Colman Domingo is known for playing Victor Strand on AMC’s Fear The Walking Dead. Domingo is a Tony, OBIE, Lawrence Olivier, Drama Desk, Drama League and NAACP Award nominated actor, director and playwright. Colman will be seen in A24’s Zola, the sci-fi drama Lucy in the Sky for Fox Searchlight and The God Committee. He is a recipient of the Sundance Feature Film Program Grant for his original television series called West Philly, Baby. The actor has a recurring role on Euphoria as the wise Ali who tries to help Rue (Zendaya) cope with her crippling drug addiction at Narcotics Anonymous. Euphoria fans were happy to see that Rue and Jules (Hunter Schafer) became a couple in Episode 105, titled “03 Bonnie and Clyde” directed by Jennifer Morrison.
“I was very excited that I got to have them together right after they connect at the end of the carnival episode and to be able to show them in couple mode. And I did think it was really interesting and honest that the writing started to look at this idea of how much pressure someone would feel if they were just suddenly in a relationship with someone that they had really strong feelings for at such a young age.” Once Upon A Time actress Jennifer Morrison told The Wrap.
The pair is such an item, that they even get their official couple name, “Rules” tattoos put on their lips. Rue sticks to her plans to stay sober for Jules. The episode begins with Rue comparing her feeling for Jules to the best drug experience that she has ever had. Ali had already warned Rue that she was addicted to her love for Jules and using that as a substitute for drugs. She decides to come clean at her N.A. group meeting that she was using all the time and lying each time she collected a chip celebrating her sobriety. But Rue does admit that she has been clean for about two weeks.
Ali gives Rue a harsh dose of reality, when he tells her to think about living her life without Jules, once their high school romance ends. “Rue was in rehab for a serious overdose and she’s continuously dealing with addiction on a really intense level. So I felt like it’s an honest thing to look at, when you’re a kid in high school that’s a lot of pressure—a relationship is a lot of pressure as a kid in high school, love and big feelings are a lot of pressure.” Morrison told The Wrap. “But add to that the weight of someone’s sobriety, that would be really tough. And we’ll have to see how Jules does managing that and dealing with that and if they’re able to stick together through that kind of pressure.”
Rue’s former best friend, Lexi (Maude Apatow) compliments Jules on the positive influence she is having on Rue’s life to stay sober. But Jules suddenly realizes that there is a bigger burden put on her, because she controls Rue’s destiny. The episode ends with Jules looking even more confused about whether Rue is too co-dependent to make their relationship work.
Colman Domingo talked to BlackFilm during a break from filming his upcoming Netflix movie, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, directed by Tony winner George C. Wolfe. The film based on August Wilson’s play is produced by Denzel Washington. Viola Davis and Chadwick Bosman star in the big screen adaptation, which is now filming in Pittsburgh.
BlackFilm: How were you cast on Euphoria?
Colman Domingo: Sam Levinson wrote the role for me based on a friend of his, a guy who was helping support him through his years, when he had some addiction issues. So it’s a character very close to Sam’s heart and he wrote it for me. It’s really a beautiful role to be a support system for this young woman. This seems to be the trajectory of a lot of the roles that I have been doing of late, which is always in support of a young woman’s growth. It’s wonderful.
BlackFilm: How would you describe the character of Ali, for people who aren’t familiar with the character? Can you describe for us what you character is doing on the show?
Colman Domingo: I think people have been referring to Ali as the ultimate OG. He’s someone who knows the game. He knows a liar when he sees it. He knows when someone is being sincere and honest, because he has gone through it. He’s basically saying you can’t trick a trickster. When you first hear Zendaya’s character, Rue, standing up in front of a Drug and Alcohol Anonymous meeting and fully lying to others. They are all believing, but he does not believe. He’s like…you can’t game the gamer. I think that Sam has an intention to undercut you, to go underneath Ali possibly in some future episodes, which will be very interesting. It’s complex to show the man that we meet; the reason why he is this way is, because he has had some troubles of his own and some rabid addictions of his own. He has his own cross to bear.
