The star of Noughts + Crosses has said that it was ‘fun’ to see Stormzy ’embody’ his character, a ‘racist’ newspaper editor, in the new BBC drama.
Masali Baduza, from South Africa, plays Sephy Hadley in the new series, which is set in a world where dark-skinned people run a culture that oppresses light-skinned people, while the rapper, 26, Croydon, appears as a right-wing newspaper editor.
Appearing on This Morning today, Masali told that while his character was the ‘farthest thing’ from the musician, she enjoyed watching him in the role, although they never actually shot any scenes together.
Rapper Stormzy 26, Croydon, appears as a right-wing newspaper editor in new BBC drama Noughts + Crosses
The show focuses on the forbidden romance between star-crossed lovers Sephy Hadley – the daughter of Albion’s racist home secretary – and Callum McGregorm. Pictured, Masali Baduza and Jack Rowan in the show
Appearing on This Morning today, Masali told that it was ‘fun’ to see Stormzy ’embody’ his character, a ‘racist’ newspaper editor, in the new BBC drama
Speaking of the rapper, she said: ‘He plays a racist newspaper editor and I think that’s the farthest thing that he is. It was really fun to see him embody that character.’
She added: ‘I didn’t have any scenes with him but I made sure to be on set that day to get a selfie with him.’
The series is an adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s 2001 book Noughts + Crosses – a drama set in an alternate world where Britain, known as Albion, which has been ruled by the ‘Aprican Empire’ for 700 years.
It focuses on the forbidden romance between star-crossed lovers Sephy – the daughter of Albion’s racist home secretary – and Callum McGregorm, a white teenager who is the son of their family maid.
The drama is set in an alternate world where Britain, known as Albion, which has been ruled by the ‘Aprican Empire’ for 700 years
There are two races in Albion: the crosses, darker-skinned with money, power, jobs and education – and the noughts, lighter-skinned, poorer and usually working as labourers and servants
There are two races in Albion: the crosses, darker-skinned with money, power, jobs and education – and the noughts, lighter-skinned, poorer and usually working as labourers and servants.
The actress, who lives in Cape Town where the series is shot, told that she’s ‘never seen’ a role where a young black woman ‘has privilege’.
Speaking of her first time reading the script, she said: ‘I’m from South Africa, so I hadn’t heard about the books and I thought “This is the most interesting and unique story I’ve ever seen”.
‘I think she’s such a strong character. I’ve never read a role where a young black girl has privilege and the world is for her.’
When quizzed on the social impact the show will have, she said: ‘I think we have a long way to go, but I think this show is the beginning of moving that narrative forward.
‘The point is to start to conversation and get people thinking and challenge their perceptions of reality’.
The series is an adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s (pictured) 2001 book Noughts + Crosses and last year was included in the BBC’s list of 100 Novels That Shaped Our World
The book, which last year was included in the BBC’s list of 100 Novels That Shaped Our World – along with Frankenstein and Pride And Prejudice – has always been filmable.
Having Malorie’s approval was crucial in many ways – from critical plot changes to surprising bonuses such as casting Stormzy.
The books are the London rapper’s favourite novels and when he met Malorie at an awards show and she told him about the series, he wanted to be involved.
Stormzy’s character is just one change the team hope diehard fans will accept. The book Noughts + Crosses was set largely in school, but the series has aged up the characters to their late teens and taken them out of education.
Speaking of the change, the star said: ‘I think the characters have been aged up to really put emphasis on the fact they are choosing to be together.’
Stormzy appears in a later episode as the editor while Paterson Joseph plays the complicated character of the country’s home secretary – who is depicted as racist but also a loyal and affectionate family man.
Paterson Joseph (pictured) plays the complicated character of the country’s home secretary – who is depicted as racist but also a loyal and affectionate family man
The actress told that she’s ‘never seen’ a role where a young black woman ‘has privilege’.Jack Rowan as Callum is pictured working as a waiter
‘It was important to me to make him as rounded as possible,’ the actor said at the series’ premiere, according to the Times.
‘Just because somebody is a racist, it doesn’t mean they are not human. It just means that they perhaps have had a certain upbringing, or have had things reinforced that have made them ignorant of the other.’
The television adaptation, which was filmed on location in South Africa, begins on BBC One on Thursday night at 9pm.
All six episodes will be made available immediately on BBC iPlayer to encourage marathon viewing of the series.
In the drama, the London skyline features a Statue of Liberty-sized depiction of an African woman.
White characters – including the maid Helen Baxendale – are also seen wearing their hair in traditional black styles.