Kadiff Kirwan: From “Slow Horses” to “The Hot Wing King” & Beyond

by Sofia Deus | Sep 9, 2024

Explore Kadiff Kirwan’s journey through standout roles in "Slow Horses" and "The Hot Wing King." In this in-depth interview, Kirwan shares his experiences working with legends, his approach to diverse characters, and his exciting upcoming projects.

In a recent interview, Kadiff Kirwan shared his experiences working on some of the most acclaimed projects in television and theater, revealing a wealth of insight into his craft and inspirations. From his role as Marcus Longridge in the BAFTA-nominated series “Slow Horses” to his transformative performance in Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “The Hot Wing King” at the National Theatre, Kirwan’s versatility and dedication are evident. He reflects on the joy of working with industry legends like Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas, the personal connection he feels with his character in “The Hot Wing King,” and the life-changing impact of his role in “Chewing Gum.” With a dynamic range of roles, from Netflix’s “The Stranger” to the upcoming BBC Studios pilot “Plan B,” Kirwan’s journey is a testament to his passion and resilience in the industry. His advice for aspiring actors is both practical and inspiring, underscoring the importance of curiosity, kindness, and continuous growth.

Photographer: David Reiss

Kadiff, your role as Marcus Longridge in the BAFTA-nominated TV series “Slow Horses” has garnered significant acclaim. Can you share your experience working alongside legends like Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas?

Quite honestly, it’s been an absolute dream! To work with a titan of acting like Gary Oldman is beyond what I could have imagined. Firstly, he’s such a laugh and great fun to be around, but more than that he is a consummate professional. He approaches the work with such detail, it’s awe-inspiring sharing scenes with him. I’ve learnt a great deal just watching him, even when I’m not in the scene, he is an excavator of the truth and digs down deep to find the nuance and honesty from scene to scene. The whole job has been a joy. I especially adore working with Aimee-Ffion Edwards who plays Shirley. The dynamic between Shirley and Marcus has grown into something so special. I adore our scenes together.

Starring as Cordell in Katori Hall’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “The Hot Wing King” at the National Theatre must be a thrilling experience. How do you connect with the themes of love, family, and staying true to yourself in this powerful production?

Well, I love love…and I love my family, so it’s been nice being able to draw from my own life experience and pour it into Cordell in this play. When we meet Cordell he has so much going on; he has fighting an inner battle where he doesn’t feel he is good enough to be in his current situation and carries a lot of shame about not having a job. He spends the entire play on an emotional rollercoaster eventually coming to the realisation that he has a lot of internal work to do. It’s a joyful role to play because you really see the evolution of the character over the performance. What’s been really interesting is that his internal tempo and rhythm is completely different to mine so it’s been great exploring what the truth of that is and delivering that on stage each evening.

You are well-known for your role as Aaron in the BAFTA-winning comedy series “Chewing Gum.” What was it like working with Michaela Coel and Susan Wokoma on such a groundbreaking show?

Gosh, that was a while ago now. But what I remember from that show is laughing from morning to night. Every single day on that set was a joy, a riot in fact. Michaela is a singular talent. And who doesn’t love being able to create joy with their best friends and the world embracing and loving it? But truly, that show changed my life in the best possible way and being around someone who works so hard to deliver their vision is something I will never forget.

Photographer: David Reiss

In Netflix’s mystery thriller “The Stranger,” your portrayal of DC Wesley Ross added depth to the series. How did you prepare for this complex character, and what was it like acting opposite Richard Armitage and Siobhan Finneran?

It was such a blast shooting The Stranger. Amongst the brilliance of Harlan Coben’s story I got to leave that job with Siobhan Finneran as a close pal which was such a bonus – she is truly one of the best actors the UK has ever produced. She is a wonder and so much fun. For prep I watched a bunch of Harlan’s previous shows and read his books and also watched a load of documentaries about the police.

Your diverse roles range from “Fleabag” to “My Policeman” and “Mary Queen of Scots.” How do you approach such varied characters, and what has been your most challenging role to date?

I think every role is challenging in one way or another. The notion of playing someone outside of yourself is often hard to get one’s head around. With Slow Horses it’s the stunts that have been hard. With something like The Hot Wing King it’s been about transforming into Cordell, I dropped 32lbs to play him, which was not as easy as I would have hoped. Plus, staying mentally fit to carry a 3 hour show in which him cooking in real time, singing, dancing and playing basketball. I make it sound like a task, which of course it is at times, but it’s such a joy to get to push myself to limits outside of what I thought of myself. I hope I get to continue to do that throughout my career.

Kadiff, you’re also a talented writer currently developing your own comedy-drama ‘Plan B’ with BBC Studios. Can you tell us more about this project and what inspired you to venture into writing?

Having worked with the likes of Michaela Coel, Aisling Bea and Phoebe Waller-Bridge and seeing them step into the demanding role of showrunner as well as actor in their own shows has inspired me to do the same. As a black queer British immigrant, my story of arriving at the person I am today was not so simple. So I’m drawing from experience and digging into my own personal well to create something that can standalone in the world and that can entertain and teach audiences and hopefully make them laugh.

With a strong background in both television and film, what advice would you give to aspiring actors looking to succeed in the industry? How do you maintain balance and continue to grow as an artist?

Pay your taxes. Soak it all up, go and see as many plays, films and exhibitions as you can – they will inspire you within your own craft. Be kind and humble and be a good company member, no person is more important than another. Just be a good person and stay curious. Curiosity is one of the best qualities any person can have, it’ll keep you asking questions and working hard.

Finally, can you tell us more about your current projects and any future plans or considerations you have? Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I currently am under commission with BBC Studios for a pilot that I’m writing and will also be starring in which is very exciting. I’ve got some new exciting TV work coming out next year…so stay tuned!