BlackFilm: What is it like working with Sam Levinson on the series? It is inspired by his own battle with drug addiction as a teenager. You both worked together before on Assassination Nation. Is there any additional direction that he has been giving you about the character?
Colman Domingo: Oh yeah, absolutely Sam is actually the word wunderkind. I think he is brilliant. He is a mad genius. All of his experiences that he has had with battling addiction. I think he was probably searching for a creative outlet. It all became story for him, because I think it is also part of his journey. I think he is someone who probably watches people, humanity and behavior. I think he is curious about the human condition, which is why he is able to write such complex characters, whether it is young people or older people wrestling with their demons in some way. Knowing that it is all very human. Everyone is just trying to work through something. He is using his own experiences, but he has also been watching others. So I think that is really fascinating.
I first met Sam at Sundance at a party. I forgot for which film, but it was me, he and Jeremy O’Hara standing around talking. And I fell in love with both of these fellas. I thought they were just brilliant minds. It just made sense that we would work together. Sam whenever he calls it’s rare that I say to any director, writer, I’ve said if you call me. I’m in–you don’t have to tell me exactly what it is, I know that I’m going to be part of your vision. So that’s what happened with Assassination Nation and the same thing with Euphoria. I’m glad I did it.
BlackFilm: What is it like for you to be working with Zendaya on the series? Your character is a mentor that she meets at the NA meeting.
Colman Domingo: First of all, she is one of the most compelling young actresses that I think I’ve worked with; she has so much depth, curiosity and skill. She has the skillset that of a very seasoned actor who has been in the game for maybe 50 years. Because I think she is that curious about people and she’s grounded. I don’t know if it has to do with her upbringing in the Bay area. I know her mother used to work at California Shakespeare Festival, where I used to perform and that’s how I knew her mom.
We didn’t put this together until we were on the set. I was like wait a minute. She said she used to watch our performances at California Shakespeare when she was a bit like a kid. She was like three or four or five years old. And then she kept talking about how she was watching this one guy who used to come up on a motorcycle every night in this outdoor production. I was like wait— is it “All’s Well That Ends Well?” She was like yeah, he’ll make an entrance on a motorcycle and I was just like I always loved to watch that part. I was like well, that was me. I played Autolycus in “All’s Well That Ends Well.” I had a white suit on a motorcycle and that was huge. Audiences loved it so much. She was four or five years old when she was watching me perform. So now it’s like, we are coming together from the Bay area, to now working on the screen and that’s awesome.
BlackFilm: What do you think people coping with addiction and younger people will learn from the show?
Colman Domingo: I think they will learn to examine it as a disease. And how human it is and that everyone can fall from grace in some way. Everyone has a road to possibly, get back up and find the tools that they need. I’m very proud that the show does not glamourize addiction in any way. It gets to the heart of it. It gets to the heart of why people possibly, do what they do and what they are seeking. That everyone is a little broken. Everyone has wounds and they are trying to fill it. Sometimes they do it with drugs, sometimes they do it with sex, and sometimes they do it with any other addictions. So I think that they will learn to see how human it is. I think it will actually be something that people can step out of and not have shame about. Because there is such a huge issue with kids and addiction. I think that now that they know—that they are not alone. They can have more tools and they can actually talk about it. I think people can sort of come out of the closets about it, and actually really deal and get to the source of their issues.
BlackFIlm: In Episode 4, your character compares the euphoric feeling that Zendaya’s character Rue feels from experimenting with drugs. To the feelings she gets when she is interacting with Jules. There is foreshadowing in the promo trailer for the rest of the season. That your character is saying to Rue, there is a possibility that her feelings might not be reciprocated as deeply with Jules, as she wants them to be. What if Jules falls out of love with her? Or is no longer interested in having a relationship with her. Do you think it’s possible for someone to experience that same type of euphoric feelings from love as they do with drugs? What can you tell us about the wisdom that your character shares throughout the season?
