INTERVIEW
Alice Gee | 23/08/2025
Fresh out of drama school, Ernest Kingsley Jr. hasn’t so much stepped into acting as leapt headfirst, with a mix of curiosity and fearlessness that’s rare to watch. He’s gone from the dreamlike world of “The Sandman” to the raw tension of “War of the Worlds”, and now, he’s about to take on “Washington Black”, playing Wash, a boy whose escape from a Barbados plantation sparks an adventure bigger than survival.
Chosen personally by Sterling K. Brown, Ernest carries this role with a kind of open-hearted intensity — the feeling of someone who still pinches himself every day, grateful to be telling stories that matter.
A: With Washington Black being a layered and powerful story; what was it that initially drew you to the role, and how did it feel undertaking the role of such a transformative character?
E: So many things drew me to the role. It was a no brainer decision! I think what solidified it was the adventure, the heart, the ingrained love in the writing. It’s the story of a beautiful young man, who maintains the power to dream up a world greater than the troubling one he finds himself in.
I definitely had some imposter syndrome when I first got the role. I doubted if I could bring justice to the character, which I think is common amongst a few actors, but it turned out to be such a generous process and adventure. Washington Black has shown me so much of who I am, and who I can be!
A: With the book being so popular were there any pressures you felt in doing it justice for fans?
E: From quite early on, I tried to make the separation between the book and the screenplay. The book is incredible, and Esi (Author) has done something magical. Selwyn (Showrunner) used the book as a springboard into something more. I trust in his vision so, that pressure from fans never really affected me as much.
A: Freedom and identity are crucial themes throughout the series, how do these themes resonate with personally, as the one responsible from bringing the story to life?
E: For me, identity brings freedom. Knowing who you are, what you stand for, where you’re coming from. This is why playing Wash was such a gift. Here, you have someone who has been poured into by so many people, with love. He holds on to those people, to that love, and it informs how he lives his life, how he dreams, and how he flies.
I try to hold on to my loved ones, my family, my friends. They remind me of who I am, and they give me freedom, in that sense.
A: Having to portray a character who navigates trauma, displacement and resilience… alongside continents is a challenging task, how is it you mentally and emotionally prepare?
E: Imagination is a powerful tool. World-building is a very important component in my preparation. Just doing loads of research and finding different entry points into the characters inner landscape. That’s how I get to those emotional places.
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A: How did you find balance portraying Wash’s intellect and vulnerability in a narrative so rooted in trauma and wonder
E: I think Washington Black is rooted in love. The love a mother has for a child, the love a young man has for creativity, even the love between two lovers who see through one another. Wonder is definitely included in that. There is trauma in Wash’s journey, but I’d always try to balance it with the joy he finds in creating. His intellect and creativity were his acts of rebellion, and that was something I was trying my best to hold on to.
A: What was your first meeting with Sterling K. Brown like and how did his presence influence your performance? You’ve spoken of him as mentor, friend, and emotional anchor on set
E: He is all those things and more! Incredible man, incredible brother. He brings the joy on set. He incites greatness in other people, just by being his encouraging self. The earliest memory I have of us meeting was on set. After our first or second take of a scene, he asks me, “Ernest, have you ever been in love?”, much to my confusion! But I knew from that point on, we would form a fruitful bond.
A: Was there a moment whilst filming where the weight of the story stuck you? How did you carry that, on and off set?
E: Yes, there was! There was a whole week where it just felt like I had been crying every day. I came home at 2am after filming and just sobbed on the floor. The next day, I got up and started going to the gym, praying more, and meditating. It was a good wake up call! You need to separate your life and your work, and take care of yourself!
Coat, Jennifer Milleder. Shirt, Eton. Trousers, Herons Ghyll. Shoes, GH Bass.
A: You’ve stepped into a wide range of characters, how has playing such varied roles shaped or rather challenged your own sense of identity?
E: You think you’re one thing, and then you find out that you possess the ability to be something else. It’s scary but thrilling at the same time. I’m constantly finding different parts of myself; and I’m looking forward to finding more!
A: HATC prioritizes creating safe spaces for expression, have you found or created any safe spaces in your career; on set, in community, or in solitude?
E: I just wrapped on my first short film that I’ve written and produced. It was so refreshing being in a space where people felt a general ease and calmness with the people they were working with. A synergy. I didn’t get any sense of discomfort or danger. And being a producer, overseeing all that, was so rewarding.
A: The acting industry often ask actors to be vulnerable on screen but doesn’t always hold space for that vulnerability off-screen. How is it you go about navigating that?
E: I try do what Washington Black does: incite vulnerability in others, by being vulnerable with yourself. It can feel so scary being vulnerable; you ask yourself so many negative “what ifs”. But what if someone holds you, and comforts you after being vulnerable? What if it inspires someone else? What if it frees you?! The sooner we give ourselves permission to be vulnerable, the sooner we can create those spaces where people can open themselves up.
Photography Kohl Murdock
Styling Irina Van Verseveld
Grooming Hadeel Sittu
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