Actor Delroy Lindo, with a career spanning decades, has discussed his experiences within the entertainment industry, including an Oscar nomination for his role in the film Sinners.
BAFTA Incident
At the BAFTA awards on February 22, Lindo and co-star Michael B. Jordan were presenting when an individual with Tourette syndrome shouted a racial slur. Lindo stated he processed the event quickly with Jordan, and they continued their duties.
He described the incident as evolving from a negative start into a positive outcome, leading to an appearance at the NAACP awards where he expressed gratitude for support.
Film and Nomination
Sinners, a vampire thriller starring Michael B. Jordan and featuring Lindo as blues musician Delta Slim, has received 16 Academy Award nominations. This marks Lindo's first Oscar nomination.
He previously experienced disappointment when his performance in Da 5 Bloods did not receive Academy recognition. Despite this, he affirmed his commitment to continue working.
Role Preparation
For his role as Delta Slim, Lindo's preparation involved reading Blues People by Amiri Baraka and Deep Blues by Robert Palmer. These texts provided insight into the lives and cultures of blues musicians, emphasizing their itinerant nature and deep connection to music.
On Oscar Recognition
Lindo stated he views his nomination as a victory and will not consider it a negative experience, despite historical challenges faced by some Black actors after winning awards.
He aims to embrace the positive aspects of the moment, acknowledging some apprehension but reaffirming his dedication to his acting career.
Childhood Experience
During his childhood in London, Lindo lived with a white family in a predominantly white neighborhood while his mother studied nursing. He was the only Black child at his elementary school.
He recounted an instance where a playmate abruptly ended their game after speaking with a parent, an experience he described as being "othered."
Forthcoming Memoir
Lindo is writing a memoir, which he describes as a healing and scrutinizing process, particularly regarding his relationship with his mother. The memoir is intended to move beyond a typical celebrity narrative.
It will examine history and culture through the lens of the "Windrush" experience.
He pursued a master's degree at NYU with an initial goal of writing a screenplay about his mother, motivated by a perceived lack of Caribbean female protagonists in film. He aims to highlight the significance of the Windrush generation's contribution to defining British identity, specifically noting their role in rebuilding the UK's construction, transportation, and health industries after World War II.