Colman Domingo: I think he is trying to share some wisdom, possibly from his own experience. Which is about possibly in that moment about substitution as well. You think you are substituting one addiction with another. I know that is something my own brother struggled with, my brother used to have addiction issues. He would swing from one to another. He would swing from now getting really healthy and fit. It would become such an obsession. That he would get the same feeling. So it’s still not getting to the core of the problem. I think that he is saying be careful, because now that you are trying to get clean. You’ve now become addicted to something else. Until you get right with actually going to the core, of why you are doing what you are doing, you won’t heal. So I think that he is trying to help her set her course. I love that he’s not judging her at all. He’s just listening and saying, don’t bullshit me, and let’s just talk about it. Let’s just talk about it, and then he can offer up something. He’s not perfect. He’s not a Buddha or an Allah or anything like that. He’s just a brotha trying to find and navigate his own scenario. I think a lot of times; he’s probably even saying it and relaying this to Rue, but probably relaying it more for himself. I think ultimately people are selfish. I think yes, he wants to help someone else, but it is also helping him as well. It’s giving him purpose.
BlackFilm: The show is very controversial, but it’s already been picked up for a second season. There’s from one week to the next, it’s grabbing headlines for a lot of the topics that they are tackling in the series. People are discovering the fresh faces in the cast. Can you discuss the fact that the show has resonated so much in pop culture? And working with the young cast and fresh faces that we see?
Colman Domingo: It is so exciting. I think it’s such exciting television. Because I think Sam has held strong to his vision. His creative vision, his visual vision, and his storytelling abilities to actually create something new—that is unique and fresh. I love that HBO has been on board for that and they were not challenged by it or afraid of it. To trust that these are the kind of stories that people are interested in telling and talking about. About themselves, about everyone coming out of the shadows and talking about things that are very difficult. Talking about relationships is very difficult. I love the fact that I’ve had people like my nephews and nieces —who I naturally wouldn’t think would watch Euphoria, because of subject matter. But they have all been loving it. It’s as if they can discuss all these different worlds and themes—in a very healthy environment—be a part of something bigger. I love the fact that it is all a cast of fresh faces. I feel like I’m sort of the OG of the company.
That’s kinda nice, for a while I was the young kid in movies, plays and all. But now I get to be an instigator and an agent of change in some sort of way from being an OG. I love that people are getting to know these characters. They feel so fresh, I also love that they feel so raw. You can tell they’re so well skilled, that’s such a very tricky thing. They’re so very skilled and very open as actors. Yet they feel so raw and available, in a way that we haven’t seen in a long time. I think that’s very appealing. I’m really excited about this young cast in every single way and what they are going to do in the future. I think Zendaya is the head of the class. She is leading them all.
BlackFilm: You are known as an actor. You are also a director and a playwright. You’ve worked with very well known directors like Spike Lee; you’re working with Sam Levinson now. What types of insight do you get when you are working on the set, from learning from the directors you interact with? What was your experience like directing as well? You directed on Fear The Walking Dead that you star on. What is it like acting and directing?
Colman Domingo: I’ve always approached my entire career on all these platforms as always a lesson, on any set, I’m learning from everyone. Not only fellow directors, but I’m learning from the lighting department and the grips. Because the way I have come into this whole industry was by doing. I have no formal training for anything that I’m doing. I came in from being a journalist student at Temple University. I started acting in San Francisco for ten years, then New York and now L.A. And wherever else people hire me. I learned just from the culture of sets and plays. I really always try to start with a blank canvas, each time that I go on any set. You can always learn, you can learn from everyone. You can learn from someone who has only been doing this for three months—from someone who has been doing this for thirty years. I’m just open in that way. I feel like I take a little something, hopefully I gain a little something every time you work; you put it into your own practice in some way.
