Actor Josh Tedeku stars as Tazer in the groundbreaking Netflix series Supacell.
Created by rapper turned visual storyteller Rapman, Supacell features a stellar cast of both renowned UK talents and rising stars. The series achieved international acclaim claimed the number one spot on Netflix charts worldwide.
The series follows the lives of five seemingly ordinary South Londoners who discover their extraordinary abilities. At the heart of the story is a man on a mission to unite them and save the woman he loves.
Tedeku’s recent onscreen credits include taking on the lead role ‘Jaheim‘ in Daniel Lawrence Taylor’s Boarders for BBC Three. A comedy drama set in an upscale boarding school. Other notable projects he has starred in are Abdou Cissé’s Festival Of Slaps which debuted at the BFI London Film Festival 2023 to high praise. It also won a BIFA, for ‘Best British Short Film’ and was nominated for ‘Best British Short’ at BAFTA 2024. In addition, he starred in A Town Called Malice for Sky and NOW TV, opposite Jason Flemyng and Martha Plimpton. He also took on the role of ‘Wish’ in Moonhaven for AMC.
We spoke to this rising star about his career so far …
Please introduce yourself …
Hello, I’m Josh Tedeku. I’m an actor and I descend from Ghanaian heritage.
Describe your life right now in a word or one sentence …
Currently finding fulfilment.
Can you share what initially drew you to the role of Tazer in Supacell and what aspects of the character you found most intriguing?
Tazer was fascinating to me. It was such a similar character to the classic stereotype that we are familiar with, but written far deeper and more complex in nature and emotion. It’s a treat for any to be able to play all of the layers. It’s a feat that is incredibly hard to reach.
Supacell features ordinary people with extraordinary abilities, their powers originate from having the sickle cell trait. How does this unique aspect of Tazer’s character and the other Supa’s he meets influence his journey and actions throughout the series?
I think when he realises that there is something bigger than himself out in the world, that really affects him. He also realises how small of a world he’s been trapped in his whole life on the block. It’s all he’s known so it’s a shock to the system and he doesn’t know how to deal with it. There’s a moment where Tazer jumps at Michael in Sabrina’s house and on surface level, it can just be seen as Tazer being rash, but really it’s fear. Michael has been hunting him down for the entire series, trying to show him something beyond the streets and it frustrates Tazer because I think he knows subconsciously that these powers are way more than just a coincidence. He just wants to be left alone in the comfort of that small world and naivety where he has no responsibilities other than making it to the top. There’s a lot to unpack and they’ll (hopefully) get to it in Season 2.
Tazer’s mother was murdered by a secret agency, but he believes she abandoned the family, which fuels his anger. This backstory highlights the importance of understanding his feelings of abandonment and how they led him to seek out ‘Krazy’ played by Ghetts as an older brother figure. In your opinion, how important is it to show the backstory of characters like Tazer in understanding why some boys turn to gangs?
If you don’t show that important backstory, you make him less human and begin to glorify what he does. Writing a character like Tazer is a huge responsibility, because you have to do it with purpose every time. If you just have Tazer without any backstory and he’s just a guy who stabs people with invisibility then all complexity and humanity is lost and you run the risk of our young audiences watching and believing it’s cool and okay to run around doing these things. Human nature is such an important thing to explore especially in characters with bad morals because usually something has led them there. Only in movies where there’s a clear protagonist and antagonist will you find that the antagonist has woken up and just chosen violence for the sake of it.
Were you worried about how violent Tazer had to be and how that might come across to audiences who are wary of seeing black boys portrayed this way?
Yes, until I read the script. I didn’t want to do it at first because I think the trope has been so over done and I don’t want to ever contribute to our community stepping backwards in this industry. Then I read the script and understood the whys and from there I just wanted to play the character as best as I could and hoped with all my heart that people could see the whys in my performance instead of just focusing on the darkness which is inevitable for some audience members I guess – but the ones that got it, got it, and that made me happy.
Boarders has been renewed for a second season. How does it feel to see the show grow, and what can fans expect from your character in the upcoming season?
