Well known to audiences across the world, Hakeem Kae-Kazim has enjoyed roles in some of Hollywood’s biggest Blockbusters, such as Hotel Rwanda, X-Men: Wolverine and Pirates of the Caribbean.
He gained a wealth of fans playing Colonel Ike Dubaku in the seventh season of Fox TV’s 24, since 24, Hakeem has racked up an impressive list of credits in Hollywood’s most popular TV series, including his latest Gotham. Thankfully this talented actor is back for a third series playing Mr. Scott in Michael Bays and STARZ popular television series Black Sails. In Black Sails Kae-Kazim stars as Mr. Scott, a former slave who has risen in stature. Mr. Scott, like all the characters in this popular show, is based on people that existed in the 17th and 18th century.
You’re currently starring in American TV series Black Sails as Mr. Scott, for those that don’t know about the series tell us about the show and your character.
It’s set in the late 17th/18th century and it’s all about pirates. It’s about five or six years before the Treasure Island period. The series is very earthy, very real and the pirates on our show are based on historical pirates. Mr. Scott was a former slave who has somewhat risen in stature. Along with his former slave owner, they fence the goods from the pirates. Mr. Scott basically helps him run this fencing operation. I was attracted to him and I thought he would be interesting character to play.
Did your role as Captain Jocard in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End give you the taste for the pirate movie theme?
Well, no, because they’re two very different things. Being in Pirates of the Caribbean was a lot of fun and a great thing to be a part of. This is a very different sort of energy and very different show. So being a pirate in Black Sails is not really similar, not in this case.
Filmmaker Michael Bay (who is responsible for the Transformers franchise alongside I Am Number and Bad boys amongst many) is behind Black Sails, is this what attracted you to the TV series?
We do not work directly with him, he is the executive producer of the series, although I met him at the Black Sails launch in Los Angeles.
I absolutely love Gotham and you were in an episode in season 1, why do you think the comic book stories are so popular in TV and Film especially now?
I think because you have an audience that grew up on comic book series and now it’s coming back. I used to read comic books when I was young – The Hulk, Spiderman, those guys being some of my favourites. So I think when you grow up with something like that and you see it being translated onto the screen it’s very exciting. Taking it off the page and putting it in pictures is something as a kid I always wanted to see. Now seeing that is very exciting and I think that’s what people are keying into.
You are no stranger to TV shows, You’ve had many spots on small screen including season 7 of 24 where you played Colonel Ike Dubaku, what was it like to star in such a big TV show and what was it like working with Kiefer Sutherland?
It was great. It was fantastic to be part of a show of that size. It was quite nerve wracking because you’re coming into a show that is already so established. You’re coming in there hoping to match up to the expectations of the show and that happened which felt very good. Working with Kiefer was great fun – he’s wonderful to work with and learn from and I had a fantastic time.
You were born in Nigeria, brought up in England, moved to South Africa in your 20’s and now are a Hollywood veteran with numerous big TV Shows and Movies under your belt. How did you fall in to acting?
There were two people who really got me started as an actor and by default had great influence in my decision to become one. The first was my old English teacher at my grammar school in the UK – Mr. Guy Williams. He was always so passionate in class reading the classics, whether it was Shakespeare or Dickens. He put his heart and soul into every character like a man possessed. It was enthralling for me to watch and listen and he cast me in my very first play at school.
The second was a man named Michael Croft who started the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. I would spend my summer holidays doing plays with other kids with different backgrounds and from around the country and with different backgrounds. He cast me as Othello and later I went on to play Henry V in the play of the same name, both of course by Shakespeare. He was a great encourager and had total belief in me as a talented young actor. I spent many hours with him in conversations about acting and becoming an actor.
Your big break through movie role was in Oscar-nominated Hotel Rwanda back in 2004, how did that change your life?
That made me travel across the Atlantic. I was living in South Africa before that and it gave me the opportunity to travel to America and discover my career in the United States, so you know, it changed my life in a big way.
I wish I could list all your achievements, you’ve starred in everything from blockbusters to primetime TV shows alongside some industry greats, who has been your favourite person to work with? Have you managed to work alongside anyone who has inspired you in your career?
I’ve been lucky to work with some incredible people and it’s been really great working with most of them. It’s been great to be able to share some screen time with them. You have people like Johnny Depp who obviously inspired me and my career and various other people. There’s also Kiefer of course, but everyone I’ve had the chance to work with has inspired me in some way or another.
What has been your favourite role to play?
I’ve quite enjoyed all of them. Doing everything I do I’ve had fun doing it and had fun exploring the different characters.
What else can we expect to see from you in 2015?
I am planning on a new show, and all will be revealed soon.
Black Sails is available via Amazon Prime in the UK.
You can follow Hakeem Kae-Kazim on the below
Twitter @hakeemkaekazim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hakeemfanpage
