Paapa Essiedu Shares How Filming the Intimate BBC Series ‘Babies’ Changed Him
Paapa Essiedu Delves into Grief in BBC’s New Series ‘Babies’
Paapa Essiedu, known for his role in the Harry Potter franchise, recently stepped away from filming HBO’s highly anticipated reboot to participate in an intimate series for the BBC that explores the theme of baby loss.
In an interview, Essiedu discussed the powerful emotional impact of his experiences on set. “When we had the physical manifestations of baby loss within the home, well, there are still days where I think about some of the things I saw and heard in those scenes,” he remarked. “More because they were so real and so authentic.”
In Babies, Essiedu portrays Stephen, who navigates the complex emotions of baby loss alongside his wife Lisa, played by Siobhán Cullen, known for her role in Bodkin. The cast also features Charlotte Riley and Jack Bannon as a young couple.
Under the direction of Stefan Golaszewski, the series promises a blend of humor and vulnerability, akin to Golaszewski’s previous works such as Him & Her and Mum. Produced by Snowed-In Productions, Babies offers an intimate glimpse into relationships, predominantly set in the couple’s flat.
Essiedu described the filming process as “intense,” illustrating the challenges of charting a character arc through emotional highs and lows. “There were also days that were incredibly joyful and hilarious, and also days that were very mundane,” he added. “Stefan has that incredible knack for being able to isolate domesticity and allow it to manifest as truth. So I had all different types of experiences.”
An Emmy-nominated actor recognized for his roles in I May Destroy You and Gangs of London, Essiedu has gained considerable attention due to his casting as Snape. Representatives for Babies requested no inquiries regarding Harry Potter at Series Mania, which has faced scrutiny due to ongoing controversies surrounding JK Rowling. Essiedu disclosed that he has received racially motivated death threats linked to this casting choice.
Amidst these challenges, Essiedu expressed a sense of safety while working on Babies. “Because we were helmed by someone who had such clarity of vision available at all times, it wasn’t challenging,” he explained. “There were such strong foundations and a sense of clarity in the working environment.”
Cullen highlighted her preparation for the role, using Golaszewski’s scripts as a foundation while also seeking insights from personal experiences shared by friends. “I have lots of people in my life that were kind enough and generous enough with their stories that I was able to speak with,” she remarked, acknowledging the value of candid conversations about pregnancy loss. “I asked all my closest friends to send me their voicenotes and videos and spent a whole afternoon just listening to them.”
Golaszewski clarified that while Babies is not an autobiographical work, it draws upon real-life experiences. “I have been through a lot of the issues dealt with in it, so that meant I was aware of the positivity that could come from that kind of story,” he stated.
He emphasized the importance of creating emotional connections through storytelling. “I try to get a core human connection because that is the most useful thing that a piece of art can do,” he said. Golaszewski believes that genuine expression is often best conveyed through relationships, stating, “Everything I do is at the service of the person who puts the TV on and wants to feel something.”
Babies is set to premiere on the BBC next week and will be featured in the international panorama section at Series Mania.