I know that working with people like Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood or Ava DuVernay. I’ve been very blessed to work with some really awesome directors, even the directors or writers that have had some shortcomings. I think you can learn from them as well. A lot of directors are not perfect. I think they are finding the process; there is one thing I know for sure, is that most directors hire me because they want someone. I think I am outspoken and I’m a multiplatform creative. I know that when you want me in the room. You want all of me, you want me to help break down the script and talk about these things. And not just come in and be moved around. So I know that’s why people like Barry Jenkins and I get along. I have these long-term relationships with these directors and try to create even more. Because they know what I think. I think it took me a while, for a while I didn’t think people wanted actors who speak out in rooms. I think that has changed and they respect our vision and our voice. They know that we just want to be a part of the process. I think this is why I am glad to float in between genres and platforms. Because it also keeps everything very healthy for me. It’s the thing that keeps me stimulated.
BlackFilm: You have a lead role on Fear The Walking Dead. What can we expect from your character this season?
Colman Domingo: I think Victor Strand has been in a great state of change. He’s sort of developed finer heartstrings. I guess. I think that you can expect him to really put himself on the line—even more so for the group. Knowing he was a bit more for the individual, in past seasons. I think that is a great part of his journey. I think that he has continued to grow even more complex. Like a journey, I guess I’m assuming. I figure that when the world ends it will take you. It will take you to some very uncomfortable places. That you have to rediscover and re-examine yourself. So I think that is what he has been doing. I think it is a pretty cool journey.
BlackFilm: Do you plan to direct more episodes of the season?
Colman Domingo: Yeah, I hope so—I directed one this season it was Episode 3. Apparently people really liked it. There was great ratings and everything. Hopefully, they’ll let me direct like two or three next season, who knows. I love directing. I think directing is actually where I feel I have more agency, for all these ideas and thoughts in my head. And how to sort of coral a group of artists together to create a vision. So I think that’s cool, that’s where I really live.
BlackFilm: I spoke with one of the actors from The Walking Dead [Seth Gilliam]. He was saying that when he was on the series, he is an actor of color and he got nervous sometimes, when he would get a script and was wondering whether or not his character would still be on the series. Because it’s such a popular zombie apocalypse series. Do you have those types of conversations with the creators of the show or with producers? Do you give them any additional insight regarding your character as well?
Colman Domingo: I don’t—not at all, if anything I try to get as much insight as possible. But I’m also interested in the journey of evolution of the character. So I feel like, if they called me today and said—‘hey, it looks like Victor Strand’s journey ends.’ I think I’m cool with it. But also because I think that is the nature of the show. It’s how you get on board with the show. I think part of the drama of it is that you never know if you’re gonna live or die. That’s the nature of the series. I think at some point you just give over to that. You trust the storytelling of it. You just hope that it really has a great emotional impact.
BlackFIlm: You’re currently working on the Ma Rainey project, which is the film adaptation of August Wilson’s work. How did you become involved in the project? What is it like working with Denzel Washington, Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman?
Colman Domingo: It’s a dream so far. I was given an offer about a month ago when I was in New York doing some press for Fear The Walking Dead. My agents and managers were just there to support me at a press interview. And then they called and told me that an offer came through. I was just beyond excited. I almost kissed the ground. Because I thought the idea of being in the room with these beautiful artists, who create a film version of one of my favorite August Wilson plays. I thought that was just a dream come true. So far it has been a dream. We rehearse for two weeks and George Wolfe is directing. Who is a legendary phenomenal director. We have Denzel Washington producing. He’s truly a hands on producer. He’s there at our beck and call trying to make sure, that we have all that we need to create this work.
Working with Viola and Chad. They are such lovely human beings. We all come from the same spirit of interrogating the work. And really trying to just give ourselves over to create something special. We also have actors like Glenn Turman, Michael Potts and Taylour Page. Taylour Page and I, it’s funny we book ended my work on Fear The Walking Dead. The last movie I did was Zola. It stars Taylour Page. I play sort of an inadvertent pimp to her in that movie. Now the moment I end Fear The Walking Dead this season. I’m doing this film and Taylour Page is in it playing Dussie Mae. I’m playing Cutler so; it’s kind of nice. I feel like I have a great film family. They we’re working together more. We respect each other and I think we long to be in rooms with each other. We’re here in Pittsburgh and trying to do the best that we can. That’s all we can do.
BlackFilm: Can you talk more about the character you portray in Zola?
