British actress NATHALIE EMMANUEL speaks to Glass about the amazing people she’s worked with in a career that’s developed by leaps and bounds in recent years
When Nathalie Emmanuel got the call up to appear in HBO’s Game of Thrones, she was working in a clothes store thinking that her acting days might be behind her.
The 33-year-old actor had made her debut in the original cast of The Lion King as Young Nala at the age of 10, going on to make a splash as wayward youngster Sasha Valentine in the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, and then in the BAFTA winning TV series Misfits. It went quiet for a bit but in 2013 she started her six-year run as Game of Thrones’ Missandei, the role she is probably best known for.
In 2015 she made her US feature film debut in one of the highest grossing films of all time, Furious 7 from the Fast&Furious franchise for which she received the Screen Nation award for Best Female Performance in Film. She repeated her computer hacker role of Ramsey two years later in The Fate of the Furious. Having received her first Emmy Award nomination in 2021, she will be returning as Ramsey in the highly awaited Fast X next year.
More recently, Emmanuel has starred in Quibi’s Die Hart alongside Hollywood royals Kevin Hart and John Travolta, and Netflix’s prequel to Army of The Dead, Army of Thieves, as Gwendoline Starr. Other credits include Last Train to Christmas with Michael Sheen and Cary Elwes. She can also be heard in the cast of Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, another Netflix phenomenon, alongside Helena Bonham-Carter.
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
Can you tell us about when you first realised you wanted to be an actor? When did you first begin your journey?
To be honest, I didn’t know when I wanted to be an actor. It was always a hobby that I enjoyed doing. My sister and I would do classes at school and outside of school, so any opportunities to take part in theatre productions and acting opportunities we did for fun.
Then it sort of stopped being a hobby. The main moment for me was probably when I was cast in The Lion King at about age 10. I guess that was a pivotal moment where I realised people wanted to pay me to do this.
Can you describe the feeling you had when you landed that first role and what did you learn from it?
It was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. It was such a big deal because the audition process was so, so long. I had many auditions and then during the last week of auditioning I had tonsillitis, so I convinced myself I didn’t get it, and then I did. It was the biggest moment of my career because I was still in school and it was wonderful to be a part of a production that was all adults and a few kids. It really helped me grow up and understand the industry that I was walking into.
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
Who were your biggest inspirations when you began you career?
When it comes to acting, one of the first people that I ever felt represented by as a mixed-race person was Halle Berry. I was, like, “wow, she’s amazing” and I was completely obsessed with her and the possibilities she presented. She is definitely one of my idols. But I have others like Meryl Streep and Viola Davis, and I’m also a huge fan of Jennifer Lawrence and the career she’s had.
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
You are already an Emmy-nominated actor. Can you share some of your future goals or ambitions?
I would love to get behind the camera a bit more into the producing and writing side of things. I don’t know if I could ever be a director, but I would love to have a go at it. I definitely would love to be behind the scenes in the deciding bits of projects. The Britishness in me, just being relentlessly modest, doesn’t want to seek winning awards, so even if I never won one, just to be nominated is huge. People just being able to say “oh she can win” or “she could win”, I’d be very happy with that.
Can you give us some insights into what playing Missandei in such a huge show like Game of Thrones was like?
It was incredible. It was funny because that came at a time that I was out of work and had my retail job and was really questioning whether I could be an actor anymore. I was actually looking to go back to school, but it gave me so much confidence and brought the fire back to my belly. I really related to her because she’s such a strong woman, although our survival stories are very different.
I was also the only woman of colour who had a regular part so I felt that I represented inclusion on such a huge show with such a big platform. It was interesting to learn how to navigate that. But it was such a wonderful experience and I got to work with truly lovely people.
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
Moving on to Die Hart, how did you find working with actors such as Kevin Hart and John Travolta?
Working with those guys was fantastic. John Travolta is such a legend, so it was surreal to work opposite him. I’ve been watching him my whole life, so it was such an honour and he was so fun and kind. With Kevin, we had the best time. I learned so much about working with him and I learned so much working for him. He was constantly playing so many roles throughout the day and then it would be time for him to be on set and he would turn it on, just like that.
My favourite memories from set were the fight sequences. I have a background in dance, so doing that kind of stunt work was my first time and really challenging. I was really excited about it.
What can we expect to see from your character in The Bride and what was it like to be in a horror film?
My character is someone who is looking for family and belonging and she gets it, but not really in a way that she bargained for. While she is sort of lost and struggling to find a purpose, she really finds one.
Working in the horror genre was quite new for me, so it was interesting to see how things work for the genre and the tone of the piece. Our director, Jessica Thompson, was so good in helping us pick out the horror moments but have the freedom to make choices for the characters.
To do horror was quite a challenge because you go through so much trauma during each day. Sometimes it’s hard to switch off at the end of the day if you’ve been screaming and crying, but I loved the feeling of leaving it all on the floor. It was a great experience to have, especially for my first real lead role in a movie.
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
Is returning to the stage something you would like to do?
Yes, I was at the theatre last week and saw a play called House of Ife at the Bush Theatre in London. It was written by Beru Tessema, who is a brilliant playwright. Every time I go to the theatre, I think about how I’ve always wanted to do it, but it’s such a different discipline, so there’s a sort of fear I have about doing it, which also makes me want to do it any way. You know like that expression “if it scares you, do it anyway”. It will happen one day. I just have to find the right play and the right venue.
