Pop-Culturalist.com

Andy Allo is a dynamic storyteller who is best known for the powerful characters she’s brought to life in projects including The Game, Black Lightning, Upload, and Chicago Fire.

Her latest project, Assassin, is a must-see thrill ride where she stars opposite Bruce Willis and Nomzamo Mbatha. In the film, a private military operation led by (Willis) invents futuristic microchip tech that enables the mind of an agent to inhabit the body of another person to carry out covert, deadly missions. But when an agent (Mustafa Shakir) is killed during a secret mission, his wife Alexa (Mbatha) takes his place in an attempt to bring the man responsible to justice. Andy shines as Mali, an artist who teams up with Alexa in her journey for revenge.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to Andy about Assassin, diving into her first action film, the shifting media landscape, and more!

PC: Tell us about Assassin, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Andy: My character’s name is Mali. She’s an artist. It’s a movie written by Jesse Atlas and Aaron Wolfe, and also directed by Jesse Atlas. I was drawn to this project because I don’t get to do a lot of action. My background is more comedic. This was a fun way for me to jump into a different suit, as one would say. I love that this film explored a bit of identity but in this psychological, technological sci-fi space. That was really, really cool.

PC: You’ve played so many powerful female characters throughout your career. Who were the women in your own life who shaped the storyteller that you are today?
Andy: Wow. One person for sure would be my grandmother. I grew up with her in Cameroon, and I remember as a kid sitting on her lap and her singing songs to me, telling me stories, and that growing up in West Africa is a completely different way of life. The stories that are told to me were original stories. Those were stories that were passed down from generation to generation, so I definitely consider her a top one.

PC: In addition to the incredible work that you’ve done on screen, you’re also a singer-songwriter. If you had to pick a song that best describes your character’s journey or write one for her, what would it be called and what would it be about?
Andy: “You Only Live Once” by The Strokes. That would be the song because, in a way, she’s living twice because her body gets taken over by Alexa. She’s living as two people but in one body. Do you only live once? No…especially if you can body hop. [laughs]

PC: You and Nomzamo [Mbatha] are bringing this character to life. What was that collaboration like? How did your choices inform hers and vice versa?
Andy: She’s incredible. She’s a powerhouse and getting to watch her, talk with her—and also with Jesse Atlas (the director)—about what are the little things that make her that way when she’s in Mali, how do you see those things, how does it shift in the body, and keeping it subtle so that we’re not hitting people over the head like, “I’ve been taken over.” We didn’t want it to be like that.

I got to watch some playback in certain scenes that she would film, and then I would film, or we’d get to be on set at the same time, so we’d get to watch each other work. That, for me, was really cool because instantly as an actor, you’re like, “Okay, I saw you do it this way. All right.” Now, because I know my character, I can pick and choose some of those colors and notes, which was really, really fun.

PC: You’ve also begun writing your own screenplays. Have you found that the work you’ve done behind the scenes as a writer has impacted the way that you now interpret and analyze characters, like the one that you play in this film?
Andy: Yes, and directing as well. A little over a year ago, I wrote and directed a short film, and that radically shifted the way that I saw characters and showed up as an actor, and it also gave me immense respect for what happens behind the scenes. It really honed my craft as an actor to where certain questions I ask and the way that I envision the scene has shifted, and everything has become even more specific and really enhanced. It all feeds the other, which is amazing.

PC: Something that stood out to me in this film is that it celebrates strength in vulnerability, and you brought so much nuance to your character’s journey. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to dive into those moments? How much does music play a role in your preparation?
Andy: It depends. Sometimes, especially if it’s an emotional scene, there are certain songs that I’ll play that’ll drop me in, especially if I need to shut the world out and really go within. Then, there are those songs that I’ll choose based on the character that will get her to that place, but they go hand in hand, especially as myself showing up on set. If I’m a little tired and feeling a bit out of it or whatever, I know I can put my go-to song on, which is “She’s a Bad Mama Jama” by Carl Carlton. As soon as I play that, I’m like, “Okay, let’s go.” I’m feeling myself and it gets my energy up. Having those songs for myself as an actor within my instrument to prepare me and prepare my body helps me to really show up as my best self. It’s the same for a character.

