Letitia Wright, the Guyanese-British superstar has already established herself as a formidable force at the age of 28. Wright initially appeared on television in blockbuster films including Top Boy, Black Mirror, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, the latter of which earned her an Emmy Award nomination. However, her role as the tech-loving princess of Wakanda in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther in 2018 propelled her to incredible heights. Wright joined a cast that included Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, the late Chadwick Boseman, and Lupita Nyong’o. Letitia shares on finding herself in a season of strength as she fronts Vogue Singapore’s digital cover as Miss Vogue for Nov/Dec ‘Glory’ issue.
Read excerpts from the interview below:
Letitia shares her first auditioning experience for the Black Panther character “Shuri”:
“I was thinking about how enormous the role was. Here I am playing a princess and a scientist and the technological boss of the whole Wakandan Design Group. I was terrified. I remember creating a playlist on YouTube and watching videos of female scientists and African innovators whose voices weren’t being amplified. I felt that if I could tell the truth and use these videos as inspiration to represent these women, this could really impact someone. I’m thankful that it resonated and that I got through my initial fear.”
She shares on Shuri’s journey in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever:
“There’s a shift in Shuri, a perspective on how to handle life. When we first meet Shuri, she’s really fun, fresh and vibrant and filled with so much joy. When we meet her in the sequel, there’s a broken-hearted woman in front of you. Through her journey, we explore what it means to overcome losing someone you love. So hopefully, when people watch it, they can relate in some way and it can help someone with whatever they’re dealing with. Whatever it is, whatever’s broken your heart, Shuri’s journey can make you unpack that for yourself. And I’m excited for people to see her maturity.”
She shares on working through grief while filming without co- star and friend, Chadwick Boseman:
“It was the most difficult thing I’ve had to do in my career because I couldn’t hide from it. I love acting because it helps me to hide sometimes. The reality of being on a set where you were admiring your brother a few years ago when he still had enough grace and energy and creativity to play with you was hard to face, especially when you go back to that set without him there. Ryan Coogler and I would look at each other knowing that we both wanted to start crying but we couldn’t. So we had to hold it together to tell the story and we found moments in the script where we could let loose. Ryan would say the name ‘Chad’ or play his voice and I would be finished. It was incredibly hard. I put my heart and my love for Chadwick in this movie. And I’m praying that people feel that.”
Letitia shares in mental health and getting through darker or difficult periods in her career:
“I got through it by listening to the voice that was screaming at me: “You need to step out, you’re not okay. In order for you to continue, you need to check out.” I got to establish a relationship with God that is the foundation of keeping me peaceful. I got through those hard moments because I saw perspective in what matters, which is my mental health, my well-being, my family and the things that bring me joy.”
Letitia describes her sense of style:
“I’ve got an androgynous type of flow going on. My style fluctuates. Some days I want to wear a beautiful dress and other days I want to wear a dope suit with patterns. I’m still discovering it but it’s definitely a flow between masculinity and femininity. I think how I dress is connected to my personality, too. I’m very tomboyish yet incredibly girly. If I see a cute guy I’ll think ‘oh my god’ and then the next day I’m in jeans and chucks just vibing.”
Team:
Editor-in-chief: @musingmutley
Photographer: @ben.parks.studio
Styling: @mrfabioimmediato
Hair: @stefanbertin | @thewallgroup
Make-up: @kennethsohmakeup | @thewallgroup
Manicure: @cherriesnow
Production: @2dmmanagement
Talent publicist: @twenty9twelvepr
Stylist’s assistant: @asmae.el.ouariachi
Florist: @lucyjonesy
Outfit: @giambattistavalliparis
Story: @menon.maya
Read Full Interview on Vogue Singapore
Pre-order your copy of the November ‘Glory’ issue of Vogue Singapore online now or pick it up on newsstands from 21 November 2022.
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