36 Quotes by Malachi Kirby

When I heard that 'Roots' was being remade, my first response was, 'Seriously?' I was a bit skeptical. Then I had an audition in early 2015. I didn't know how to feel about it. I was a little scared of the responsibility of telling the story again with the weight of the first one behind me - I was scared of comparisons.

At first, I had this huge desire to play a superhero, that little kid in me. Then I realized it wasn't actually a superhero I wanted to play: it was someone fighting for a cause that's bigger than themselves, which can go into all sorts of things.

My knowledge of my ancestry, like a lot of black people not living in Africa today, is very vague.

Kunta Kinte's strength derives from the knowledge of where he comes from, but it struck me that I don't know where I come from. I understand that my last name is Kirby, that I was born in London, third-generation Jamaican, and at some point along the line, that name was changed. I didn't know my history past my grandparents.

You're always going to have typecasting, especially with TV.

If you're good enough to play a role with emotion and universal human elements, then you'll get others coming to you.

There are stories I wanted to tell, and they are not defined by what I look like.

I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art, by not accepting that there are roles that aren't for me.

I was taught about slavery, but it was the ancient Egyptians. That's the closest I got to African history.