WHY CURLY HAIR SHOULD NEVER HOLD BACK ACTORS OF COLOUR WITH FOLA EVANS-AKINGBOLA - TEXTURE TALKS

I speak to Fola Evans-Akingbola British actress and filmmaker of documentary Untold Stories: Hair On Set, about her own experiences of isolation as an actor with curly hair and the importance of creating spaces for discussion in the industry about afro and curly hair to help drive real change for talented people of colour. KEY MOMENTS (TOPICS) 02:07 Welcoming Fola. 02:44 What hair does Fola remember seeing most in the media growing up? “I definitely don’t think that’s I saw our hair out in its full glory.” 03:52 Was Fola’s curly hair ever a worry when considering acting? “I didn’t think I was gonna be an actor.” 04:54 Fola’s experiences on set feeling isolated as a result of having curly hair. “Obviously it’s not as simple as this is just hair, there’s something deeper and emotional going on here that I’m finding it hard to advocate for myself.” 09:19 How can up and coming talent manage issues with hair stylists on set? “I hate that people will have need to use plasters but I have to be realistic that it won’t be overnight that everyone will get the right hair care.” 14:10 Let’s Talk Untold Stories:Hair On Set “It hurts my soul to think that all we want for them is that they can just do their job.” 15:22 Folas biggest lesson creating a documentary. “It wasn’t until I reached out to Jordan Pitt and Lee Daley from One Umbrella and later down the line Andy Mandy Castle from Dochearts that things manifested in the way that you saw at that screening.” “Our hair can be the key to examining this thing we call race and these ideas such as identity and belonging.” 20:49 When the industry say that hair is “just hair”. “You choose your battles wisely, and open up dialogues in spaces that are ready to receive it.” 27:50 Folas future plans “I do want to work with Equity, our actors union, to figure out a way to really push to make sure we get something in the contracts for film and TV.” 30:30 The impact of public opinion for actors. “It’s madness that our hair and the choices around our hair are such political statements.” FOLLOW FOLA ON SOCIALS:   / folaevansakingbola   FOLLOW UNTOLD STORIES: HAIR ON SET   / haironsetdoc   https://www.nowtv.com/ie/online/untol... LISTEN ON: Apple podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3G4dCm6... FOLLOW TEXTURE TALKS ON SOCIALS:   / texturetalksuk   https://www.tiktok.com/@texturetalks?... https://www.texturetalks.co.uk/ SPONSORS:   / fulhamscalphair   https://fulhamscalphairclinic.com/ Teresa and Eleanore Richardson from Fulham Scalp and Hair Clinic are an absolutely INCREDIBLE black female mother daughter led team of highly experienced Consultant Trichologists who since 2011 have provided the afro and curly haired community with help, support and guidance to get our hair care journeys back on track. As such highly respected Afro hair Trichologists I couldn’t think of a better sponsor to partner with on the next segment of Texture Talks and to guide me personally on my own natural hair care journey. Learn more about them at www.fulhamscalphairclinic.com and use discount code TEXTURETALKS5 for 5% off your consultation fee. #blackhair #naturalhair #afrohair #curlyhair #naturalhaircare #folaevansakingbola #curlyhairproblems #blackpodcast #haironset #blackgirlpodcast #naturalhairproblems #blackhairstyles #curlyhairproblems #blackactors #blackactress #nightagent