Michaela Coel on Love, Legacy, and Living Life on Her Own Terms
Michaela Coel, the first Black woman awarded an Emmy for writing, has opened up about dating, finding love, and rebirth in a candid interview with British Vogue.
Known for her subversive, intelligent comedies, Michaela Coel first wowed international audiences with “Chewing Gum” and later the darker, more complex “I May Destroy You.” Not only a prolific writer Coel starred in her Emmy awarded projects.
In “Chewing Gum” (2015), a coming of age series, Cole played a Beyoncé-obsessed virgin, raised by a strict preacher mother.
Winning an Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie - 2021 for “I May Destroy You,” Coel also starred in, produced, and directed this highly acclaimed project that came out of a sexual assault she suffered.
A courageous and talented artist, Coel is particular about the roles she chooses. Since 2021's “I May Destroy You,” we’ve only seen Coel in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as well as the series "Mr & Mrs Smith."
While Coel has been thoughtful about returning to television or feature films, she has taken the time to fall in love with Spencer Hewett, whom she met on the celebrity dating app Raya.
“Social dating apps hate Black women. I think that, historically, media hates Black women,” Coel shared.
“And that’s not just here, you know? I think there’s a recognition bias and if you’re used to seeing white faces more, you favour them, and we know this. And across the globe, we are more accustomed to seeing white faces.”
Coel found luck on Raya and began dating Hewett in 2023 in New York. She described him as “very sweet. He’s very smart. He’s very loyal."
"He’s very funny, makes me feel very comfortable,” the writer and producer shared.
In her British Vogue interview, Coel also shared her thoughts on a woman’s choice not to have children:
“It’s not selfish,” she declared.
“They never call men selfish for being writers.”
“The world needs to correct themselves,” she continued. Having frozen her eggs, Coel notes, “That’s the only way I’m going to do it. I would love to have a family. I’m also not going to go crazy if I don’t, because I believe the world is such a mystery, bro. If I don’t have a family, it’s not the end of the world. I’m still going to be here breathing.”
“I certainly was not thinking about kids at 33. And I love that because I’m enjoying my life a lot. I’m chilling. I got a while. I’ve got a couple jobs.”
For Michaela’s next projects, she is starring in “Mother Mary” and “The Christophers,” as well as her own BBC/HBO series, “First Day on Earth.”
The award winning multi-hyphenate has also created a writing space, a "creative oasis" in her home for women of color, the River Library in London.
