Advertisement
Michaela Coel has detailed the 'pain' that comes with fame after 'losing friends' due to her work.
As she covers Harper's Bazaar's March 2026 edition, ahead of return to screen with a new series, the actress, 38, gave an insight into her relationship difficulties.
Michaela will soon begin filming for the ten-part drama, First Day On Earth, which she will both star in and executive produce after writing.
Discussing her 'crazy' relationship with her work, she opened up on how fame has complicated her friendships, especially when she doesn't cast her friends.
She said: 'I’ve lost friends that I’ve never got back. It’s so sad when it doesn’t work out. And I understand the pain of that, because I’ve not gotten parts, and it hurts.
'There’s a ruthlessness to this stuff. Like I said, I’m aggressively in pursuit of the truth, and that can be very tough.'
Advertisement
Michaela Coel has detailed the 'pain' that comes with fame after 'losing friends' due to her work
As she covers Harper's Bazaar's March 2026 edition, ahead of return to screen with a new BBC series, the actress, 38, gave an insight into her relationships
Michaela went on to recall a meeting with a woman a 'couple of years ago' in London, who later told her she 'doesn't make friends with famous people.'
She continued: 'I love just to have this feeling of wanting. It’s so nice. I love wanting you, and I love that I’m never gonna have it.'
The actress rose to fame when she secured the lead role in Channel 4's Chewing Gum and made her directorial debut with 12-part HBO series I May Destroy You.
She went on to win Outstanding Writing for a Television Limited Anthology Series or Movie at the Emmys and five Baftas for the project.
Advertisement
Michaela previously told Variety: 'First Day on Earth’ is another very personal story for me which I hope will engage viewers from all over the world, and I can’t wait for audiences to go on Henri’s journey with her.
'The process of creating FDOE thus far has been a beautifully intimate experience.
'I am excited to embark on the next phase to eventually offer this as another televisual gift for anyone willing to accompany Henri on what will be a wild odyssey!'
Thandiwe Newton, Ncuti Gatwa, Maxine Peake and Danny Sapani will also feature in the series.
Discussing her 'crazy' relationship with her work, she opened up on how fame has complicated her friendships, especially when she doesn't cast her friends
She said: 'There’s a ruthlessness to this stuff. Like I said, I’m aggressively in pursuit of the truth, and that can be very tough'
Advertisement
According to the BBC, the synopsis reads: 'British-Ghanaian novelist Henri (Coel) is on the run – from herself, her life, her partner, and that weird guy at her book talk.
'When she ends up in Ghana, her ancestral homeland, she finds herself submerged in an altogether different world.
'Amidst new friends, fresh joy, and many different and nuanced relationships, Henri also finds secrets, lies, difficulty and denial - leading her to question everything about herself, her heritage and her family.'
Filming begins in Ghana, west Africa this month. A release date is yet to be announced.
Advertisement
