Colman Domingo’s performance as the titular lead character in George C. Wolfe’s Rustin is fully transformative. It’s not just the sartorial choices, hairstyle and the glasses, and it’s not even the fake teeth or the unique dialect. His whole being becomes civil rights hero Bayard Rustin, in his appearance and his bold physicality. It’s a remarkable thing to witness, and in crafting his turn, it was a vital piece of the puzzle for the actor.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Colman Domingo last month during the virtual press day for Rustin, and I made a point of highlighting the special way that he disappears into the role. As Domingo explained, it was a part of the performance that was particularly important for him, as he views the man’s outward appearance and expressions as extensions of who he was as a person and what he stood for. Breaking it down, Domingo told me,
