Daniel Kaluuya has told RTÉ Entertainment that his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of the late Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton in the just-released Judas and the Black Messiah took more out of him emotionally than any other role to date.
The harrowing true story follows petty criminal William O'Neal (played by LaKeith Stanfield) as he becomes an informant on the activities of Chairman Fred Hampton, leader of the Black Panther Party in 1960s Chicago.
"It was a huge task," said Kaluuya of the role. "But it was a huge task in terms of what it meant culturally. Also, meeting the family [of Fred Hampton] - what it meant emotionally to them."
The Get Out star said that "understanding the stakes" of the real-life events was "a really huge weight that we all carried" while making the Oscar-tipped film.
When asked what feedback he had received from people about the film, Kaluuya replied: "I think people are quite kind of speechless. [They're] Really taking in the gravity, or reminding themselves of the gravity of what's happening."
For the Londoner, it's the latest in a run of very important films, following on from Queen & Slim, Black Panther, Get Out and Sicario.
"Like any experience in life, you're just changed by it," he continued. "You feel really blessed.
"Like, all the films that you mentioned are incredible directors, and I met incredible people. I felt 'topped up' after them because of the conversations I've had with people on that set, whether that's on the camera or off the camera - crews, amazing people that you meet.
"[I've been] Having an amazing journey, stories that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. To make work that I want to watch is the biggest blessing."
You can rent the movie premiere of Judas and the Black Messiah at home now.
