There's not as big a step as you might think between wanting to be the fastest man in the world and become an out-of-this-world actor. Just ask Aaron Pierre.

Ever since he made a remarkable and remarked debut on stage, as Cassio in Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe opposite Mark Rylance – arguably one of the greatest thespians of our time – the 27-year-old South Londoner has been around the (acting) universe a fair bit, going from the dark days of the Roman Empire to the shining doom of Krypton.

But our hero's destiny was probably set long before that, when in 2004, he read the lines "Greetings, gang, and welcome to the ultimate superhero battle, the one comics fans have been awaiting for decades" in the JLA/Avengers comic book. And like any good superhero, ours has a dastardly weakness...

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Word is that your career as an international athlete was derailed by an addiction to food, especially cake. For real?

Ha! I have a serious sweet tooth. Cake, cookies – that's my thing! Growing up I loved athletics. Particularly sprinting. 100m and 4x100m relay were my favourite events. There was definitely a time when I wanted to pursue athletics as a career! My passion changed around 14 years old. I wanted to share stories. I joined a theatre group in my area and the rest is history!

So what was on the menu during lockdown?

I cooked a lot during lockdown! There was a lot on the menu. My favourite thing I made was Caramel Shortbread. It didn't last long!

C'mon then, what's your all-time favourite?

That's a difficult question! I have many favourite dishes. I'm going to say Callaloo and Saltfish with Plantain and Rice!

From Krypton to Shakespeare’s Italy… What’s harder: stepping into a role that’s been around for centuries or going for an all-new character?

Both may present challenges in their own unique way. When approaching a character, I do my best to discover what I believe to be that character's truth and see any challenges as positive challenges; an opportunity to grow.

The Guardian’s Michael Billington says you brought vitality to Cassio, a “bookish wimp”. How do you breathe contemporary spirt and relevance into a role?

That's very kind. I'm not sure. As I said, I do my best to discover what I believe to be that character's truth – I believe that combined with thorough exploration of the text, conversations with the director and company will guide you in the right direction.

And which one are you in real life. The bookish shy guy type or the stylish rake?

Neither. Ha! There are times when I like solitude and quiet. There are also times when I like big social events! I think things can coexist.

What makes you say yes to a role?

The character and story. Saying yes to a role and story that you are passionate about is a brilliant feeling. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to experience that feeling a number of times in my career.

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What's next for you?

Two projects I can tell you about are The Underground Railroad (directed by Barry Jenkins) and OLD (directed by M. Night Shyamalan) – 2021! Stay tuned!

Interviewed by Lily Templeton

Photography by Patricia Ruiz del Portal

Fashion by Marco Drammis

Hair by Ryona Rushima

Make-Up by Philippe Miletto

Studio Lucerne Studio