Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Idris feels ‘something magical’ created in show
Actor predicts final season of ‘Snowfall’ could rival ‘Wire’
On a chilly night near downtown Los Angeles, a car maneuvers down a dark dead-end street. When it stops, the driver opens the trunk, revealing a terrified man in shackles.
“No, Franklin, please don’t do this,” the captive pleads as Franklin Saint jerks him out of the trunk and throws him to the pavement. It’s just another day in the life of Saint, the ruthless drug kingpin at the center of FX’s mayhempacked “Snowfall,” about the rise of crack cocaine in South Central LA during the 1980s.
But it was not just another night for Damson Idris, who plays Saint. The encounter marked his final scene for “Snowfall,” which recently launched its sixth climatic season. A few minutes later, he was surrounded by a cheering throng of fellow cast and crew members.
Fighting back tears, Idris smiled as he acknowledged the salute. “We made magic,” he said in his native British accent.
“Snowfall,” which ranks as the third most watched series in FX history — behind “The Old Man” and “Sons of Anarchy” — showcases Idris’ artistic range as his intense portrayal of Saint shifts between charming, crafty entrepreneur to lethal thug. The actor, who hails from Peckham, London, won the role after persuading show co-creator John Singleton that he could convincingly project the demeanor and attitude of a youth growing up in the rough neighborhoods of South Central.
Singleton, the Oscarnominated director of “Boyz n the Hood,” wanted “Snowfall” to dramatize the complexities of the crack epidemic that wreaked havoc on Black communities. In addition to depicting the devastation of neighborhoods, the series also shows how Saint’s outlaw pursuits rip apart his family members, who were partners in his endeavors.
The production was severely shaken when Singleton died in April 2019 of a stroke. Idris, along with the cast and executive producers, channeled their grief by becoming even more committed to realizing and building on Singleton’s
vision.
Executive producer Dave Andron said Idris was more than up to the task of taking a leadership role on the series: “He had the chops, and he’s so naturally talented. It’s astounding what he brought to the show. I’m so incredibly proud of him, and he’s just getting started.”
This interview with Idris has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What were your feelings after doing that last scene of “Snowfall” and coming to the end of this journey? A:
It was a whirlwind of emotions. Bittersweet and sad. There was also bewilderment. I couldn’t believe we had done it. I was on the verge of tears, but I had to stay strong. Everyone probably wanted me to cry. The show is really the foundation of my career. I’m always going to have it as a touchstone no matter what. Nothing’s going to beat that feeling. It’s like when a musician has his first hit song that introduces him to the world.
Q: But besides sadness, there must have been ... A:
Joy. We created something magical. We created history and the world gets to enjoy this forever. This isn’t something that’s just going to go away. I would speak to (FX chief ) John Landgraf about this all the time, and he’d say, “This is a show that’s going to be on our platform forever.” So long after I’m gone, people are going to get to watch “Snowfall.”
Q: Did growing up in another country make this role more challenging for you? A:
Oh, yeah, definitely. I always said the people I wanted to please the most were people from LA, families who live in South Central today. I want them to switch on the TV and see their brother or uncle or nephew in Franklin. It was a huge challenge for me because it’s not necessarily about color. Sometimes it’s culture, too. There’s some aspects of American culture that I would never, ever be able to relate to fully until doing the full research, until diving into LA culture, diving into American culture. I’m from inner-city London, Peckham. So many of the themes of the show completely correlate with how I was born. Single father, neighborhoods, police brutality, racism, drugs, crime, gangs, everything that happens in the show, I grew up with. So I was able to relate on that front.
Q: In the early seasons, Franklin is shown as kind of this heroic figure. But (Singleton’s) vision seemed to be to show what happens when you become this sort of guy and where this kind of lifestyle leads you. A:
That was always the vision. He lived through this era. And if you walk down Skid Row today, you know exactly what it led to. We always knew that was the heart of the story, for the audience to see the African American experience and how crack cocaine completely decimated the Black community. It was the first epidemic that made Black mothers leave their children. We couldn’t sugarcoat it.
Q: What was it like when (Singleton) passed away? A:
It was truly devastating because he had completely taken me under his wing. I experienced so much with him. And then all eyes fell on me. I would walk down the street and people would say to me, “Hey, D, this is John’s baby. We’re watching you. Don’t mess it up.” They let me know my responsibility and that I needed to take the reins, to stay true to the authenticity and the private conversations John and I had about what he wanted the show to be. I miss him dearly. He was a master of collaboration. He was incredibly passionate, and he wasn’t a brute. When he did pass on, we had a strong enough platform individually for us to take the reins and run with it and make him proud. And I think we did.
Q: What’s next for you?
A:
I’m obviously focused on movies. I want for people to see me on the big screen. I’m also going to do this project with Donald Glover that’s a commentary on the fanfare surrounding a pop star and the psychology of that. I think it’s going to be a fan favorite.
Q: How do you think fans of “Snowfall” will respond when the finale finally airs? A:
I think the fans are just going to really enjoy it. We’ve always been chasing “The Wire.” I love that show. When the conclusion of “Snowfall” comes, I think there will be a conversation about whether this show or “The Wire” was the greatest crime show. I’m excited to hear that conversation.