Sex Education star admits Netflix show ‘wasn’t always joyous’ ahead of final series
NCUTI Gatwa, Sex Education’s breakthrough star, has opened up about his life on and off set ahead of the Netflix’s show’s final series.
The 30-year-old actor graces the cover of Rolling Stone UK as he speaks on the end of Sex Education, his debut as Ken in the new Barbie film, becoming the 15th Doctor in the new Doctor Who series and more.
It was announced last week that the hit Netflix series is coming to an end after its fourth season later this year.
Now Ncuti – who plays Eric Effiong – has revealed he struggled with the show’s direction towards the end.
He expressed that it was a ‘bittersweet goodbye’ and said: “It was very hard; it was such a big show. When you’re telling stories that haven’t been seen before,
“There’s always a battle as to how to tell them. It wasn’t always joyous. I feel like we’ve outgrown it, and we’ve given everything we can to it.”
Ncuti became a beloved character on the show as he played the fabulous character of Eric, Otis’s gay best friend from a religious African background.
He also opened up about fighting to authentically represent Eric, telling the magazine: “It fast-tracked me into the downsides of this industry.
“I remember being told by an executive producer that white people wouldn’t understand my character, Eric, which incensed me. There’s an entire show there for white people to understand.”
Since his Sex Education days, Ncuti has gone on to even bigger roles as he prepares to become the next Doctor Who, which he admits he went back and binge-watched recently.
Speaking on what he expects in his new role as the Time Lord, Ncuti said: “My Doctor is emotionally vulnerable. He hides it with humour, but he’s lonely.
“I can’t say much more than that; I don’t want to spoil anything. But he’s also energetic! The poor cameramen struggled to keep up.”
He continues: “This person survived a genocide. This person fits in everywhere and nowhere. I am the Doctor. The Doctor is me. I decided that I had to get this role.”
The August/September issue of Rolling Stone UK is out now.