{"id":25899,"date":"2022-11-16T10:00:39","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T09:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1738704"},"modified":"2022-11-16T10:37:10","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T09:37:10","slug":"letitia-wright-on-taking-the-leap-from-black-panther-to-aisha","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/letitia-wright-on-taking-the-leap-from-black-panther-to-aisha\/","title":{"rendered":"Letitia Wright on taking the leap from Black Panther to Aisha"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Adam Davidson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 16 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Aisha is an intimate character study of a young Nigerian woman who is seeking asylum in Ireland but is plagued with issues caused by bureaucracy and social services. She struggles to maintain hope and dignity against the looming threat of deportation.<\/p>\n

The concept for the film developed organically from director Frank Berry\u2019s previous project, Michael Inside, which explored the Irish Penal System. It was here that he learnt that the Irish prison system was run by the same government department as immigration, the Department of Justice.<\/p>\n

This started a four-year research project in which Frank looked into the controversial Direct Provision, a system of \u2018accommodation centres\u2019 for asylum seekers that are run by for-profit companies under contract with the Irish government.<\/p>\n

During his research, Frank met with groups and organisations to speak with people that were directly affected by the immigration policies in Ireland. It was through these collaborations that the story emerged for Aisha.<\/p>\n

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever<\/a> star Letitia Wright plays the titular character and was instantly drawn to the script and Aisha.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat appealed to me about the role was just how the script was written, that is the first connection to any project that I take,\u201d she told RadioTimes.com<\/a>. \u201cThe script was beautifully written and I just felt like it was impactful and it was my opportunity to give a voice to the voiceless.\u201d<\/p>

Talking about going from a Marvel blockbuster to an independent movie, Wright added: \u201cFor me, I just try to go where the stories are.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack Panther is a beautiful franchise and it\u2019s just rich with so much culture and adventure at the same time and I love filmmaking that is subtle, filmmaking that dives a little more intimately into the character such as Aisha. I just try to follow where the good stories are and thankfully I have a good track record and I want to continue that.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the film tackling social issues such as immigration and racism, Wright said that she made sure she approached the role of Aisha with \u201csensitivity\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an opportunity to learn something that I didn\u2019t know about before, particularly that that was happening in Ireland and it was an opportunity to connect with people that shared so many similarities with Aisha and her story.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the age of seven, Wright moved with her family from their home in Georgetown, Guyana to Tottenham, London, experiencing displacement as she adjusted to a completely different culture and environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s definitely so much that I can relate to in this film,\u201d she said. \u201cMaking a move to another place for an opportunity \u2013 if you\u2019re in a bit of limbo then I can definitely understand that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think for me as an artist I try to be a vessel, so simply just connecting to that story of a young woman that is trying to make it, the empathy levels for me are through the roof, so I was able to dial into that and let that shine on camera.\u201d<\/p>\n