Gilbert Owuor is a Kenyan actor based in Los Angeles, who has been working in film and television for over 10 years. In his latest project he stars opposite Will Smith in the film Emancipation , directed by Antoine Fuqua. His previous films include Montana Story, Mute, and the Kenyan short film Taharuki directed by Ekwa Msangi-Omari. TV projects he has worked in include HBO’s The Newsroom and Trueblood, Goliath on Amazon, Hulu’s Reprisal and Calls on AppleTv.
1. What got you into film? Did you move to LA specifically for the job?
There are four people who I believe put me on my path to acting. My parents, Alfred and Mildred Owuor, made me feel like I could pursue anything I wanted, but emphasised that whatever I decided on would require hard work, time and focus. Nothing would be worthwhile unless it really challenged me, they said. Whatever I chose, I would need to assess my abilities and then put in the work necessary to succeed. Later, when I was in college in the US, I told them I wanted to be an actor. Their immediate response was, “We trust you to make it work.”
My next influence was the principal at my high school at St Mary’s, Father Thomas Hogan. He introduced shows like Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, in which he cast me as the lead. I vividly remember Father Hogan walking into my classroom with a wire coat hanger during our mathematics mock exam and bending it around my shoulders to take my measurements for the coat! His belief in my abilities gave me immense confidence.
Next was Janet Bobcean, who was the head of the theatre programme at Northeastern University in Boston where I was a student. Janet gave me opportunities to play roles such as Prospero in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. She also advised me about graduate acting programmes and told me very matter-of-factly that I should apply to the Yale School of Drama, one of the top acting programmes in the US.
Once at Yale, I worked with an incredible faculty led by a renowned acting teacher named Ron Van Lieu, whose lessons have allowed me to continue making discoveries in the craft to this day. Three years after graduate school, after working exclusively on stage, I was cast in my first film.
I felt that if I was going to succeed, I needed to be based either in New York or LA. So my wife, Dr. Katherine Owuor, and I made the move. It is common knowledge today that social media can play a role in casting decisions, and in some cases it can even influence pay scale. We live in a time when location is less crucial than ever because there are all these incredible tools we can use to get noticed and share our work. However, I still believe that, particularly for less established actors, picking a location where there is a high prevalence of the work they want to be a part of, is critical. It really boosts your chances, and in this business, until you make a name, you will need all the help you can get. For instance, many audition instructions I’ve received require you to include your name, height and home base. Alternatively, some auditions will simply say, “Must be a local hire.” This means distance from production will be one of the factors to be considered during casting.
2.Your latest film, Emancipation , is out now, and you worked alongside Will Smith. How did you prepare for the role? Emancipation.
3.What was it like working with Will Smith? Does the general 'wow, I get to work with Will Smith!' feeling ever go away?
4. You've also worked with Ekwa Msangi-Omari in Taharuki. Are there any other Kenyan directors or actors you'd like to work with, perhaps on a visit to the continent? Do you think African film in general needs more representation?
5. In a parallel universe, if you hadn't become an actor, what do you think you would have become? What is your secret passion?
