IN CONVERSATION WITH OMAR MILLER
interview by JANA LETONJA
Omar Miller will be next starring in the period horror film ‘Sinners’ alongside Michael B. Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, releasing on 18th April. Omar started his Hollywood career in Disney’s ‘Sorority Boys’, and some of his most notable roles include ‘CSI: Miami’, ‘Ballers’, and ‘The Unucorn’ amongst others. He also created and hosted Esquire Network’s reality travel series ‘Weekend Fix’, which he parlayed into #advantageOmar for Tennis Channel’s Grand Slam coverage, and created the sports-oriented ‘O-ZONE’ podcast.
Omar, you’re no stranger to complex roles. How does your character in ‘Sinners’ differ from what you’ve done in the past, and what drew you to this particular project?
In a lot of ways, this character is the closest historical character to my family that I've ever played. I'm the grandson of sharecroppers and in this film I play a sharecropper, which amongst other things, was one of the main draws. Ryan Coogler told me he'd work with me one day when he was still at USC and he personally manifested that, and made it happen, so that was the other draw. I love working with great film directors.
Period films often require a certain level of research to capture the era accurately. What kind of preparation did you undertake to portray your character in a period setting?
Lots of family research and calling my elders who are from Mississippi to ask for some authenticity pointers.
With such an impressive ensemble cast, how did you all collaborate to create a seamless and believable world for the audience?
Every department had a top-tier artisan running point and we all leaned on the collective teams to actualize Ryan's vision.
What makes ‘Sinners’ stand out as a horror film in today’s market? How is it different from other genre films currently being released?
It's not just a horror film. Believe it or not, this film is genre fluid and has several elements of comedy, drama and music. You've never seen anything like this.
You’ve had such a diverse career, from starring in ‘Ballers’ alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to lending your voice in the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ animated series. How has your journey as an actor evolved over the years?
I've finally made peace with the old adage that the journey is the destination, and that has freed me up to enjoy and explore to the fullest.
You’ve worked across multiple genres, from drama and action to animation and comedy. How do you decide what roles to take on? Do you seek variety or look for specific challenges in each role?
I like to mix it up. I keep getting blessed and the phone keeps ringing.
As the creator and host of Esquire Network’s ‘Weekend Fix’ and the ‘O-ZONE’ podcast, you’ve explored the intersection of entertainment and sports. How do you see the relationship between the two worlds, and do you plan to keep creating content in this space?
My passion is running my mouth about the world as I see it, and travel and sports bring me joy. I'll be making as much relevant work as possible in that space and beyond.
How do you balance your career as an actor with your passion for content creation? Do you see yourself continuing to expand your production and creative ventures with Big Easy Productions?
If anything, I'm going to turn up the output. The world needs artists now more than ever.
Outside of all your career accolades, what are you most passionate about in life?
Growth. I hate being stagnant.
What can you share with us about your other upcoming projects, besides ‘Sinners’?
‘Napoli-New York’. Book it. Couldn't be more proud of this small Italian film that has touched people around the world who have seen it. Hopefully, it'll be available tariff free in the US soon.
TEAM CREDITS:
photography BEN COPE
