Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo on Queer Black Representation and Finding Their Voice

Misfits just have more fun. We eschew expectations, love out loud, and create captivating chaos wherever we may roam.

Managing the mayhem isn’t easy, but Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo is up for the job.

“The Addams Family has a long-standing tradition – it’s always been about the things that are outside of the status quo.” They continue, “the IP has historically exemplified coloring outside of the lines.”

Lewis-Nyawo plays Sheriff Santiago on the massively popular Netflix series Wednesday, and they revel in the rebel narrative. “The idea of an outcast being celebrated again, I think is really important. Every generation needs one. Mine was Buffy. Showing my age a little bit.”

Icons are timeless, and Lewis-Nyawo is having a blast and a half mixing it up with pop culture legends. “It’s such an honor, and it’s such a gift because I used to watch The Addams Family as a kid and now, I get to play opposite Jenna Ortega and Fred Armisen, who I’ve been a fan of, like, for ages. I loved Portlandia. It’s just been such a pleasure to be able to exist with those characters.”

Despite their monstrously merry demeanor, Lewis-Nyawo shares one quick quibble. “There’s a little part of me that sometimes is like, ‘oh, why don’t I have superpower?’ I’d also like to be kooky. I *am* kooky. But I thoroughly enjoy playing that voice of reason.”

In real life, their superpower is boundless positivity. In addition to their costars, the effusive actor also praises the maestros behind the lens.

“What’s really lovely in a Tim Burton world and this tongue firmly in your cheek world is that you just get to have a lot of fun and allow for the characters to not really take themselves that seriously.” Lewis-Nyawo continues, “They’re existing in this very weird macabre, yet also playful and comedic kind of environment.”

Far from fluff, the themes of Wednesday waltz off the screen and into the psyche.

“The show really typifies a sort of same, same, but different,” they quip, borrowing a phrase from their South African upbringing. “People having such very different backgrounds or cultures or creeds or powers, where they come from, but at the end of the day, they all unite together, and they are there for each other. There’s not a lot of infighting between, you know, werewolves and gorgons. They all just see themselves as Nevermore kids. And I think that that’s really, really beautiful. I think all of our communities could learn a lot from that.”

It feels far removed from Lewis-Nyawo’s own formative years as a nonbinary kid and one of only three people of color in their semi-private school. “It was just after apartheid ended. So, there’s all these tensions and weird things happening. I always felt like an outsider. And I really struggled during my school days to make friends. I was quite alienated. So having something like drama really gave me a way to express myself.”

They even noodled around with the trombone for a hot (jazz) minute. “If it was creative, I excelled at it, whether that was music, theater, dance, or writing or anything like that. I always gravitated towards creativity, and so that’s when I got it. And it became my safe space throughout my schooling years and some of those were difficult times.”

Lewis-Nyawo gradually navigated from escapism to activism, forming philosophies aplenty about justice, representation, and the sheriff role they currently slay on Wednesday.

“For me, what was really important is the ideal of what law enforcement is supposed to be, what these authoritarian figures are supposed to be. It’s important to remind people of what that ideal is. They’re not supposed to cause harm. And if they find themselves in a situation where they are ill equipped to provide care, then maybe the other departments need to be created. If people are needing mental health care, for instance, I don’t think sending an armed officer helps. And I think armed officers potentially would agree. They’re just over-extended. That’s not their job. That’s not what they’re trained to do.”

A wellspring of wisdom, Lewis-Nyawo is able to convey volumes of emotion with a single line of dialogue. In Episode One of Season Two, for example, Sheriff Santiago assures the title character that they will be a better advocate than the previous sheriff. “In that moment, I was really playing that as an overture to Wednesday going, ‘Hey, I’m here. I know you’re going to get yourself in some kind of trouble. And if you get in over your head, even though I’ll be bringing a gun to a superhero fight, I will come and help you. I will be the adult in the room.’”