I’m happy the show got renewed purely for the fact that our people don’t get wins like this often and I’m so proud to be a part of it. Finally being able to showcase a group of black people that exist in droves but their stories are never told. As for Season 2, there is a lot of change and excitement ahead that the writing team is working on. I hope the fans love it, they deserve the best and I’ll try and do my part in bringing it to life for them to watch.
Both Supacell and Boarders explore themes of identity and belonging. How do you relate to these themes personally, and how do they influence your portrayal of your characters?
I think the first chunk of my life was a lot of figuring everything, myself included, out – especially as someone who moved around a lot and attended mostly white schools. It wasn’t until after I left school however, that I actually found myself and when I did it allowed me to look back on all those school years and all the choices I made and really analyse psychologically why I did it and what I was going through mentally. This helps when acting these parts, especially Boarders because I can call on parts of my former self quite easily since I’m now able to recognise them for what they were and that aids me in my quest to bring a real, natural and felt performance to the screen.
You worked with a number of established actors including Tosin Cole, Calvin Demba and Adelayo Adedati, what did you learn most from working with them and have any of their acting techniques influenced you moving forward?
I learnt so much about life from them. They all looked out for me and welcomed me and I appreciate that so much. Acting wise, I think I was just as confident in my process as they were in theirs and we all meshed well and got to work. That isn’t to say I have nothing to learn, I definitely have so many more steps to climb but I just tend to learn in a different way rather than picking from people I work with. I think I get more wrapped up in delivering the story perfectly to have time to do that on set.
Tell us the high points and/or any obstacles to filming the series …
Honestly we filmed it so long ago now, it feels sort of like a blur so this question isn’t easy. I think it was the deepest I ever tried to go into character so I learnt the hard way, in the deep end, how to harness that. That’s a high and an obstacle in one.
What was Rapman like as a director?
He knows exactly what he wants which is so important – and is very collaborative. Raps knows his story and the whys like the back of his hand. Perfect blend.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU …
If not this, then what? Nothing.
What’s made you Sad, Mad, Glad this week? Little bro’s birthday was this week. Glad for him, family, life and God.
What are you watching right now? Mostly films. Really want to watch Sing Sing soon.
What are you reading right now? Really taking my time with Small Worlds by Caleb Azuma Nelson. Soaking it all in. It’s beauty. Love is beautiful.
What are you listening to right now? Samm Henshaw – For Somebody Somewhere Who Isn’t Us.
The last thing you saw on stage? Stranger Things. Great show. Intense. The stamina that must take is mental. It’s theatre magic.
What’s on your bucket list? Short term – Go to Tokyo. If it happens it happens – meet Thierry Henry. For later in life – Self care but also finding someone who can lighten that load. Life goal – To be an actor so respected, I can then do whatever I want, wherever I want, whenever I want. Expressing freely. Can do that anyway but with my flowers would be nice.
Where’s your happy place? I’ve lost it. Gotta find it again. Closest thing I can think of is working and building on a scene with a partner you have a connection with. Being in that flow state. I love it man. Physical places I guess you can say the theatre and my favourite cinemas but that’s also for work. There’s the Emirates stadium as well I guess (COYG).
Who’s the most important person in your life? Who do you rely on the most? God and God only. But of course he isn’t merely a person though so the second answer would have to be myself because if I don’t have myself I am lost. I have to have myself before I’m able to be in tune with the world and connect with/understand others!
Celebrate someone else … Carly who helps me with my costume on set. Also Tyrone on props. Real troopers who always help me through the day. Shout out to all the crew members out there as well. Thank you.
Celebrate yourself … I’m one step closer to my goal every day. We thank God for progress whether fast or gradual.
Whose footsteps are you following in? Nobody. I’m creating footsteps. If people want to follow them sure but I wouldn’t even advise that. Aim to create your own. It feels great I promise.
What’s Next? Whatever comes that feels right in the moment.
Where can we find you? When I’m not inside or on ya screen I’ll be in a theatre or a cinema or the Emirates. Maybe in a cafe or a good food joint. Come say hi.
Where can we see your latest work? Supacell is out on Netflix now. Happy streaming and God bless.