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But anyone who caught her captivating portrayal of Young Lady Agatha Danbury is certainly paying attention now.
Photographer: Samuel Paul Stylist: Toye Adedipe Hair: Marcia Hamilton Makeup: Kymberli Williams
Because you are my son.
You come from warriors.
They inspire us to embrace the complexity of our own stories.
Photographer: Samuel Paul Stylist: Toye Adedipe Hair: Marcia Hamilton Makeup: Kymberli Williams
And for Thomas, this is only the beginning of her journey.
Glamour: How did you celebrate landing the role of Lady Danbury?
Arsema Thomas:I didn’t celebrate.
Arsema Thomas as Young Agatha Danbury inQueen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.
I was too shocked and still feel a bit of that now.
Maybe its the fear of celebrating something that might not last.
It’s a self-defense mechanism, I suppose.
Photographer: Samuel Paul Stylist: Toye Adedipe Hair: Marcia Hamilton Makeup: Kymberli Williams
How do you relate to your character, and what sets you apart from her?
Agatha and I share a strong desire to fight for justice and what is right.
It’s my guiding principle in life, something I truly believe in.
But Agatha approaches it differently.
Shes driven by her strategic nature and ability to see the big picture.
She knows what battles are worth fighting and can stay three steps ahead of everyone.
If you could manifest a dream role or your next role, what would it be?
That’s a scary question because what happens once that role comes and goes?
I’ve always approached dreams with the romantic belief that they should be unattainable.
So, I’m not sure what my ultimate dream job would be.
Which TV shows or movies were you obsessed with while growing up?
I was obsessed withThat’s So RavenandThe Cheetah Girls.
So I usually caught episodes ofThat’s So Ravenor any equivalent show on Disney Channel.
That’s kind of what my dad would tell me.
Hed say, You’re James, not the Bond girls.
And that was who I always identified with.
If we were to talk about the music in your life, what would you say is the soundtrack?
The soundtrack of my life would definitely include Mulatu Astatke.
My mom is Ethiopian, and his music played constantly during my childhood.
It holds a special place in my heart.
Mulatu and Luther Vandross for sure.
What’s your favorite aspect of being Ethiopian and being Nigerian?
There’s something distinct about both of these countries.
Every African country has its own unique qualities, but my favorite part of being Ethiopian is the history.
Also, the food is undeniably amazing.
But there’s something special about the history for me.
When it comes to Nigeria, my favorite part is the attitude.
Growing up watching Nollywood movies, I was immersed in this atmosphere.
If someone asked you, “Where’s home for you, Arsema?”
what would you say?
Home is wherever my mother is.
Currently, that’s in South Africa.
I didn’t want her to be solely strong without vulnerability.
People often underestimate the significance of representation and the impact it has.
I feel a sense of protectiveness towards Agatha because she hasn’t been given the respect she deserves.
Its encouraging because it means that something is changing ideally.
I can then be a part of the stories that do these characters justice.
Let’s talk about Agatha’s choice to ultimately remain single and invest in her friendship with Charlotte.
You’ve captured it perfectly.
Its the Bechdel test.
Its the question, Do women have a life outside of the existence of men?
And the answer is a resounding yes.
The importance of friendships is often undervalued.
It’s crucial to highlight and show the significance of it within the fabric of what community is.
I think women need to hear it oftenthat they can choose.
Culturally, that is something my parents have also told me.
It was a truly refreshing and empowering aspect of her character that I was grateful to bring to life.
It gave me a more realistic understanding.
My parents saw a lot of tough things in their upbringing.
Their respective countries were either going through independence or the Derg in Ethiopia, with communism taking over.
My parents were martyrs for their continent, and so I take it all very seriously.
Yes, it makes the world lonelier, but they instilled in me that information is power.
It wasn’t considered cool or aligned with African American or hip-hop culture.
How did the passing of your father and your subsequent decision to pursue acting impact your perspective on life?
Particularly in navigating the pressure imposed on children of immigrant parents to follow a specific academic career path.
It was tough because I grew up not recognizing that the creative field would ever be an option.
It was not what they wanted for me, but it was not what they wanted for themselves.
So they persuaded me to go through the more academic tech, stem route.
But when my father started to get sick, I recognized that his perspective shifted.
And all of a sudden, he wanted to be in the startup space.
It was confusing, especially at a time when his health was the priority.
But while he was in my care, we spoke a lot about regret.
It turns out that there were a lot of things he regretted.
He had been ruled by fear, and I’d never heard him talk so frankly.
It made everything feel profound.
This is also reflected in the fashion and beauty weve seen in your recent press tours.
As a champion of Black excellence, how do you think this movement will shape trends?
How do you anticipate it will inspire young girls to embrace their natural beauty and heritage?
For the longest time, Blackness has always been in the fashion and music space.
All of it is built off of Black people, let’s be real.
And Black people came from Africa.
So truly, everything is African.
I am constantly in awe of other Black women showing all aspects of their Blackness.
Like the way that waist beads are making a severe comeback.
Do people know what they are about when you wear them?
And this is mainly for the cultural appropriation chat of it all.
Because blackness is not just the skin.
It’s the hair, the nose, the lips, the eyelashes, the curves, the legs.
It’s so many things that get hidden because the skin is almost too much.
Its the, We need somebody Black, but we don’t need to show how Black they are.
I remember hating my hair growing up.
I absolutely loathed it.
You’ve saidBetween the World and Meis your favorite book.
It’s the first book where I finally found the words and thoughts I had been searching for.
It beautifully captures the fears and complexities of the Black identity that I’ve experienced.
Ta-Nehisi Coates' writing style is extraordinary and captures the Black experience.
Ruhama Wolle is the special projects editor atGlamour.