But even adults enjoy their occasional playtime. Lewis-Nyawo plays Illaoi in Riot Games’ hotly anticipated gaming release, 2XKO. “It’s a fighting game, a sort of like tag team fighting game based on the characters from League of Legends,” they narrate. “The gaming community – much like any fandom – is ferociously in love with their worlds. So, it’s always wonderful to bring a character like that to life. And I love Illaoi. She’s just so powerful. I’m a massive nerd myself, so I’m excited to just get my hands on the game too and start playing it.”

Now listen up because Lewis-Nyawo lends their lyrical lines to another iconic franchise.

“I do a lot of voice work. I love to do it. I’ve always loved Doctor Who. So, when I kind of got the ‘oh, would you like to come through and do this?’ I said, of course, it’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon with some wonderful writers and creatives.”

That’s right, they’re part of the expansive Doctor Whoniverse. “We get to really push the envelope out there in terms of stories because it’s an audio drama,” declares Lewis-Nyawo. “We really get to play with things, to queer things, to change timelines, to bring in new people, to explore some other timelines more deeply than maybe the TV show is permitted to do in a more rigid structure. It has been a pleasure to always go back in there whenever they call and if I’m available, I’ll go.”

Lewis-Nyawo joins a who’s who of Who humans. “All of the old doctors have come back. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Tom Baker, Paul McGann, and Derek Jacobi … it’s just been such a lovely space, and it’s run by some wonderful people.”

So, what’s next for this sci-fi, gaming, pop culture juggernaut?

“I think I’m ready to go back to my roots and dig into a really intense drama,” proposes Lewis-Nyawo. “It’s been a while since I’ve stretched that muscle and I miss it. I intentionally took room from it just because it was getting to be a lot and now, I feel like I’m ready again.” So, what would be ideal? “Well, I’m looking for a queer indie, coming of age kind of thing. That would be awesome. I mean, I can’t really play coming of age anymore. I am of age. But being involved in that kind of ensemble and something like a quite beautiful, quite honest, role.”

Casting directors, take note! But also, take turns because Lewis-Nyawo is in demand and outstanding. Their career is ping-ponging across the pond and back, collecting accolades with every role. “I’m so excited to be working on a very, very, very gay project: Russell T. Davies’s new TV series, Tip Toe with Alan Cumming and David Morrissey.”  Lewis-Nyawo beams about the “wonderful, wonderful team and loads of loads of queer humans. It is set in Manchester’s Queer District Canal Street and is going to be a really exciting project. I’m looking forward to that. We are currently shooting now and that should be dropping sometime next year.”

The term all the feels seems tailor made for Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo. They care deeply, they ponder thoughtfully, and they empathize on an epic scale.

“The main thing that’s just sitting heavily on my heart is that I know it’s really scary for queer folks in general. Every second, something feels really regressive. In particular for our trans brothers and sisters and our nonbinary family.”

Their mind drifts across the Atlantic momentarily, but their soul remains defiant.

“Even though I live in London, you know, when America rumbles, the UK kind of goes ‘Oooh!’ It does have an effect and we’re experiencing that effect.”

Lewis-Nyawo counters legislation with love, no matter the locale.

“I just want to remind queer folks that joy is also an act of resistance. And being intentional about its creation. But also, there’s no shame in taking care of yourself and trying to be safe. During this time, I know a lot of people are going to have to go stealth in their state. I know some people are trying to flee. It’s gotten that bad. It’s gotten that scary… Rally in your community, wherever you are. Now more than ever, take care of each other, even if that just means bringing a meal to somebody who’s too scared to leave the house, I think that’s so important. And remember, we’re all outcasts.”

And with that fierce flourish, they tie the conversation up with a rainbow ribbon. Lewis-Nyawo applauds the weirdo in us all, the whimsy in artistry, and the wonder of our world as it teeters on the brink of the unknown. Navigate wisely, fellow travelers.

(Originally seen in and published with permission from GED Magazine)