Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha, known as Gugu Mbatha-Raw, is an English stage and film actress...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionActress
approach health mental says somewhere spectrum
Everyone says to you, 'if you play Ophelia, you'll end up crazy,' but we're all somewhere on the spectrum of mental health, and I think that if you approach it that way it's not such an intimidating issue.
good healthy people rather rocket science somewhere success treat workplace
I see L.A. as a workplace rather than somewhere to live. If I don't get out, I go crazy. If you have a little success, people treat you differently, so it's good to keep a healthy perspective. It's acting, not rocket science.
ella fitzgerald listened musical nina
I've always sung. I was really into musical theater when I was growing up. As a kid, I listened to Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, actually, on cassette tapes.
experience home love music musical national performing production theater threw town youth
I just love performing so much, and I threw myself into every musical theater production that was going in my home town and at school. And then, I went to the National Youth Music Theatre, which was really a galvanizing experience for me when I was 17.
bit sad
This is going to sound really sad, but I didn't really have any heartthrobs when I was growing up. I was a bit of a geek.
people roles
The actors that inspire me are the comedians and the people able to shape-shift into different roles and into different media.
basis colin home jennifer mum watched weekly
The 'Pride and Prejudice' with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle was something I watched on a weekly basis with my mum at home in Oxfordshire.
people stories
Speaking as a mixed-race woman, there aren't many historical stories about people like me.
work
In 2009, I was living in London and getting work I enjoyed.
base experience fails fan thrilled wonderful
I was so thrilled to be in 'Doctor Who.' It's such a wonderful experience, and the fan base that that show has never fails to surprise me.
played wizard
I played Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz.' That was my first role on stage.
corsets guess nails tripped type
Corsets were a challenge in 'Belle;' fake nails tripped me up in 'Blackbird.' Guess I'm not a mani type of girl!
When I was nine, 'The Borrowers' was such a big series for me!
complement fit
I like to choose things that fit my body for sure; you learn to find the things that complement your shape.