WHO IS COLMAN DOMINGO?
The master character actor, who stars in ‘Rustin’ and ‘The Color Purple’, chats to Margaret Gardiner about his latest roles
You may not know the name, but you’ve probably seen his work in television series such as Euphoria and Fear the Walking Dead, or in the films Lincoln, If Beale Street Could Talk and The Butler — to name a few. If you missed those, Colman Domingo is currently appearing in two contrasting roles in projects that show the immense range of his talent. He’s received a Best Actor nomination from every major awards body for his work in the biopic Rustin, on Netflix, and he stars in the remake of The Color Purple as the petulant and cruel Albert “Mister” Johnson on the big screen.
In each role he impressively inhabits the character, taking the audience into emotionally uncomfortable and challenging places. The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker, is a coming of age musical drama set between 1910 and 1940. Domingo plays a vicious philanderer, in love with a woman he can never fully possess, who ultimately finds redemption.
In Rustin, he plays an activist, fighting cronyism, racism and homophobia, while spurring Martin Luther King Jr towards one of the most momentous moments in US history: the iconic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28 1963, where King made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
On a chilly Los Angeles day, dressed in a black shirt and sporting a huge diamond in his left ear lobe, Domingo, a master character actor, chatted to me about his latest roles.
It took him five months of research to feel confident to portray the historical figure he plays in Rustin. “I utilised conversations with people who loved Bayard Rustin, mining things that aren’t on the page. Was he a hugger? That informs my portrayal. When he touched someone, how did he touch them? How did he laugh?
“The man had history on his face. He lost a tooth from being knocked down by police in 1942, and he didn’t hide the gap. He still smiled fully, like it was a badge of honour. As Rustin I wear the ills of humanity on my face; that was part of his strength.”
Domingo, who grew up in Philadelphia, said: “Rustin was someone who relished ideas. He was a man almost lost in the footnotes of history because of his homosexuality. But there was something memorable about him, a musicality to how he moved through spaces — almost like a dancer — that conveyed possibilities of thought and intent. His speech patterns built on concepts; there was a cadence in the delivery. I had to raise my natural octave and use rhythmic body language.”
He shrugs: “I usually incorporate physicality when I craft a character but Rustin was a different puzzle to the building blocks I’ve used before, for example, to put the character of ‘Mister’ together in The Color Purple. Every person I portray has his own characteristics and body language formed by their circumstances.”
Domingo has appeared in some acclaimed films celebrating black American icons, including 42, Selma and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom with Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. After the social movements of the past few years there has been a shift in how films are cast, reflecting a more representative world.
“There was a time when I didn’t think there was a place for me in films and television series because of the lack of complex roles available for me play,” he says.
“Opportunities were few as black actors were marginalised and characters were tropes. If they were strong roles, they were given to a few select actors. We’ve been through a renaissance regarding who tells the stories, the character complexities for previously marginalised groups, and how films and series get financed and delivered.
“I love that Rustin doesn’t know he’ sa hero. He’s an ordinary human doing something extraordinary. That makes him complex rather than keeping him in marble perfection. That perfection creates a distance from real black people. We’re getting to see each others’ stories — fully.”
Working on these two films, Colman, who has been married to Raúl Domingo, née Aktanov since 2014 (they produced the animated short film New Moon together, about a black mother and her son discussing life and their hopes and dreams), has been surrounded both behind and in front of the camera with the who’s who of black talent.
In Rustin, Chris Rock and Jeffrey Wright. In The Color Purple, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, Corey Hawkins and other skilled actors. “Many of them have made their careers by being the ‘only’, [black person in the leading cast],” Coleman says.
“Acting in Rustin and The Color Purple with the majority of the roles filled by people of colour, made me feel not so alone. And it’s not just race,” he adds. “It’s gender too. We’re seeing a lot more women in roles they’d never have had the chance to play before.”
About the contrasting characters he’s played, Colman reflects: “‘Mister’ is terrified of change, while Rustin says ‘I’m gay. I have a brain and a vision. I’m going to change the world’. Both of these viewpoints live in me. Both characters exist in the same time period. Rustin was born in 1917 and ‘Mister’ begins his story in 1909.
“But they’re opposites. One has access to his vision and believes in possibilities. That’s me every day. ‘Mister’ is what happens to a person when their dream is deferred.” Domingo is referring to the bitter cruelty of the character — a husband who emotionally and physically abuses his wife, Celie, to control her.
“I’ve had setbacks. I understand those
feelings. I make the choice each day to live with love and understanding. With ‘Mister’ ,I had to go to the dark places — we all have them — and remember that despite our differences we are actually alike if we look hard enough.
“We make choices daily to be good, graceful, thoughtful, but there are an equal number of choices open to people to not do that. I can shape-shift and play these different characters because they’re all inside me. But I make a choice to be positive.”
Domingo is an advocate for people using their full voice and being who they are. “Rustin owns his power in any space. ‘Mister’ oppresses others because he is oppressed as a black man, and it causes trauma for him and for those he populates the world with.” He takes a deep breath, “You have to find your voice and amplify it. You can’t allow the world to tell you who you are.”
I ask him about his last memories with Boseman and he becomes emotional, covers his face and excuses himself to get a card he received from Boseman. The message was written when they collaborated on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. As Domingo reads it, emotion sears his words: “C Domingo. You are amazing my brother. I’ve wanted to work with you on this level for years. I’m ecstatic that I got to play in this band with you. Can’t wait to celebrate this incredible journey we’ve been on. God be with you. Until we next meet again. Chadwick Boseman.”
Boseman died of colon cancer in 2020 at 43. He won a posthumous Golden Globe for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
“He sent me a record player as a gift. I still play vinyl on it,” says Colman. “Things are always divine. He was a good man. We really enjoyed working with each other. I feel honoured that I was able to be in spaces with him. He was on a great mission while he was on this plane. He used his voice and platform in many ways.
“When he was at his peak of fame with Black Panther, there was a celebration where he was surrounded by people and his team. I congratulated him. He’d have none of it, instead he called out to his team and said, ‘This one? Keep an eye on Colman. Colman is beyond talented.’”
He swallows hard. “I didn’t have the platform or the access at that time, but he was willing to shine the light on me. That’s what I do for others now too.”
‘Rustin’ is on Netflix. ‘The Color Purple’ is on circuit‘. Next up for Colman is ‘Drive-Away Dolls’.