Ncuti Gatwa has no qualms admitting he has a large posterior. As a 26-year-old African man, he’s proud of his body. Gatwa, the breakout star of Netflix’s Sex Education, talked about his openly gay black character on the hit series over an email interview with The Hindu. His character, Eric’s wardrobe choices are an extension of his personality, often expressing what his words cannot. “My favourite look has to be the prom outfit,” he says about the African suit replete with a Nigerian head dress (Gele) and heels. “[It was] Eric embracing who he fully is, his sexuality his religion, his culture.” The suit was made from kente cloth (traditional Ghanaian cloth) and fitted and tailored for the actor in Ghana. “Having a suit made me in Africa, for my African body was just perfect. For me it was such a proud moment being able to stand there in a moment of power for my character in full African attire.”
Growing pains
Gatwa could have easily fallen prey to being relegated as the token person of colour playing sidekick to the straight white protagonist, Otis (Asa Butterfield). Instead, as Eric, the British actor — born to Rwandan parents — is utterly captivating. Whether he’s compelling us to cringe at his embarrassing choice of a monochrome neon orange ensemble; reeling from a cruel homophobic attack (while decked in red boots and a mini jean skirt) or even as a new love, an interracial one at that, is blossoming with an unlikely character. “His two most admirable qualities [are] his strength and his resilience, he’s constantly bouncing back with a smile on his face and an amazing outfit,” says the actor who always thought he would end up doing something academic because of his strict African parents. “[His attitude] was so inspiring to me that I wanted to capture his sense of optimism.”
The Netflix show chronicles teenage growing pains with a keen gaze on sexuality, but never quite making this crux laborious. Otis, a sex therapist’s son sets about establishing, at first reluctantly, a practice of his own at school, treating his peer’s sexual predicaments. The show is equal parts funny, and poignant while tapping into nostalgia — heightened by an endearing 80s patina. While his best friend, Otis is struggling with his own problems with sex, Eric is more open exploring his desires. “His sexuality is part of who he is but it doesn't define him, instead I wanted to focus on how he stands in the world around him,” elaborates Gatwa about prepping for his role. “Eric is already openly gay when we meet him, he’s grown up in a religious Ghanaian-Nigerian household and he is aware of who he is, we see him trying to learn how to present that to the world and eventually he realised that the best way is to be unashamed.”
Lightly serious
Eric’s proud display of his heritage and orientation is just one of many instances, where Sex Education very nonchalantly, makes a strong case for diversity and inclusivity. Interracial romances abound, but there are also lesbian mothers, dysfunctional family issues, a healthy discourse on sex and an emphasis on mental health. “It’s incredibly important for the world to see a gay black character that’s comfortable with themselves on screen,” Gatwa says adding that people often fail to realise that issues like racism, homophobia and prejudice still exists even though there’s a concerted push against it. “People don’t want to see it happen because they feel that the power they once had is being taken away from them, whereas all representation means is that the world is reflected accurately instead of through a keyhole,” he says. “I hope people can watch Eric and not feel alone but feel empowered to live their best and true lives.”
Season 1 of Sex Education
is currently streaming
on Netflix