An Interview with Junior Nyong’o

Kenyan actor, Junior Nyong’o, is making his equity debut as Hamlet! Junior sat down with us to discuss poetry, Pottermore, and his craft.

Orlando Shakes: How does this production of Hamlet bring something new to the story?

Junior Nyong’o: As an ensemble, this is a production you wouldn’t usually see of Hamlet. Usually, Gertrude and Claudius are older, but here you have younger actors playing them. Most Hamlets, traditionally, are a lot older too. There’s a youthfulness to the cast that gives a different energy. And here is the beautiful thing: when any ensemble does this show, it is going to be new, regardless of time period and costumes. They say there’s nothing new under the sun, but the beauty about Shakespeare is how he wrote. I am just becoming a Shakespeare nerd, a ‘Bardinator’, I think is what they call it. That began last year, coming to do the internship at Orlando Shakes, Jim [Helsinger] really unlocked it for me. The problem with Shakespeare is how it’s taught. You sit down, read a play, dissect the themes, analyze the text, and regurgitate it in an exam, but there’s a distance to it. Shakespeare is meant to be heard. Forget even being seen; it is meant to be heard. Hamlet even says it in this show: “Friends, we will hear a play tomorrow,” speaking to the players. He doesn’t even say watch, he says hear, which is so incredible.

Orlando Shakes: What has been the biggest challenge in playing the role of Hamlet?

Junior: The biggest mental challenge at the beginning, is that Hamlet is probably the most produced play in the world. There’s this onus of man hanging over you by all the people who have played this role. But then, at some point, it dawns on you, that he is exactly just that – he’s a man. He’s a man that is going through things that we can all relate to – pain, loss of a loved one, betrayal, struggling to communicate your feelings to your significant other, miscommunication. All of these things are human qualities, and I think approaching Hamlet as a human being rather than this mythos and god-like figure brings him down to a level that is accessible, and allows you to be a conduit for whatever is going through him, and that is made easy by the language.

Photo by Tony Firriolo features Adam Reilly and Junior Nyong’o.

Orlando Shakes: What is one of your favorite lines in the show?

Junior: There are so many! But my favorite is when Horatio tells Hamlet that he saw his father once, “he was a goodly king,” and Hamlet replies, “he was a man, take him for all in all.” That was this sobering, humbling reset factor, like, yeah, he was a man. And that’s what is so beautiful about Hamlet, and why every single actor that plays Hamlet will be different – because it is them. This is why I feel like all actors should play Hamlet. That released the apprehension and tension for me at the beginning. Of course, I am a human being, and I have days where I am insecure, but to some degree I just knew that this is mine.

Orlando Shakes: How are you similar to Hamlet? How are you different?

Junior: I did a Pottermore Sorting Hat quiz as Hamlet. When I did it a few years ago, I thought I would be sorted into Gryffindor because I thought I had those traits, but I got sorted into Slytherin! I took it okay. I mean, Merlin was a Slytherin. So, I am thinking in my head that Hamlet is Slytherin too, but he’s Gryffindor. Then it made sense to me! I was kind of seeing the end of Hamlet rather than the beginning, where he truly lives. Everyone loves him. He is always in search of the truth, and he makes mistakes, but we all make mistakes, you know? But his intentions are very pure, which is very Gryffindor.

Orlando Shakes: What was your first experience as an actor?

Junior: I was in primary school, and we were doing a Christmas show. I was cast as a guy who would sweep a broom across the stage. I was so excited! Back home in Nairobi, Kenya we have house helpers. So I went to my house help, and asked her if she could show me how she sweeps, and did my research. I was probably 8 or 9 years old. When we got to rehearsal, I had so much excitement. I had two scenes! I was sweeping the stage, but it was nerve-wracking. I tried to perform a little bit after that. I was very interested in many things – music and sports. It was great to have a really supportive mom, because it allowed me to find my center, my compass. It really clicked for me in high school. In my first year of high school, I played Jesus in Godspell, and that was the first time my parents watched me act. For undergrad, I still wanted to get a general degree. But then I knew pretty quickly I wanted to act. I really love the act of dissecting human characteristics, and emotions, and making the audience feel things. I think this commitment to finding authenticity and truth is at the center point of Hamlet as a character. He has so many lines about honesty, and truth, and judgment, and conscious, and thinking, and that is at the root of our job as actors.

Orlando Shakes: Who is your biggest inspiration as an artist?

Junior: My sister [Lupita Nyong’o] is a huge inspiration for me. Growing up, I remember I saw her in a production of Romeo and Juliet, and she was so inspiring. She is my best friend as well. It’s crazy because we don’t speak much about the craft, but I learn so much from our conversations. I think that’s the beauty of acting, and why you get better as you grow older, because you are in the world in different ways. The world is the best teacher. More than training, the world informs you how you can be onstage, because you learn from people.

Orlando Shakes: Who is the funniest person in the cast?

Junior: Dan Kremer, who plays Polonius, is hilarious and excellent! I am learning so much from him. That’s the thing, initially, I was like, ‘what do I know about acting?’ I am doing this with people who are on it, and it was intimidating, but then I realized that can only be good. Of course you want to do something with people who are better than you. That can only make you better. It forces you to pick up your socks, man! Dan’s Polonius is out of control. He is my personal favorite character in this show, and I think he will be a crowd favorite. Dan is hilarious and his timing is amazing.

Orlando Shakes: What sort of person is going to love this show?

Junior: I would say that Shakespeare is one of those hard things, depending on how you are introduced to it. It’s important to know that there is heightened language. There are ‘thees’ and ‘wherefores’, and ‘hence’ and these words that we don’t use anymore. But if you come with an open mind, and you have read a synopsis, you will enjoy it. Even the most seasoned Shakespearean actor is not going to see a Shakespeare show without knowing what the plot is. Shakespeare wasn’t good at writing plot twists. If you want that, go watch Netflix. He was good at writing characters, and emotions. I’d say look up a synopsis of Hamlet, know something, memorize a speech from the play, so you can come and hear it come alive. If you come and see the show, and are ready to hear something come alive, this is the show for you.