Interview with Aml Ameen

Can you briefly describe what the series is about?
It’s a tough thing to do. Michaela is a very dynamic writer, and so to me she’s captured accurately life in your late 20s, growing up in the city. The show explores sex, love, responsibility, friendship, the nuances of what are conventionally perceived as taboos. It’s also the first time I’ve seen Black British characters so widely painted, capturing the variety of our experiences. I really admire that.

Please would you introduce us to Simon, your character?
We describe Simon as the quintessential London boy. Grown up in the city, is a product of multi-dimensional cultural paradigms created when having grown in a city like London. He’s a successful banker, fighting his way in that world, he’s a good guy, a friend to Arabella, and has his heart in two different places.

Where do we find Simon at the beginning of the series?
He’s on top of the world. Two worlds to be exact. I feel he’s in a place where he hasn’t fully settled into who he is, who he wants to be. He’s a fun-loving guy, living a fast life, and chasing the modernised dream of what it means to be a successful man. I think Michaela paints him as a sincere guy, a guy who believes he’s smarter than most around him. Until he begins getting caught up in a situation that is way out of his depths and comfort zone.

What is his role and how does the narrative follow his story?
I feel the narrative describes him by way of a quiet, cautionary tale. We get the feeling by the end of his journey that there is hope, and that hope comes from him being who he is at his core. A good guy.

Describe the relationship between Simon, Arabella and Kat, and how it develops over the course of the story?
With Kat, it's the classic of having a girlfriend who's not really taken with your female friend. Arabella and Simon go way back to an earlier error of this late 20-something journey. They’ve taken drugs together, they’ve flirted with the idea of sex, but maintained a platonic friendship. The friendship means a lot to Simon, and I get the sense that he fears losing his long-time friend, so on this point, with the circumstances that unfold, he’s a little easy to be manipulated. 

Without giving too much away, can you give us some insight on how Simon’s story develops over the 12 episodes?
Not really. I think that’s a tune-in-and-find-out kind of thing!

Did you do any research on the subject matters explored throughout the series before you started filming?
What’s refreshing about a series like this, by virtue of being a London-born-and-raised man, the vibration of the show feels so familiar. The characters are people I’ve met in my real life to varying degrees. The essence of Simon’s character’s journey is having his mind, body and heart in two different places. MC has Simon say this great line about “mashing pinto beans and plantain together” to me, and that line has always been a metaphor for Simon trying to reconcile these two separate sides of him that these two women are feeding.

Not wanting to give that up, and so secrecy being his way to maintain the balance of his lovers. In this era where conventions are being challenged, and people are being clearer about who they feel they are, I think it’s a strong conversation for MC to be writing about.

Many people have experienced the heart's capacity to love more than one person at the same time, I certainly have.

What drew you to taking part in I May Destroy You?
I’ve not worked in my own accent for over 10 years, my work mainly being in US, so I was very drawn to playing something closer to home. MC is a very exciting talent, I admire her. Sam Miller’s work I’ve been a fan of for years, so it was a pleasure for me to jump in.

Had you worked with Michaela Coel before?
No never.

What was it like having her as a co-star but also the writer, director and exec-producer?
Again, exciting, and a front row seat to an area my career is moving into. I learned a lot from her: her specificity, her energy levels every day over such a long period of time, wearing so many hats - was incredible. Down to earth and a collaborator that loved questions and had answers. I admire her a lot.

What was the most challenging aspect of this job?
I was shooting a movie in Georgia as the same time, and that required me to have no facial hair, and this required the facial hair. The make-up department did an incredible job of recreating my beard, props to them, I was very impressed.

Have you got any future projects coming up?
With a bit of luck I’ll be headed to the director’s chair very soon. I’m excited at this self-penned movie, that I will direct.