Interview by Paul Salfen
Film Synopsis: Aisha charts the experiences of a young Nigerian woman as she seeks international protection in Ireland. Caught in limbo for years in Ireland’s immigration system, Aisha Osagie develops a friendship with former prisoner Conor Healy who she meets at one of the accommodation centers. Aisha and Conor’s growing friendship soon looks to be short lived as Aisha’s future in Ireland comes under threat.
More About Letitia Wright: With a career spanning over a decade, Emmy-nominated Letitia Wright has cemented her position as one of the industry’s most captivating young actresses. From her breakout role as ambitious Summerhouse resident Chantelle in TOP BOY, to her critically acclaimed performance as Nish in BLACK MIRROR, not forgetting her scene-stealing turn as Shuri – lead scientist and Princess of Wakanda in the BLACK PANTHER franchise, Wright has played an integral role in some of the most culture-defining projects of the last decade and whose impact is still felt to this day.
In 2019, Wright won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and a SAG Award as part of Black Panther’s ‘Best Ensemble’. The film grossed over $1.3B at the global box office and was nominated for a 2019 Academy Award for ‘Best Picture’ – a first for a superhero film. In 2020, Wright had repeated success with a starring role in Steve McQueen’s anthology series, SMALL AXE, where she played British Black Panther Party leader, Altheia Jones-LeCointe. Wright’s episode, “Mangrove”, was included in the Cannes 2020 Official Selection and the series was nominated for 2 Golden Globes, including Best Television Motion Picture.
Led by a passion to create meaningful content within the industry, Wright’s creative endeavours extended behind the scenes with the launch of her independent production company 3.16 Productions. The company joined forces with Bron Studios in 2023 for their first feature, SURROUNDED, a gritty, action-packed western starring Wright, Jamie Bell and the late Michael K. Williams. Wright also flexed her production muscles in the BAFTA-nominated, female-led anthology series I AM for Channel 4, developing the powerful storyline for her episode “I Am Danielle” in creative partnership with director Dominic Savage.
2022 proved to be The Year of Letitia Wright, with back-to-back roles in: THE SILENT TWINS, which premiered in Un Certain Regard at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and saw Wright win a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for Best Joint Lead Performance; Ireland-set immigration drama, AISHA, with Wright’s performance hailed by Screen Daily as “phenomenal in a career best turn”; as well as the long-awaited sequel to the Marvel Studios’ blockbuster – BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER. Wright’s deeply moving portrayal of Shuri’s transformation into the titular superhero received critical acclaim and the film quickly became the highest grossing female-led superhero movie in US box office history.
Coming soon, Wright will once again take on the roles of both lead actress and producer as she steps into the ring for IN THE SHADOWS – a gripping drama based on the true story of the world’s first Somali-British professional boxing champion, Ramla Ali, who fled her war-torn country as a child to seek asylum in London, England. Also on the slate, Wright serves as Executive Producer in upcoming feature POSSUM TROT, a powerful drama inspired by the true story of 22 families from a rural black church in a small East Texas town who adopt 77 of the most difficult to place kids in the foster system. Wright continues to select projects and roles that subvert expectations and leave an indelible mark on all those who engage with her art, finding the perfect balance between blockbuster and arthouse cinema.
Past credits include AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, AVENGERS: ENDGAME, URBAN HYMN, DEATH ON THE NILE, SING 2, GUAVA ISLAND, READY PLAYER ONE, HUMANS, MY BROTHER THE DEVIL, DOCTOR WHO, TOP BOY and the popular science fiction anthology series BLACK MIRROR, for which her performance earned her an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movi
