Featured Image Description: Dream (Tom Sturridge) and Rose (Vanesu Samunyai), photographed by Liam Daniel (Netflix, 2022). Article Spoiler Grade: 1. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
This week for swirlywords, I had the pleasure of speaking to ‘The Sandman’ star Vanesu Samunyai, also known as Kyo Ra! Thank you to Vanesu for speaking with me. You can read our chat below and follow her on Instagram.
Content Note: Some of this interview features a discussion around mental health. If you are struggling, support is available.
Vanesu first started as a background actor to gain experience, before signing with an agency: “I just love telling stories. I love acting itself – getting to make facial expressions and living in different scenarios makes me feel like the “main character”, if you get what I mean! Just living. It’s like when I was younger and we would play ‘dress up’ and improvise.”
How did you first become introduced to The Sandman?
“When I first auditioned. I was only given “sides”, which are usually a few out of context pages from a script or scene, so I knew and thought very little of Rose Walker [initially]. Casting told me she would be very important in the second half of the season. I did a bit of research for my first audition; I looked her up on ‘wikia’, read the first two issues of ‘The Doll’s House’ and basically sussed out her vibe. I didn’t want to know too much about her though, as I didn’t want to act out exactly what I saw on the page – I didn’t want to lose my own substance trying to emulate what I thought she should be.”
How has your role as Rose and the story of The Sandman affected you?
“Initially I was going to watch the show after the premiere, but I made the mistake of going online and reading everyone’s opinions of me. I clamped up and numbed out after that. I mentally blocked out the whole experience as if it never happened – to protect myself. I didn’t watch myself back. As a ‘people pleaser’ seeing that disapproval made me feel like I’d done something wrong, and I felt so shameful. I was in a dark hole for months, just feeling like I’d failed, and feeling guilty for failing.
I became really quiet online, I didn’t want anyone to see me living my life as if I’d done nothing wrong. All of the good comments couldn’t get through to me because I was inclined to trust the negative ones. I couldn’t really prove them wrong either because people only know me [as an actor] from this. I definitely didn’t believe myself – I wasn’t on my own side. I just felt like I’d done something wrong. I struggled to like myself for a long time. I’ve been in a state of dissociation, to separate myself from the experience, like “that didn’t happen to me, that wasn’t me”. I was very nervous just before we went on stage at SDCC; I kept hugging and holding onto Mason [Alexander Park, who plays Desire]. I suddenly thought “oh, I shouldn’t wave at people, they’re not here to see me”.
I’m getting to a place where I’m starting to like myself again, though. I got some great words from Vivienne [Acheampong, who plays Lucienne], and some compliments from my other colleagues at the World Premiere. I was much more calm at the World Premiere. With most of this stuff I feel very in my element, but I do get little jitters now and then. And negatives aside, I know I meant something to a few people. I can only be thankful for that. I’ve enjoyed the fan art and the fanfics and my 8,000 Instagram followers. If you’re a fan reading this, thank you so so much.”
If you could have performed in an additional scene with another character, which character would you want Rose to interact with?
“Ooh! Gwendoline [Christie – who plays Lucifer]! I was off for two weeks when they shot her episode, and I really wanted to visit the set – though I think that was just me wanting to go to hell (pun unintended). The whole experience would have been lovely. I also wanted to meet Munya Chawawa who played Choronzon. He’s also Zimbabwean, like me, and I’ve seen his sketches, so I found it funny we were on the same show!”
What’s the best thing about being part of Neil Gaiman’s universe?
“I can’t give one best part, but my overall experience has been wonderful. I’ve been lucky to meet so many amazing people, including Neil himself, and I’ve had access to many opportunities. I know I felt overwhelmed about other things during production like performing, but I don’t think I felt burdened by the task of taking on this role and this story.”
What are you most looking forward to seeing when The Sandman returns?
“The ‘Dead Boy Detectives’!!! Issue #25. I love those two, and I think that whole arc is wonderful. My favourite so far is issue #25 where the dead come back to earth after Lucifer retires. I really enjoyed that. I loved the haunting feeling. It felt melancholic and wistful and the Dead Boy Detectives were just the best.”
Good news for Vanesu – Netflix have acquired the Dead Boy Detectives spinoff series! You can read the details here.
What are your plans for the future – can we expect to see you in something else soon?
“WORLD DOMINATION… (only half joking). I’m still auditioning, I’ve had some really really cool meetings, but only time will tell. My dream self is singing on stage and always working, healthily of course. I’m planning on going full force with my art. Honouring all that’s on my heart.”
All episodes of The Sandman season one are streaming now on Netflix.
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