People have told me, ‘It’s part of your act, you’re big, it’s part of your persona.’ Well, as I’ve lost weight, my act has grown.
I’m not trying to project any persona. Often people don’t know where to put me. I don’t fit comfortably under banners, and that’s fine. I’m not worried about not making sense to people. That’s probably my best asset.
Fantastic Negrito is a persona, an incarnation in my third phase.
However, people need to understand that it ain’t that deep to try and convince people of what your persona is. You are who you are, and what you are will show in time. What you aren’t can be hidden, but eventually it will come to light. Long story short: rappers should never take themselves too seriously.
As an actor, there are a lot of personas and personalities that you carry. Whatever you wear, you adapt to it, and people feel that’s your style. But that’s not necessarily an actor’s style. There are some things that are very ‘you,’ and some are only to suit your persona.
I’ve spent most of my life trying to wear a persona that didn’t quite fit and when I started writing books, it was like finally becoming the right person.
The ‘everymum’ persona is quite a comfortable coat to put on, and in a way it protects you. I don’t think I’m being deceptive. I like the women I play, so I’m very happy to be identified with them.
There’s a persona that musicians carry with them. I like to find what’s under the persona.
Other kinds of movie stars, it’s a different thing, they bring their persona to the part and that’s what people like to see, and they are not really transforming in terms of their character.
