Black Panther is nothing short of a phenomenon. The latest installment in the wildly successful “Marvel” movie series, it has become the second-highest grossing four-day opening in movie history, raking in $242 million.
But even more remarkable than box-office records and glowing reviews is the story behind actress Letitia Wright, who plays T’Challa’s little sister, Shuri.
She has revealed her faith in God, born out of a Bible study she decided to attend in 2015, helped her escape a “very dark place” in life.
Wright began her acting career in the early 2010s with smaller roles in tv shows, including Doctor Who and Top Boy. While she scored a few feature roles, Wright soon found herself battling depression throughout her early years in Hollywood.
In an article from Tribune Content Agency, Wright thought back to that difficult period: “I was putting so much pressure on myself. You get comfortable with the idea of thinking, ‘Maybe it’s OK to leave.’ [I was in] a very dark place.”
The actress made the decision to take a break from acting, as she felt that she “idolized it.” She opened up to FaithWire in a February interview, recalling her choice to temporarily step back from the spotlight:
“So I came off from it and I went on a journey to discover my relationship with God, and I became a Christian,” she mentioned. “It really just gave me so much love and light within myself. I felt secure, like I didn’t need validation from anyone else, or from getting a part.”
At the very depths of her depression, the British actress ended up coming to Christ after attending a London actors’ Bible study. So convinced that she had to put God first, she even turned down an acting role that would have set her alongside Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning.
“I remember God was like, to me, ‘Give up the job,’’ the actress said.
“I can give you more than that; I just need you right now. Give up the job.”
Then, after laying down her own ambition and looking to the Lord, she was offered this gigantic role in Black Panther.
The 25-year-old star went on to explain she is now confident God — who led her out of a serious bout of depression — guides her to and away from the roles she now accepts, or declines.
“I pride myself on keeping it the same as when I came into acting, to not just change the lane and take everything, just because it may have a big name or a big budget,” Wright said. “Am I right for this part? Is this what I should be playing? If something feels off in my spirit, I know that’s God’s way of saying, ‘You shouldn’t do that.’”
