By Hollywood standards, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is more of a late bloomer. It was just five years ago that the American, who was born in New Orleans and grew up in California, stood professionally in front of the camera for the first time. He first studied architecture and worked as an urban planner before changing direction and opting for a second degree in acting. His career began with a role in the series “The Getdown”, and since then he has quickly become one of the dream factory's most sought-after shooting stars. After supporting roles in films like “Baywatch”, “Greatest Showman”, “We” and “Aquaman”, he made his final breakthrough with an impressive (and revealing) appearance on the acclaimed series “Watchmen”, which earned him an Emmy last year.Now the 35-year-old can be seen in his first leading role in the horror film "Candyman" (in theaters from August 26th). We reached him tidy and in a good mood by video call in London, where he is currently in front of the camera for the "Aquaman" continuation.

Mr. Abdul-Mateen, your new film “Candyman” was supposed to be released last year, so let's look back to 2020 for a moment. Then the corona pandemic broke out, the “Black Lives Matter” movement was heard more loudly than ever before, you yourself won your first Emmy for the “Watchmen” series and shot the new “Matrix” film here in Berlin. How do you look back on this enormously eventful time?

Phew, what a question. Let's put it this way: The past year was one of growth, change and upheaval, for me as well as for everyone else. We were all basically forced to question and assess our lives in a completely new way. Which is why it is now so exciting to see what people are still willing to do and what are not. There are people who no longer want to work as much as they used to, or at least no longer want to work under the same conditions, for example no longer in an open-plan office. Artists reject jobs that they might have done in the past, or steer their careers in new, perhaps more meaningful directions. A lot is changing there, which I find exciting. We all stand up for ourselves and the things that are important to us more than before. Our artour mental health, our physical well-being.

Was it still possible for you to enjoy the sudden success that came your way?

Sure, as much as that was possible under the conditions of last year.

When I won the Emmy, for example, I was sitting in my furnished apartment in Berlin in the middle of the night in front of the zoom camera and the television.

That would certainly have been associated with a completely different high mood in other years in Los Angeles.

But as I said: I don't think that's wrong, everything that used to be taken for granted can be seen from a new perspective.