Naomi Ackie auditioned hard to enter DC universe with Clayface
BAFTA winner Naomi Ackie on auditioning hard for DC's Clayface, its heartfelt body horror, and why Kerala is one of her favourite places.
BAFTA-winning actor Naomi Ackie is entering the DC universe with Clayface, and she has been clear about one thing: the audition was not a formality. In an exclusive conversation with Hindustan Times, she said, “I just had to audition hard to get it.”
For readers who know Ackie from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker or her Whitney Houston biopic, Clayface is a sharp pivot into psychological horror. But Ackie frames it as a chance to combine two genres she already loves, and a role that demanded a hard audition before anything else.
A Batman villain origin with an unexpected heart
Ackie plays Dr. Caitlyn Corr. She described the character as “ambitious, protective and data based,” but the emotional engine of the film is a connection Dr. Corr does not see coming.
“She builds a connection with someone that she thinks she can help but does not anticipate what that connection grows into,” Ackie said.
Body horror, prosthetics and a different kind of DC film
Clayface is being shaped as an origin story rather than a traditional superhero battle. For DC fans, that means a lesser-known Batman villain is getting a character-first treatment, with horror doing as much work as heroics. Ackie called the script complex and heartfelt, two qualities she did not expect from the genre.
Here is what the film promises:
- An origin story that tracks where the classic Batman villain comes from
- Body horror and practical transformation, driven by prosthetics
- Humour and heart alongside the scares, with more empathy for the villain
Ackie said watching co-star Tom Rhys Harries in prosthetics was strange and fascinating. “I would want to touch it but also not,” she said. Director James Watkins and Harries would discuss how facial expressions change when features are misshaped, which Ackie described as fascinating yet scary.
From Mumbai’s noise to Kerala’s calm
Ackie’s connection to India is personal. Her first visit was for the Dior Pre-Fall 2023 show in Mumbai, where she remembered being overwhelmed by the number of people and the constant sound of the city. A year later, she travelled to Kerala, and the contrast stayed with her. She has since visited Kerala twice and said she cannot wait to return.
“Keralam is one of my favourite places,” she said.
No pressure left to prove
With a BAFTA and major roles behind her, Ackie said she is in a comfortable phase of her career. She wants to tell fun stories that audiences connect with, rather than chase a need to prove herself. For fans, that sounds like an actor bringing ease and curiosity to a genre that often rewards intensity.
Source: Hindustan Times
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