Colman Domingo: In Zola I play a character named X—and X is a Nigerian pimp. But at first you don’t know that he’s a Nigerian pimp. Because he is just sort of giving off this homeboy from America. It takes place over 48 hours. It’s a dark comedy. Directed by Janicza Bravo whom I think is brilliant. Anyone who knows her knows her work. They’ve got to get behind her immediately. Because she really is the truth. So, Janicza Bravo directed this we shot in Tampa Florida. And it’s down and dirty and a little raunchy. But it’s also a lot of fun.
BlackFilm: How would you describe you experiences working in theater film and television? You’ve excelled in all of those genres. You’ve been nominated for Tony Awards and you’ve been working in film as well as television. How would you describe the differences between the genres that you have been able to master?
Colman Domingo: I think that I have been able to — I guess I always started out in this business, always just curious. And curious about different forms of work. So when I started out with my career in San Francisco, I focused on being an actor, then subsequently on being a playwright and then a director. Then when I moved to New York, I started to do all three again. Now the idea of moving back and forth between different spaces. I’m developing for television. I have a production company that is just getting started. Film work, acting and directing; I love going back and forth. I think something about it helps me stay fresh always.
The moment I finish Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom as an actor. I go to Philadelphia to People’s Light and Theater Company, to direct my play Dot—that I wrote to direct that at People’s Light and Theater Company. I love going back, for me I love many different platforms. It doesn’t always have to be a high level film. Next thing you know I’ll do an independent film and then I’ll do a short. I’ll do a play. I’ll do a play at a small professional theater. I’ll just go wherever the work takes me, that I think is going to be inspiring and fun. I’m at a place in my career, which is such a blessing now. After being in this industry almost thirty years. Where I have agency and I can say no. I can also just do what I want to do. There are times that I just want to be in my home in L.A. But I’m having such a great time that I just go where the joy brings me. I have enough agency in my career to say no to things, which feels amazing. I think that’s all any artist wants.
BlackFilm: What other projects are you working on besides the ones you just mentioned?
Colman Domingo: I’m developing a series with AMC called West Philly, Baby. It’s based on my play Dot. It’s about a matriarch in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and her adult children. It becomes about the memory of a neighborhood and how they move forward. There are some secrets that are underneath the family. I’m developing a show with HBO, again as an executive producer, writer and more than likely director called Peaches. It’s about an all female kick ball league in Atlanta Georgia. It’s very female centric and following a group of women in their late forties, early fifties as they navigate life. And love and challenges of being women of a certain age. I told you about my directing gig. I have a few films coming out. I have one for Fox Searchlight called Lucy In The Sky. That will come out later this year. That is with Natalie Portman. I have another one called The God Committee. That stars me Julia Stiles and Kelsey Grammer. That is about the commodity of organs. And the tricky situations that involves all that. I’m in negotiation right now to do a film with Jordan Peele. We’ll see how that works out. It was great working with her and Kelsey Grammer. I play a priest who used to be an attorney. Who is the moral compass for the exchange of organs.
BlackFilm: With Lucy In The Sky, you are starring in that with Natalie Portman. What was it like for you be working with Natalie Portman? Can you discuss your character as well?
Colman Domingo: I can say that he is a NASA official. Basically he really is imperative to Natalie Portman’s change in the film. Working with Natalie, I feel like I’ve been really blessed in the last few years. I’ve been working with some really compelling artists. Natalie Portman, you won’t work with a stronger actor. She’s powerful, commanding and complex. She’s really smart. So I just love working with her.
BlackFilm: Euphoria now is one of the most buzzed about shows on television. Is there anything else you want viewers to gain from the series?
Colman Domingo: Naw, just keep coming at it with an open heart and an open mind. I think that it helps add to change. I think right now in our culture. I think we’re really at a place to write and produce some risky material that really gets right to the heart and soul of who we are. I think the more we take chances like that, the more we have the possibility to understand each other and healing all these wounds.
Euphoria airs Sundays on HBO. Fear The Walking Dead airs Sundays on AMC.
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