In a new cover story for VARIETY, actor Colman Domingo speaks with reporter Selome Hailu about “Sing Sing,” in which Domingo plays John “Divine G” Whitfield, one of the founding members of an in-prison theater program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts. He also discusses “Euphoria” Season 3, the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, being a heartthrob for women, and more.
On the “Euphoria” Season 3 and its creator, Sam Levinson: “People can rumor what they want about Sam’s practices, and I don’t really have a comment on that. But I do have a comment on my own experience, which has been incredible. He will literally hand me the pen and say, ‘What do you think?’ That’s a true collaborator…Apparently I will be back for Season 3. I don’t know anything about the scripts. I don’t know anything about the production date…I’ve heard it’s January. I’ve heard as much as you’ve heard, so we’ll see. But allegedly—that’s a great word to use, ‘allegedly’—Ali is back. From what I’ve heard.”
On why “Sing Sing” isn’t “a prison film in any way”: “I don’t think I made a ‘Shawshank Redemption’ or ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ you know? The container is a prison, but it’s about the people inside. It’s about people making art and having breakthroughs in their lives.”
On bonding with his co-star, Clarence “Divine Eye” Macli: In “Sing Sing,” Domingo leads the cast as one of only three professional actors—the rest served time at the prison the film is named for.The heart of “Sing Sing” is the platonic affection that blooms between Divine G and Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin. The first time Domingo met Maclin, who plays himself in the film, the two were reviewing the script. During this conversation, Domingo broke a major rule of the brotherhood.
“I was being colloquial: ‘N—-, this, that, blah-blah.’” Delicately, Maclin stopped him. “‘We don’t use “n—-.” No. When you are Divine, you use the word “beloved.”’” Domingo makes the sound of a bomb going off. “My head exploded.”
On how “Sing Sing” is the rawest Domingo has ever felt on camera: Domingo says his body is still connected to the film. While promoting the film at festivals and awards events, he skips the screening portion and would slip back into the auditorium as the credits roll.
“When I watch it, I’m feeling whatever I was feeling, and I know that’s not useful when I need to do a talk-back with an audience. I can’t be going out there all emotional…I don’t know! I don’t know what that feels like. I don’t—maybe—I don’t know. I feel—…I don’t want to overindulge. And I don’t want it to be about me or my tears or my feelings. I want to acknowledge yours. And maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I need to go out there a little more vulnerable. But I give so much in my work, and I feel like that’s my offering. Now, when I go out, I’m Colman Domingo, dressed in some style. I can speak in a very well-practiced, very mindful way and not let my emotions override. There’s a certain amount of opaqueness that I think works.”
On “Michael,” the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic in which Domingo plays Joe Jackson, whom Michael (played by the late pop star’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson) accused of physical and emotional abuse:
“Michael” is produced by the executors of the Jackson estate, which maintains his innocence against the multiple allegations against him of child sexual abuse while exerting rigorous control over his public image.
“But anything surrounding those ideas about him never came into play with me. It’s about the character, more than anything. And the idea of working with the estate, [director] Antoine Fuqua and Jaafar Jackson—who is exceptional.”
Domingo claims that regardless of the estate’s involvement, the movie will look at the “complex human being” behind the pop icon.
“I believe everyone has a story to tell…I come from the theater, and my job has always been to let the audience feel what it needs to feel.”
On being a heartthrob for women, despite being openly gay: “They were hugging and kissing on me, and some even whispered, ‘I know you don’t play for our team, but I have a crush on you.’…I said, ‘You can still have a crush on me! I still want you to think I’m hot and sexy, and I’ll flirt with you too. We don’t have to limit ourselves.’ Because I never limited myself. I’ve imagined myself having wives and children and husbands and everything.”
[Photo Credit: David Roemer for Variety Magazine]
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