Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Small Axe: John Boyega was ‘so fuming’ during one racism scene he doesn’t remember filming it

Actor stars in Steve McQueen’s new BBC One series

Ellie Harrison
Tuesday 10 November 2020 03:38 EST
Comments
Small Axe trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

John Boyega has described filming Steve McQueen’s new film series Small Axe as like undergoing “therapy”.

The Star Wars actor plays a police officer in the “Red, White and Blue” episode of the BBC One series.

His real-life character, Leroy Logan, was an anti-racism reformer in the 1980s. Boyega plays the cop as he attempts to improve the police force from within after his father was assaulted by two officers.

One scene takes place in a police changing room, where Leroy finds racist graffiti on his locker.

“I don't remember filming that scene," Boyega told Radio Times. “I just remember fuming and being angry.”

He added: “I didn’t see the locker room or the locker door until those cameras were rolling. So that reaction was all natural to the character and the choices I thought he would make.”

In the same interview, Boyega recalled the time his Pentecostal minister father was stopped by police on his way home from church.

“Everybody knows, especially if you grew up in Peckham, somebody who's gone through the darkest scenarios with the police,” he said. “I do. I know a few people.”

Small Axe begins on Sunday 15 November with “Mangrove”, a film starring Letitia Wright about the trial of a group of black activists accused of inciting a riot at a protest in 1970.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in