On first look, Shakespeare and sci-fi may not have much in common – but in fact, there are quite a few similarities; namely, the way they can inspire discussion about of the current world in a new way, and in that they can bring out some extraordinary performances.
Ann Ogbomo knows this better than most, as much of her career has included starring in plenty of the Bard’s finest plays, as well as flexing her skills in films Justice League and Wonder Woman. Now, she’s taken on the role of Jayna-Zod in Superman prequel Krypton – the leader of the military army. A rich and varied part, Ann brings heart and experience to the role; and she told Pride all about her journey to success, and reveals an unexpected little-known passion…
So, Ann, it’s clear that you’re kind of a performer who hasn’t just fallen into this line of work; you’ve done a lot of study and preparation for it. Was it an easy thing telling your loved ones that you were going to pursue this properly?
Ann Ogbomo: I always knew I wanted to be an actor, so I had a quiet faith about it, if that makes sense. But there were certain things that I was encouraged to do: some teachers wanted me to do English and history; the science teacher wanted me to do chemistry… but my older sister told me about the Brit School at 16 – I auditioned there, I got in, and that was the first step towards knowing that this was something that I could actually be doing for real. But when my friends were applying for drama schools at 18, that really wasn’t an option for me because I couldn’t turn round to my parents and ask for £30,000… it wasn’t conceivable. But I still really wanted to be an actor.
What happened next?
AO: I did a joint degree, Theatre Arts and English Literature, so I still got a bit of theatre in there, but it wasn’t setting me up to be an actress. As soon as I left uni, I started working as a stage manager in the theatre. I also worked in documentaries quite a lot, and by the time I was 22, I was earning more than I ended up earning as a professional actor for the first five years of my career. I was on a good path, but in the end I really felt that it wasn’t for me. So I applied for a one-year course at LAMDA, and the vice principal instead invited me to audition for a three-year course, on the basis that they might be able to support me financially. Maybe I would be an actor if it wasn’t for him, but it would have taken a lot longer.
Were you much of a comic book fan before this part in Krypton?
AO: I didn’t actually read comics as a kid. I only came into comics when I did Wonder Woman, and it just opened up this world to me where I realised: this is amazing! The other day, I bumped into someone on Leeds High Street and he literally stood in front of me, saluted me and bowed. I was like, ‘what the hell is going on?’ and he was like, ‘Are you General Zod?’ and suddenly it clicked. We ended up talking, and he said how he’s doing a PhD on how comics are actually exploring human life in this really deep way. They’re really not just comics; there’s a lot more to it than you might think.
What’s a secret talent that you have – or a passion that not many people know about?
AO: Well, my secret talent is probably music – but my guilty pleasure is doing things that seem like you’d do when you’re 60, or 70. I love crochet and knitting, and I have an allotment! Yesterday, I picked quite a few massive courgettes, they’re almost at marrow status. I’ve got loads of strawberries, I’ve got lettuce, I grow kale, tomatoes, plums, apples, potatoes… so, yeah – I go to bed reading about veg!
Watch Ann in Krypton, airing now on E4. Follow Ann on Twitter: @annogbomo
