FAITH ALABI ON PLAYING A COMPLEX AFRICAN WOMAN IN THE WORLD OF “WE ARE WHO WE ARE”

English actress FAITH ALABI plays the subtle yet moving character of Jenny Poythress in Luca Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are. Jenny was originally from Nigeria and is Richard’s wife and mom to Caitlin and Danny. She initially helps families settle down and find homes in the fictional military base in Italy.

Alabi played Jenny’s character with grace, giving her a commanding presence whenever she’s on-screen. She exudes this charm of a beautiful, quiet storm, as if she’s holding back on a lot of things. We see her, but there’s definitely so much more to her. She is this quiet force that glues a lot of the characters together as she brilliantly portrays and showcases the life of a complex African Woman in a military base.

Faith Alabi is also known on stage and screen for the 2017 Off West End Award Winning Play 'The Rolling Stone' at The Orange Tree Theatre, Grantchester (2014), Vera (2011) and Agatha Raisin (2014).

In this exclusive interview, ALABI spoke to us about playing Jenny, We Are Who We Are, acting, and being a magic book of self-care and divinity.

STYLING: TILLA WHEATING, MAKEUP: SAM LASCELLE, HAIR: CARL CAMPBELL

Do you remember your initial reaction when you first read the script for Jenny? How was it?

I remember thinking I’d never read a character like this. I was so excited to read about a woman who on the surface seemed to fit the architype of a wife and mom (who aren’t often afforded much depth) yet surprised me completely and revealed these gorgeous complexities and self-contradictions. Jenny, like all of the characters in We Are Who We Are can’t really be defined, and that’s such a treasure for any actor, to have plenty of room to fill with your own nuances and motivations and justifications. I love her.

How would you describe Jenny’s evolution throughout the show?

At the start of the series Jenny roots her sense of self and identity firmly in maintaining order and duty, like her husband Richard does. She views herself and her purpose in relation to how she serves others, as a mother, as a wife. She really wants Richard to treat Danny as his real son, but when this doesn’t happen, a void between Jenny and her husband increases. As she develops a bond with her neighbor Maggie, she is encouraged to start claiming life for herself, shed hers and society’s preconceptions and obligations of duty, and begin a journey exploring and discovering what truly serves her. Without revealing too much of a spoiler, she completely surprises herself along the way.

Are there any similarities between you and Jenny?

I guess we’re similar in that on the surface Jenny seems cheerful and polite, which can conceal a complex emotional life. We both have complicated backgrounds. Although I was born in the UK, growing up I can certainly relate to feeling like a foreigner in a different culture and wanting to assimilate as a means of survival at the expense of abandoning my truth. Jenny eventually discovers the idea that our identities are not bound to fit a mold and I agree. I’m not really preoccupied with how others perceive me and my identity isn’t tied in with my expected roles from society like Jenny. However, through experience we’re both now aware that people can continue to discover themselves throughout life, not just during adolescence.

If your character could have its own soundtrack, what would it be and why?

Ooooo what a great question! Clean Bandit – A + E. It’s less of a soundtrack and more of a kind of ‘Jenny’s anthem’. The song starts off with classical music and sort of out of nowhere the beat drops and surprises you with electro/dance music. When you listen to the full song again, you can kind of see hints in the classical of where it’s going to go, hints you might not have picked up on the first time, like in episode 3 of We Are Who We Are. Also the lyrics are a little uncanny regarding her thoughts towards Richard and her own rediscovery.

To those who haven’t seen it yet, what’s unique about We Are Who We Are?

It’s cinematic. It’s slow burning. It’s immersive. It’s ambiguous about gender fluidity and sexuality and doesn’t set out to neatly define and explain anything to its audience patronizingly. I think some things in life are meant to be felt, not understood, and I think the series achieves this if you allow yourself to experience it. It’s not like TV you’ve seen before.

How was it to work with Luca Guadagnino along the whole cast and crew?

We had such a wonderful time. Luca was so open to input from all the actors, he listened to ideas I discussed with him from some personal experiences and my Nigerian heritage and worked them into the script. Luca has divinely inspired ideas and directs poetically. The cast and crew bonded so well on and off set. We’re still close.

What are the challenges and the highs that you experienced during filming?

The challenges really weren’t that bad. I suppose one would be the ever changing and unpredictable schedule, sometimes mid car journey to set! Luca is very intuitive and works with utmost artistic integrity and detail, so if something wasn’t right, we wouldn’t shoot it. Also shooting some scenes in a thin little summer dress pretending it was a warm summer’s night when it was freezing in November and you’re trying to stop your teeth chattering in a close up! Waa waa waa somebody call me a waaambulance! Highs were celebrating my birthday and filming scenes with my family and titans like Alice and Chloe.

How did you manage to rise above the challenges?

I meditated a lot and used aromatherapy to kind of let go and let flow when it came to the schedule – I also knit. Practicing mindfulness activities help to ground me in the present moment so I’m not trying to control things that are out of my hands. And the crew and my scene partners were incredible at keeping me warm between takes, and staying connected with during takes, respectively.

What’s the most memorable moment for you throughout the whole process of making the series?

The laughter. In the hair and makeup trailer. I just remember cackling and hooting with tears rolling down my cheeks a lot with cast and crew. We had game nights and dinners and trips around Italy, it was gorgeous.

Everyone’s process is different and each has their unique approach to things. Can you walk us through your creative process whenever you go and film a scene?

I try and ground myself and connect with my scene partners or the activity I’m doing in the scene if I’m by myself. I probably look like a weirdo eyeballing people until they say “Action”. If I’m nervous I chant a Buddhist mantra under my breath to remind myself who I am and what I’ve overcome. I also use music a lot while I prepare, especially if it gives me a flavour of the character or mood. Anohni was on heavy repeat during filming for this.

How did acting start for you?

In a cardboard box. We cut a hole in it and made it look like a TV set. I’d dress up in suits and climb in and pretend to be a newscaster or the dad from Sister Sister.

Out of all the roles that you’ve played, is there any role/character that resonated with you the most and why?

The dad from Sister Sister.

Just kidding. Jenny from We Are Who We Are because I get to play a complex African woman and hopefully give lots of people an opportunity to feel seen in ways they haven’t been afforded before.

What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned that you always carry with you?

“Eat the chicken, spit out the bones” – only take what nourishes you, don’t worry about the rest. You cannot over-nourish yourself.

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

An ancient (approx. 500 million years old) magic book of Self-Care and divinity co-written by Claywoman from the Merillion Galaxy and Erykah Badu