Noma Dumezweni Quotes

I moved to London, and it's a cliche to say that London is a melting pot, but it's true - I didn't stand out anymore.

- Noma Dumezweni

Whoever we are, we have to carve something out of our lives. I would like to be on my deathbed going, 'I've enjoyed that. I went through the rollercoaster of it, but I've appreciated it.'

- Noma Dumezweni

I am a black woman who has been given this character called Hermione to play on the stage. But actually, we've all grown up with the books, with Emma Watson playing her in the films. Imagery is so strong.

- Noma Dumezweni

I'm a great company actor, a great supporting actor. I serve the piece.

- Noma Dumezweni

I arrived in this country as a refugee child with my sister and my mother.

- Noma Dumezweni

To acknowledge the beginnings of people is a beautiful thing.

- Noma Dumezweni

We're storytellers - and if the story is told well, you go with the form.

- Noma Dumezweni

However popular you are, you still feel like an outsider.

- Noma Dumezweni

In your 20s and 30s, everything is possible. But then, sooner than you think, men walk past you in the street and don't look twice at you unless you're wearing a fabulous outfit.

- Noma Dumezweni

I don't do the victim mode. I don't do blame. I can't bear that.

- Noma Dumezweni

If I think even a week ahead, I get terrified. My big thing is trying to enjoy the moment as much as I can.

- Noma Dumezweni

I tried twice to get into drama school and didn't, so I worked my way up through the fringe.

- Noma Dumezweni

The weight of expectation is huge. But for me, that pressure has been outweighed by getting text messages from mums I know saying how huge it is for their mixed-race daughters that I am playing Hermione.

- Noma Dumezweni

There are so many directors, young and old, around - all doing their thing and struggling.

- Noma Dumezweni

My mum's a single mum, I'm a single mum, and you do find yourself rushing around just to make sure everything's all right.

- Noma Dumezweni

I did fringe theatre for so many years, and then I got my first play at the RSC, which was an amazing feeling, but I was 30 and had started acting in my early twenties.

- Noma Dumezweni

I am so passionate about representation because, growing up, I didn't see myself, and now people can say, 'I see myself there.' We're all trying to find where we are.

- Noma Dumezweni

For me, you could say my big West End debut was 'Cursed Child,' but I'm in my 40s, and it's like, 'When is that beginning?'

- Noma Dumezweni

Family - it's all about family. Families feeling safe and finding your safe place.

- Noma Dumezweni

I am so lucky I get to work with amazing, amazing people.

- Noma Dumezweni

I've always been curious about the other worlds we can shift into in our imaginations.

- Noma Dumezweni

I have been that actor who's watched peers and thought, 'God, they're doing well. I'll never get there.'

- Noma Dumezweni

I now realise I'm a great actor.

- Noma Dumezweni

Stop worrying what other people think.

- Noma Dumezweni

The world shows us what we need at a specific moment in time.

- Noma Dumezweni

I remember, being young is a scary, wonderful feeling.

- Noma Dumezweni

I wasn't very academic at school, but the Wolsey Youth Theatre was the saving of me.

- Noma Dumezweni

I am very blessed to have this experience of being a parent, but do not negate me from this industry because I am a parent.

- Noma Dumezweni

I'm working with theatre-makers who are the top of their game, and it's extraordinary.

- Noma Dumezweni

The only question we should ask is, 'Are they good?' I've met great actors, black and white, and I've met bad actors, black and white.

- Noma Dumezweni

At the very beginning, being a parent did impact how I go about this business.

- Noma Dumezweni