Delroy Lindo has a notable habit of knocking on wood. The 72-year-old actor is often heard performing this gesture during interviews and conversations, which seems to reflect his perspective on life and his extensive career.
During a recent lunch conversation with Entertainment Weekly at La Pecora Bianca in New York City, Lindo didn’t hold back on sharing insights about his life and the current projects that he’s passionate about.
Dressed in a grey beanie, aviator shades, and a colorful scarf, Lindo looked vibrant as he shared his thoughts on the series of events that have shaped his career thus far. He wore a T-shirt that read “Learning As I Go,” a phrase that he adopted as a guiding principle over the past few years.
Having received critical acclaim for his role in Spike Lee’s 2020 film Da 5 Bloods, Lindo was widely considered a leading contender for an Academy Award nomination in 2021. However, he was overlooked, an incident that sparked discussions about the dynamics of recognition in the film industry.
In the years following his acclaimed performance in Da 5 Bloods, Lindo’s career has faced various ups and downs. He describes his feelings succinctly: “To have been working as an actor for the length of time that I have been working…the fact that audiences still apparently find what I’m doing interesting, worthy of watching, that’s not a given.”
His frustration at the snub has not dampened his spirit. Lindo is keenly aware of the fluctuating nature of the industry and makes it clear that he does not take his current opportunities for granted.
Since Da 5 Bloods, Lindo secured promising roles in upcoming projects, including Amazon’s Anansi Boys and a Marvel reimagining of Blade. These projects, however, have faced their own challenges that Lindo discusses during the interview.
Reflecting on his long-standing collaboration with director Ryan Coogler, Lindo recalls the early texts that initiated his involvement in Sinners, directed by Coogler. He describes Coogler as someone who has been influenced by his earlier work, particularly Lindo’s performance in Malcolm X, which was among one of the first movies Coogler saw with his father.
In Sinners, Lindo plays Delta Slim, a musician who becomes entangled in a world of vampires during the Prohibition. He expresses gratitude for the role and emphasizes the importance of collaboration and trust in the creative process.
Lindo notes that he hasn’t auditioned for roles in decades, managing to find work through relationships and trust built over a lengthy career. He jokes about his last audition being for Malcolm X, noting how unusual it feels to put oneself in audition settings which he finds unnatural.
Realizing how auditions affect the way both actors and directors connect, Lindo mentions how modern auditions, especially via Zoom, feel filtered and impersonal. He prefers a more organic approach, representing a style of engagement he finds vital to the craft of acting.
As conversations concerning music and its role in Sinners unfold, Lindo reflects on how music serves both the film and his personal life as a spiritual experience. He recalls a time spent watching Prince perform, highlighting the transcendental nature of music and its capacity to evoke deep feelings.
Sinners represents a thematic exploration of music’s historical and cultural significance. A scene that Lindo recalls vividly emphasizes the universality of music as a connecting force amongst the characters in the film.
In discussing the aftermath of his snub from the Oscars, Lindo acknowledges feelings of disappointment but stresses the importance of perseverance. He and Lee understood that challenges in their careers are part of the process; hence, they both resolved to keep pushing forward despite the setbacks.
However, Lindo’s upcoming projects also face uncertainties. The filming of Anansi Boys occurred amidst tumultuous news surrounding author Neil Gaiman, whose allegations led to concerns about the project’s release.
When discussing the series, he states, “I don’t think that’ll ever see the light of day. It’s too bad on many levels, but I was really excited to do it.” This sentiment encapsulates the unpredictability of the industry, emphasizing that an actor’s role can abruptly change thanks to circumstances beyond their control.
He also hints at the complexities surrounding the Blade film, which faced creative disagreements and eventually led to its removal from Marvel’s release schedule. Lindo expresses how the potential character he was set to portray possessed depth and nuance, making it all the more disappointing to see it not come to fruition.
Amidst the complexities and disappointments throughout his career, Lindo continually maintains a forward-looking perspective, learning from experiences along the way. He hopes that these reflections will shape his future approach to both his career and personal life.
In a more introspective vein, Lindo revealed he’s currently working on a book that is “memoir-ish,” aiming to reflect on his life and career in a unique manner. He has emphasized that it would not follow the traditional structure of celebrity memoirs but rather focus on specific films and narratives to share his journey.
Overall, Lindo’s ongoing narrative sheds light on the multifaceted nature of the acting profession, illuminated through his personal reflections and experiences in a dynamic industry. His story represents resilience, artistry, and the ongoing quest for personal growth through both success and adversity.
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