David Harewood OBE is an actor, director, author and activist who has starred in many award-winning TV series and films including Homeland, Blood Diamond and The Night Manager and performed as Othello at the National Theatre. He has become a force
for change via documentaries such as David Harewood: Psychosis and Me, Will Britain Ever Have a Black Prime Minister? and Why Is Covid Killing People of Colour? and was awarded an OBE by King Charles III for services to drama and charity. In September, a specially commissioned portrait of him will be displayed as part of Harewood House’s Missing Portraits series. harewood.org
The first record I loved was Endlessly by Dobby Dobson. It brings to mind my mum and dad, and the friends they used to host. Older men in suits and women in smart Sunday wear sitting in our front room, the smell of rum and West Indian food in the air – a very happy time.
I’m currently listening to a lot of older Motown music – Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson. It’s hopeful, happy music and I need a bit of that in my life.
What's everyone reading?
The book that influenced me the most was The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. Its imaginative use of characters and themes made me fall in love with the idea of absurdity and outrage in literature.
I’m currently reading The Protest Psychosis by Jonathan Metzl. It details how the American system of categorising mental health conditions, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis, has been influenced by race and the fear of black men.
My favourite film is 12 Angry Men, directed by Sidney Lumet. I first saw it when I was very young and was astonished by the brilliant performances.
Right now I am watching Swarm on Amazon, Donald Glover’s latest work. It’s brilliantly dark and funny and asks some interesting questions about modern fandoms and how they can be overprotective and sometimes vicious.
I love Gustav Klimt’s artwork The Kiss. I remember falling in love with a girl and, after a walk across Hampstead Heath, we went back to her place and hugged each other for ages! A copy of that painting was on the wall and it totally mirrored my feelings. Whenever I see it I think of that moment.
The best hotel room in the world is a sea-view room at Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy, where you can wake up to the glistening Mediterranean. In London, it would have to be the Hyde Park Corner Suite at The Lanesborough.
My favourite place in the world is Cobblers Cove in Barbados.
This year, I’m looking forward to getting stuck into Section 52 Films – the production company I’ve launched with my business partner Sabina Emrit Harper.