PC: Like you were saying earlier, this film was an opportunity for you to dive into the action-thriller realm. Is there a scene you’re excited for audiences and your fans to see? How did that physicality allow you to step into your character’s shoes?
Andy: There’s this big fight scene between me, Dominic [Cooper], and Nomzamo. Filming that was so much fun because there’s a moment where Dominic and I are fighting; I jump on his back, and I’m choking him out, and then he flips me over. That was really, really fun to play because I don’t normally get to do that, but we had a stunt coordinator and we worked on the choreography, so everything was safe. I had a stunt woman, too, who was doing some of the other more challenging moves, but there was a moment when I get slammed down onto the ground, and I still had to get that part and film it. Your adrenaline is just rushing. I got winded a little bit and I was like, “Okay.” I can’t even imagine doing the full flip over, which thankfully, I had an amazing stunt woman who helped out on that part. It was so much fun.

PC: Jesse co-wrote and directed this project. Is the filming experience different when the person who helped created this universe is also at the helm directing? What was that collaboration like working with him and Aaron?
Andy: Absolutely. When you’ve been there since the beginning of this little nugget of an idea, it adds so much when you’re directing it. That spoke volumes on set, especially if I ever had a question. We shot this movie very quickly, so there wasn’t a lot of room to guess. To have both of them there, and also Jesse directing and him knowing the script in and out, it was so helpful because it made things go faster, like, “Here’s a bit of information about this story as an actor that maybe I didn’t pick up on.” Aaron was there, too. I could be like, “Am I on the right track with this or no?” Them being able to give that instant feedback was priceless.

PC: This film tackles timely themes like identity through a sci-fi thriller lens. Why do you think the fusion of these genres lends itself to this type of storytelling?
Andy: I think because it’s the world we live in today. Technology is woven so much throughout our society. It’s something we rely on every day. To me, it only makes sense to explore it and see how far we can push it. I think this film does that. It really takes stuff that seems accessible and real and that exists. I’m like, “Yeah, chips exist. I can buy into that. Okay, we’ve got the metaverse, uploading consciousness, and giving yourself in the metaverse. That’s real, but then now let’s really push it.” That’s the beauty of today’s film world and the creators of what’s being created now; you get to see artists pushing the envelope. It’s because it’s rooted in stuff that can actually happen.

PC: You shared this beautiful post on social media that this film celebrates two strong Black female actresses at the forefront. What has this moment meant to you? Have you had time to reflect on your own contributions to the much-needed movement of representation?
Andy: I don’t think I’ve really sat with it as much as I could. Thank you for that because life and the way we live now, everything moves so fast. But I think what I am most grateful for and what I would like to sit with more is the fact that the film industry and the landscape of the world that we live in as far as creators is really shifting. There’s a lot more diversity on TV and film. There’s a lot more inclusivity. The fact that there is a movie that’s coming out on Friday that has two female Black leads is pretty incredible. I don’t think I’ve sat with my own part in that. I’m like, “This is amazing.” It makes me excited that there are those opportunities. You look at films like Everything Everywhere All at Once, too, and you’re like, “Yes, that’s badass.” It’s really creating these opportunities. There’s space for that today. That gives me a lot of hope and a lot of excitement around what’s to come in this space.

PC: Outside of this film, Season 3 of Upload is coming to Prime Video soon. Is there anything you can tease about what’s ahead for your character?
Andy: Hopefully, it’s coming out soon. Where we left off was Nathan and Nora together in the real world. Prepare for some drama and a rollercoaster, expect the unexpected! It’s going to be wild.

PC: You’re also such a powerful storyteller. What’s left on your bucket list?
Andy: What’s left on my bucket list? I’m very excited about being a part of the Star War universe and getting to voice one of the characters in The Bad Batch Season 2, which is out on Disney+ now. That’s such a dream. I’m going to continue to write and direct my own projects. It’s an incredible time. I’m going with it and allowing this wild rollercoaster journey of a life takes me. Who knows what other stories I’ll tell? We’ll see.

To keep up with Andy, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Assassin is out in select theaters, on demand, and digitally.

Photo Credit: Saban Films