Breakout Star Sallieu Sesay is living his Hollywood Dreams

Sallieu Sesay is a determined actor making his way into the entertainment industry. He navigates the demanding acting industry with a love of the craft and a spirit of gratitude. As a first-generation West African, he carries the integrity and traditions of his family, which is illustrated by his work ethic and determination to never stop. He spoke with me about his recent role as Ahmet in the film Manodrome. We dove deeper into how he got his start in acting and the importance of fatherhood in his life.

Landing the role of Ahmet in Manodrome

Cox: Sallieu Sesay, thank you for stopping by The Official Black Magazine for a chat before you head to Germany for the Manodrome premier. Let’s get into it. What drew you to the movie and the role of Ahmet
Sesay: So funny story, bro! When the audition came through, it was my third one for the day. I shot it like any other audition, but I broke some rules this time. Usually, casting directors tell you to do only some things in an audition. I didn’t do this because the script had so much flavor, and I wanted to give the casting director my entire idea of this character’s life.

I brought the character of Ahmet to life by marrying the character description that was in the sides and who I could personally create.

My rep responded quickly, saying they really enjoyed my audition. Then shortly after, they told me I had booked the role.

Cox: It’s factual that, at first, there was no name for the project.
Sesay: Yes, when I received the script, it was untitled, and the only information that was given was it was a Riley Keough project. I had seen Riley Keough’s work before in notable projects like The Girlfriend Experience.

After booking the role, I realized the magnitude of being on a project with Oscar winner Adrian Brody and Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg with some other big names. Seeing the caliber of everything attached to the project was such a blessing.

Cox: You did something daring by going against the grain when you broke some rules during your audition. What was it that let you know that that risk was going to pay off?
Sesay: Well, there is a level of confidence that comes from being in the business for a while. I’ve been doing this for eight years, studying theater in college, and doing different projects.

I knew I had nothing to lose when I took this risk because they would respect it. Regardless if they liked it or didn’t, they would see that I risked it all because I believed in what I was doing.

Cox: When you were on set, you were surprised by what producer Gina Gammell told you.
Sesay: Mike, when I got on set, I had the opportunity to sit and speak with Gina Gammell, a phenomenal human being. She hugged me and told me she would always sing my praise. I was so flattered by that statement.

She said she was at the airport when she received my audition. She said she just screamed and forwarded it to the director without any notes. She wanted to see if he would have the same response, and he did!

Cox: You were able to do something special during the audition, which comes from your theater background. Those with theater backgrounds can bring a character to life.
Sesay: It’s the marriage between artistry and training we get from the theater. I’m always reading, learning, and in-class still to this day. Training never stops; it’s a continuous part of my journey and this industry. With this training, I incorporate a lot of reading, great acting methods, and teachers. It’s like having constant mentors in my ear.

A little Background & how he got into acting

Cox: Now that we got to know about what drew you to the movie, I want to see where this love for acting came
Sesay: Mike, I actually thought about this question a lot. And I go back to when I was fifteen, and my dad moved back to Sierra Leone. So, I talked about this moment with many of my acting teachers, and it boils down to that little boy in me who wants to be seen by his dad.

I’m first-generation West African, and our parents only want us to pursue career options in the health and legal profession. It makes sense for them since it will provide financial stability.

So, when I got to college, I audited for the Laramie Project during my first year. I was really good at it and landed around seven rolls in it. It was an experience just being on stage, going back and forth with wardrobe changes, and seeing the audience members in the crowd. I saw them looking at one another and even crying during the performance. Eventually, a couple of students approached me and asked for my autograph. They said I will make it big and need my autograph now.

All these little things added up for the little boy inside of me who just wanted to be seen by his father.

Cox: Speaking of being first generation African, how did you navigate getting into acting and making your parents proud
Sesay: My dad would travel back and forth to visit us. I remember my parents dropping me off in college, and I was doing improv. My mom told my dad how she wished I would stop this, and my dad responded well, if that’s what he wants to do, then let him.

That moment always stuck with me while I stayed in college and earned my degree in nursing.

I took this time to make them proud and set the bar for my younger siblings. But I had some resentment later because I was going back and forth with this idea of acting. Finally, I had to sit down, Mike, and make the best decision. I did everything my family wanted and what I wanted to do for them.

Cox: How was that transition for you from full-time nurse to full-time actor
Sesay: I’m going, to be honest. I have met my fair share of obstacles in this career. You know it has yet to be one success after the next for me. But what kept me going was keeping my vision for myself. The Bible says without a vision, the people will perish. So having that vision has always been at the forefront of my mind. The first thing I do in the morning after waking up is review my Definiteness of Purpose.

No matter how hard it got, I stayed in love with this journey and was persistent.

Cox: As a full-time actor, how have you been able to stay grounded throughout the process?
Sesay: It’s my faith in God and faith in myself. There have been times when I knew I should have booked that role, and I see another actor playing it. And in those moments, I remind myself that God’s time is the best, so all I can do is stay steadfast. I am in control of ensuring I stay ready for when it’s my time, so I don’t have to get prepared.

Cox: What one piece of advice would you give an actor having trouble navigating this industry?
Sesay: I’ve had the best success when I showed up as myself and no one else. I would tell them to keep being true to themselves and be themselves.

Sallieu and Fatherhood – The Positive Impact of Affirmations

Cox: What your father said really impacted you and how you turned out as a father?
Sesay: Yes, man, when I tell you I do affirmations with my kids regularly. I want to ensure they know and feel their daddy loves them. It’s crucial for me because when I heard my dad say what he said. It gave me the validation I needed without having to search for it from others.

I love acting; it’s my passion and what I do. But being a father is so important to me because it made me the best version of myself as a man.

Cox: You talked about positive affirmations and mantras with your kids early in their development.
Sesay: My daughter just turned eleven this year Mike. I’m always telling her how beautiful she is. I don’t want her to hear it from someone else for the first time and just be mesmerized. I do this and encourage her because I never want her to doubt herself in this world. I also do this with my son, even though he is younger. He always hears from me Daddy’s Little Man is handsome.

Cox: Growing up first-generation African influenced you to do this, right?
Sesay: Yes, because when my parents got here, they had to work tremendously to reach the level of financial stability they had. They were brand new to the country, started their own janitorial business, and had a lot of success. But this didn’t leave room for the lovey-dovey stuff, which I understand. Because they instilled in me a great work ethic, which is why when I was twelve years old, I was always working cleaning restaurants at night.

I might not work as a physical laborer but I work as hard as they did. Fortunately, I have the clarity to provide the affection in both actions and words.

Cox: Sallieu, tell me about this adorable video on social media that illustrates the epitome of fatherhood for you.
Sesay: Mike, so I have my son saying his daily affirmation. This day he was I’m powerful. It was the cutest thing because I had to repeat it several times. He was going so hard saying it that he almost fell down.

Photography Credit: Andriy Lutsenko & Ala Lutsenko