Exclusive Interview: Muna Otaru Discusses Dreaming Whilst Black, Discovering Her Love for Storytelling, and More

Muna Otaru is a world-renowned storyteller, celebrated for her captivating and dynamic performances in projects like The Keeping Room, Broken, and Professor T. Her remarkable ability to fully inhabit a character and evoke genuine emotions through her work is a true testament to her incredible talent and craftsmanship.

Currently, Muna stars in the BAFTA award-winning series, Dreaming Whilst Black, which is a timely dramedy that follows a young aspiring filmmaker trying to balance his professional and romantic ambitions against the harsh realities of life, love, and a family who’d prefer he had a stable job.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Muna about Dreaming Whilst Black, how she discovered her love for storytelling, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for storytelling and the arts, and when did this journey start for you?
Muna: My grandmothers were amazing storytellers, especially Hajiya Maimuna. She would tell my siblings and me folktales from our tribe, the Ebira people in Okene, Nigeria. I remember how we would sing along at certain parts of the story. One of my favorites was Ivarenyi, a tale about a young girl who was impersonated by the maid on her way to meet her husband. Somehow, she ended up becoming the maid and was forced to eat a horrible soup. Although I can’t recall all the details of the story, I vividly remember the song Ivarenyi would sing at the river. Please don’t make me sing it. [laughs] Anyway, I wanted to be like Hajiya when I grew up, so it’s evolved into this way of life for me.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Muna: Every acting teacher I’ve ever had encouraged me to consistently work on my craft. While I may not have control over everything in my career, I am responsible for the effort I put into my work and how I show up to collaborate with others

PC: You’ve portrayed numerous impactful characters throughout your career. What about Stephanie and Dreaming Whilst Black resonated with you and made you want to be a part of it?
Muna: It was the first time I had seen a show portray archetypal characters like Stephanie and Dorvin through the lens of their human desires and dreams, as opposed to how they are often depicted in cinema with underlying agendas.

PC: This is a powerful narrative about the lack of opportunities in the industry, especially for people of color. Co-creator Adjani Salmon found it crucial that the show reflects the change he hopes to see, with many of the creative team earning their first credits on this series. What was it like collaborating with this team, sharing in this moment, and being a part of the solution we all want to see?
Muna: On day one, walking into the hair and makeup trailer and being presented with the mood board, seeing all the work that had gone into my character’s styling, I was so overwhelmed that I started crying. It was a first-time experience for me, setting the tone for the entire shoot. The collaborative process was second-to-none. I could sit in the hair and makeup chair and focus on getting into the headspace for the day without worry. I showed up to set, knowing my cast members had my back, and I could play freely with them. I just love witnessing all of us in our excellence.

PC: You are such a standout in this series. Is there a specific scene you were excited for audiences to see?
Muna: Thank you very much for saying that! That’s very kind. I particularly enjoyed the first scene I shot on my first day on set when Stephanie is with Kwabs in the garden, and Dorvin later joins them. Though seemingly simple, it establishes the relationships with such specificity and sets the tone for their journeys.

PC: Throughout the series, you all tackle many timely issues through a comedic lens. Why do you think this genre lends itself to such storytelling?
Muna: Black people universally go through so much stress, but we are not defined by our experiences. In my humble opinion, we are one of the happiest groups of people on the planet and very forgiving. We have honed the art of finding joy in life.

PC: The making of this series is a testament that everything is possible if you put in the hard work. With your illustrious tenure in this industry, what advice would you give to aspiring artists who want to follow a similar path?
Muna: I would say, attend acting classes, study your craft, and watch film, theatre, TV, and dance religiously. It’s funny because every other art form requires practice, practice, practice, so why would acting be any different? Also, make sure to do one thing for your career every single day.

To keep up with Muna, follow her on Instagram. Watch Dreaming Whilst Black on Showtime today.

Photo Credit: Ruth Crafer