration with a Black female filmmaker, following her work with Kasi Lemmons on the Houston biopic. Ackie has often spoken about the unique dynamics of working under the guidance of Black female directors. “There’s almost an unspoken understanding of what is expected from me as an actor,” she explained.
She elaborates further, “When you have something deeply in common in terms of identity with the person who is leading you through a story, you naturally know that there is nothing you can’t talk about. There are no sensitive buttons when it comes to discussing those things, and it becomes a really open conversation. Luckily, I’ve dealt with many directors who don’t share the same identity as me, but still have been able to find that with me. But there is an ease I have found, and a joy more than anything, to work with people who know my experience and have lived my experience.”
Director Zoë Kravitz’s psychological thriller, “Blink Twice,” tells the story of a cocktail waitress (played by Ackie) who crosses paths with a billionaire tech mogul (Channing Tatum). She is whisked away by him and his wealthy friends to a private island for what seems to be a dream vacation, which soon spirals out of control. The film was originally titled “Pussy Island” but was renamed after encountering controversy. “There were a lot of roadblocks along the way, whether it be the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) not wanting to put it on a poster, or a billboard, or a kiosk; movie theatres not wanting to put it on a ticket,” Kravitz had earlier explained.
Ackie, who was a fan of the original title, commented, “It was such a grabbing title and was there to catch people’s attention.
. It felt taboo, naughty, and cheeky, and really hit home on what the story is. But at the same time, we had to concede to the point that for some people, that word isn’t necessarily freeing and it’s offensive. And we want as many people to feel connected to this piece of work.”
The actor added, “There is an amazing line in the trailer from the film, where her character goes, ‘Blink twice if I’m in danger!’ So there is still that element of the new title linking to the story; it’s just a different angle. We were okay with whatever we needed to do to make sure that everyone feels included and no one feels isolated from it.”
Written in a pre-#MeToo era, the script underwent multiple revisions to align with the evolving cultural climate, particularly in Hollywood after the Harvey Weinstein trials. Ackie is known for collaborating closely with her directors, and she recalls her experience with Kravitz as refreshingly flexible. “Zoë, as a writer, is always receptive to dialogue. If I told her about a personal experience I went through, she’d be like, ‘Oh, that’s amazing. Let’s use that!’ I come from a theatre background, so a lot of that world is just like throwing out ideas. If it works, it works; if it doesn’t, fine, let’s find something new. So getting into that really collaborative space with Zoë was a real gift, because even if the ideas didn’t necessarily work, knowing that she was always open to it meant that there was a freedom when it came to performing and portraying the character.”
The hectic pace of her career was evident in the summer of 2022 when she balanced roles in three different projects almost simultaneously. After wrapping up filming for “Blink Twice,” she immediately flew out to complete reshoots for “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” and shortly thereafter started work on Bong Joon-ho’s highly anticipated sci-fi thriller, “Mickey 17.” The film adaptation of Edward Ashton’s 2002 novel of the same name features a star-studded cast, including Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. It’s scheduled for release on January 31, 2025.
“Mickey 17 was the longest one; we shot that over five months and it was a true honour. There are things in life that you don’t even think about hoping for, you know? Like, I never ever imagined I’d be in a Bong Joon-ho film. The first one I watched of his was ‘Parasite,’ and I blinked a year or two and here I was, suddenly exchanging ideas with this man who is so incredibly kind and funny,” Ackie said.
Finally, Ackie’s involvement in “Blink Twice” has ignited discussions about the film being inspired by Hollywood’s infamous wild private parties. When asked to confirm these speculations, she laughed, “You know what, I must confess, I am a bit of a homebody and don’t really party at all. I have been to some amazing ones — not like Blink Twice (laughs) — especially after the night of an award show, and you’re walking around, and going, oh my God! That’s so and so, and totally freaking out. So I have been lucky enough to go to a few, but mostly I’m much happier just chilling at home.”
As Naomie Ackie continues her ascent in Hollywood, her roles in “Blink Twice” and “Mickey 17” mark exciting chapters in what promises to be a long and illustrious career.