"What the fuck." is probably the phrase Noma Dumezweni uses most often, and at 51, she is one of Hollywood's most popular actresses, having successfully crossed over from theater to film and television. The universe seems to hold some really nice surprises for me, and I really appreciate it, but I would never have let it into my stories," she says as she relaxes on the mustard-yellow couch of her sunlit Manhattan apartment. Spilling coffee all over herself, she is as warm and unexpected as her surroundings. The role cemented her celebrity status and served as a natural entry point for her next film, "Made for Love," an HBO Max dark comedy premiering April 1 in which Dumezweni plays Phiphany, a marine biologist with a unique affinity for her research subjects. Here, she speaks candidly about overcoming impostor syndrome, her love-hate relationship with social media, and why she's glad she found success later in life.

"Marie Claire Made for Love" is a real doozy of a film, a film that is both terrifying and claustrophobic. What drew you to this project?

Noma Dumezweni: I remember reading the script and thinking, "What the hell is going on?" My interest was already piqued. My character is called Phiphany, and she always makes me laugh.

MC: "Is this going to be Black Mirror?" or "Is this Westworld?" And it's really funny.

ND: I remember finally watching "Breaking Bad" years after it came out. In the first episode, I literally thought, "I didn't know." I love that feeling. It's that kind of kinetic energy of storytelling. We have to stay ahead of the audience.

MC: "The Undoing" is a perfect example of an audience engaged (opens in new tab). Are you an online viewer?

ND: Yes, I am. Some days I just want to throw my phone out the window and crash it. When "The Undoing" was set to come out in October (2020), I took the month of August off. I shut down Instagram, I shut down Twitter, I literally disappeared.

MC: "Made for Love" is about being forced to be drawn in without being in control or proactive.

ND: I know that every human being needs to connect. That's where this story goes from there. Who do we connect with and how?

MC: I was surprised to read that even though your character (in The Undoing) seemed very put together, you were very nervous on set.

ND: I was scared. I really thought I was going to be fired. One day I came home crying because I thought I was no good. I don't know what I am doing. I am too loud. I am too small. I watched the scene later and [didn't understand]. If I could say anything to anyone: Stop making excuses. I was the one making excuses not to be there.

MC: Was there anyone on set who gave you advice on how to push those feelings away?

ND: I remember having a lovely conversation with Hugh [Grant] (open in new tab) about that. He said, "It never gets easier." I was like, "Even for you." He said, "I've talked to Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks about this too."

MC: When you were cast as Hermione (open in new tab) in 2016's Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, there was a lot of racist discourse. As you said, you tend to check what people are saying, so how did that affect you?

ND: When I started seeing (racist comments), I thought, "I don't want to be involved in this." But the producers had my back and J.K. (Rowling) had my back (open in new tab).

MC: Did it influence the roles you later considered?

ND: No. It was a very strong influence. If anything, I was being sarcastic about people's motives (for appointing me now): ...... Oh, because I realized that it's not about me, it's about how I look. Especially as a black man, I am very aware of it.

MC: When you were younger, did you ever think about throwing in the towel?

ND: I think I was about 28 or 29. It was a year I spent in bed. I thought, "There's no place for me in this business," because 20 years ago, "There are already black actresses in this business. That was the feeling.

MC: Do you wonder if you would have been as successful in your 20s if you would have been able to handle the negativity with the same strength and poise?

ND: I had a hard time in my late 20s and early 30s in terms of myself and my identity, so everything is a bonus now. Let's take a risk. If I am the poster child for people who have taken risks and made it work, I am so glad to be a part of that.

MC: Let me ask you about your upcoming appearance in the live-action version of "The Little Mermaid" (opens in new tab). Tell us about the role.

ND: [grinning] I can say I'm doing it. I'm very excited. I talked to my hair and makeup artist the other day, and she was like, "Yes!"

MC: In all the roles you've played, the women are really strong and smart. Is that your intention?

ND: Sometimes it's about meeting the character you need at the right time for you. What do I need to fulfill? What will challenge me?" that's my interest. Hermione [in The Cursed Child] is also a mother. That was a big thing for me. This girl who is the brightest witch of her generation, the greatest witch of her generation, is also a mother. And she is the Minister of Magic. I've been fortunate that [the role] has always struck me as an interesting person, an interesting woman.

A version of this article appeared in the April 2021 issue of Marie Claire.

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