If you could give your younger self any advice today, what would it be?
You don’t have to change anything about yourself, you’re fine and worthy just as you are. Also, “no” is a complete sentence and it’s okay to use it more.
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
As this is our 50th issue, the theme of this edition is “golden”. What golden moments have you had so far?
Oh my goodness, we don’t have enough time. Golden moments … I think there’s been so many. I remember going to my first ever premiere in LA, it was the third season premiere of Game of Thrones and it was so emotional. And then right after that it was the Fast 7 premiere, so I flew my family and a few friends over to LA so they could share that moment with me and it was so, so special. I find that so overwhelming because I grew up in this small town and I just remember feeling the sense of pride on my mum and sister’s face.
And generally, just doing the Fast franchise. It has been so special to be a part of films that have been around for 20 years and that are all about inclusion and representation. And getting to work with legendary people like Vin [Diesel] and Michelle [Rodriguez] has been so amazing. We had the pleasure of having Rita Moreno on set the other day and that was incredible because she’s been such an icon over the years. I find it so, so special to be able to work with so many greats.
by Alicia Tomkinson
Photographer: Zoe McConnell
Stylist: Cher Coulter
Hair: Nick Irwin using SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL SESSION LABEL
Make up: Marco Antonio using CHANEL Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch and Water-Fresh Blush and CHANEL Sublimage La Protection UV
Production: Joe Gilgallon and Natalie Lloyd at JOON
Photography Assistant: Carissa Harrod
Styling Assistant: Alicia Tomkinson
Hair Assistant: Lee Patrick Devlin
Look 1: Josephine “Duo Eternel” earrings in white gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds, Top necklace: Josephine “Duo Eternel” pendant in white gold, set with brilliantcut diamonds, Bottom necklace: Josephine “Aigrette Imperiale” pendant in white gold paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, Left hand, left to right: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with a cultured Akoya pearls and brilliant cut diamonds, osephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set brilliant-cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with a cultured Akoya pearl and brilliant cut diamonds, Right hand, top to bottom: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a brilliant cut diamond, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a rhodolite garnet of 0.80 carat, all CHAUMET, Coat STELLA McCARTNEY
Look 2: Josephine “Duo Eternel” earrings in white gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds, Josephine “Duo Eternel pendant in white gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds, Right hand: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a brilliant-cut diamond, Left hand, top to bottom: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with a cultured Akoya pearl and brilliant cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds. Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, all CHAUMET, Dress SIMONE ROCHA
Look 3: Josephine “Aigrette” earring in white gold set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette Imperiale” pendant in white gold paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, Nathalie’s left hand from bottom to top: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a brilliant-cut diamond, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, paved with brilliant cut diamonds, Nathalie’s right hand, from left to right: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a rhodolite garnet of 0.80 carat, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with a cultured Akoya pearl and brilliant cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a brilliant-cut diamond, all CHAUMET, Dress, shoes LANVIN, Socks STYLIST’S OWN
Look 4: Josephine “Duo Eternel” earrings in white gold, set with brilliant-cut diamonds CHAUMET, Dress RICHARD QUINN
Look 5: Josephine “Aigrette” earring in white gold set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds, Left hand, from left to right: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with an Akoya cultured pearl of 0.60 carat, Josephine “Aigrette” ring, in white gold, paved with brilliant cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds, Right hand, from left to right: Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with a brilliant-cut diamond, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold, set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds, Josephine “Aigrette” ring in white gold set with Akoya cultured pearls and brilliant-cut diamonds, all CHAUMET, All clothing, hat, shoes GUCCI,
Look 6: “Jeux de Liens” pendant in rose gold, set with carnelian and brilliant-cut diamonds, Left earring: “Jeux de Liens” earring in rose gold, set with mother-of-pearl and a brilliant-cut diamond, Right earring, top to bottom: “Jeux de Liens” earring in rose gold, set with malachite and a brilliant-cut diamond, “Jeux de Liens” earring, in rose gold, set with carnelian and a brilliant-cut diamond, all CHAUMET, Bodysuit SAINT LAURENT BY ANTONY VACCARELLO
Look 7: Nathalie’s left wrist, top to bottom: “Jeux de Liens” bracelet in rose gold set with brilliant-cut diamonds, “Jeux de Liens” bracelet in rose gold set with mother-of-pearl and a brilliant-cut diamond, Nathalie’s right wrist: “Jeux de Liens” bracelet in rose gold set in malachite and a brilliant-cut diamond, Top necklace: “Jeux de Liens” pendant in rose gold, fully paves with brilliantcut diamonds. Bottom necklace: “Jeux de Liens” pendant in rose gold and mother-of-pearl, set with brilliant-cut diamonds, Earrings, top to bottom: “Jeux de Liens” earring in rose gold, set with malachite and a brilliant-cut diamond, “Jeux de Liens” earring in rose gold, set with mother-of-pearl and a brilliant-cut diamond, “Jeux de Liens” earring in rose gold, set with carnelian and a brilliant-cut diamond, all CHAUMET, Dress HALPERN