MICHAELA COEL The Creator

BY: Amanda Jane Stern

After being snubbed by the Golden Globes, British actress, writer, and director Michaela Coel got noticed by the Emmys. The British TV drama series, I May Destroy You —which Coel created, produced, wrote, starred in, and directed— is up for Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or Movie.

The British actress first broke through to American audiences in the Britcom Chewing Gum based on her play Chewing Gum Dreams. She starred as Tracey Gordon, a 20-something London shop assistant, who despite her strict religious upbringing, wants to have sex. Coel won the BAFTA for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Program. The series was initially available on Netflix before moving over to HBOMax.

Oh, and she can sing too! She portrayed Simone in the 2018 Netflix-released musical Been So Long, based on the Off-West End production of the same name.

Let’s take a look at a pair of Coel’s upcoming tv and film projects.

Jan 22nd

This TV series is currently in post-production and stars Coel as Arabella. Yes, she is reprising her role from I May Destroy You in this follow-up series. The 12-episode drama that focuses on themes of sexual consent is a co-production between the BBC and HBO. Coel created the series and will also direct some of the episodes, including the pilot. Set in London and Italy, the cast includes a who’s who of rising British actors, including Weruche Opia, Paapa Essiedu, Aml Ameen, Adam James, Sarah Niles, and Ann Akin.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

In this currently filming sequel to the only Marvel movie ever nominated for Best Picture, Coel will portray an unspecified character. Principal photography is still underway at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia. And neither director Ryan Coogler nor Marvel Studios will confirm any details about Coel’s role.

After Chadwick Boseman’s death in August 2020, there have been many questions about how Disney and Coogler will proceed in the sequel. However, most of the original cast, including Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Angela Bassett, and Oscar winners Daniel Kaluuya and Lupita Nyong’o, will reprise their roles.