Malachi Kirby

Charlie Brooker is crazy.

— Malachi Kirby

Even around my family, I hardly spoke. I was very reserved.

— Malachi Kirby

When I was in school, my first acknowledgement of 'Roots' was Kunta Kinte.

— Malachi Kirby

My roots go back to West Africa, but my last name is Kirby, which is not an African name.

— Malachi Kirby

Playing Kunta Kinte is an emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental journey.

— Malachi Kirby

I don't think I've ever spoken to anyone who's told me that the story of 'Roots' isn't important.

— Malachi Kirby

It's really cheesy, but basically, 'Roots' got me to find out my own roots.

— Malachi Kirby

There are stories I wanted to tell, and they are not defined by what I look like.

— Malachi Kirby

My dad passed when I was 6. I found out when I was about 21 that my dad always said acting would…

— Malachi Kirby

If you're good enough to play a role with emotion and universal human elements, then you'll get others coming to you.

— Malachi Kirby

I was thinking, 'What is it about Kunta Kinte that allowed him to live such a long life?' For me, what came…

— Malachi Kirby

One of the biggest things that I took from playing Kunta Kinte was where his strength came from in knowing where he…

— Malachi Kirby

Kunta Kinte is the closest thing I've ever seen... to a superhero. He's amazing. He's inspirational.

— Malachi Kirby

I was the shiest person you could think of. I didn't really speak. I was an only child, so most of my…

— Malachi Kirby

I believe it's important to have equal opportunities as a black actor. My way of fighting for it is through my art,…

— Malachi Kirby

I found that there were things that God could reveal to me that I could never get myself physically.

— Malachi Kirby

Kunta Kinte's strength derives from the knowledge of where he comes from, but it struck me that I don't know where I…

— Malachi Kirby

I was 22 when my mother gave me the original box set of 'Roots' and she said, 'I want you to watch…

— Malachi Kirby

There are many people still ashamed of their roots because of the negative connotations that come with being an 'African.' That sentiment…

— Malachi Kirby

When I heard that 'Roots' was being remade, my first response was, 'Seriously?' I was a bit skeptical. Then I had an…

— Malachi Kirby

At first, I had this huge desire to play a superhero, that little kid in me. Then I realized it wasn't actually…

— Malachi Kirby

Kids under, I'd say, 14 are still maturing; they are still growing. They are still understanding themselves. To hit them with something…

— Malachi Kirby

My mum is... interesting. So, like, she's very expressive and loving, but even if she does get excited about any of my…

— Malachi Kirby

I was taught about slavery, but it was the ancient Egyptians. That's the closest I got to African history.

— Malachi Kirby

I wasn't raised Christian. I certainly had to seek Him out and find Him, and it's changed my life. I'm so glad…

— Malachi Kirby

When my dad passed, I felt like I had to grow up very quickly.

— Malachi Kirby

There was a period when I had apple pie as a treat every day of the week. I mean, like, a family…

— Malachi Kirby

I haven't experienced a lot of prejudice in my life, but I'm not naive to what goes on in the world.

— Malachi Kirby

You're always going to have typecasting, especially with TV.

— Malachi Kirby

My knowledge of my ancestry, like a lot of black people not living in Africa today, is very vague.

— Malachi Kirby

I was acting before I had given my life to Christ. But the effect that God has had on my actual career…

— Malachi Kirby

Mum used to say that when I went out of the house, I represented her. I took that seriously. So I didn't…

— Malachi Kirby

'Roots' focuses on a particular group of people who defy the odds and win, eventually, even if it isn't in their lifetimes.…

— Malachi Kirby

I never got picked for the athletics team for about three years. I was in my third year, and I really wanted…

— Malachi Kirby

I think about Shakespeare. Because there have been hundreds of variations of Shakespeare's plays since they've been written, and I believe it's…

— Malachi Kirby

Schoolkids - black and white - would call me Kunta Kinte as a cuss. If ever my hair was particularly messy, if…

— Malachi Kirby