Summary
- Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric on Sex Education, credits the show for helping him find his people.
- Gatwa's experience of racism led him to believe that he would have to constantly fight through life, but playing Eric showed him that he can find a tribe.
- Playing a fierce and unashamed character like Eric emphasized the importance of representation for Gatwa.
Ncuti Gatwa, the actor behind Sex Education's self-assured and sociable Eric Effiong, shared how playing the Netflix character fueled his growth and let him find his people. First airing in 2019, Sex Education follows the students and faculty of British secondary school Moordale as they attempt to answer questions of sexuality and identity. Starring Asa Butterfield as Otis Milburn, the Netflix series also observes the devoted friendship between Butterfield and Effiong's characters amid Otis' establishment of an amateur sex therapy clinic at school. Sex Education's final season will air on September 21, 2023.
In an interview with Sex Education season 4, Gatwa discussed what his time portraying Eric has meant to his own development. Gatwa stated that Sex Education helped diminish "a lot of the internalized hate." Experiencing racism throughout his life, he believed those uneducated beliefs were universal and presumed that he would "constantly have to fight through life." However, his time on Sex Education showed him that it is possible to "find a tribe." Playing a "fierce and unashamed" character such as Eric also cemented the importance of representation for Gatwa. See Gatwa's statement below:
“I’ve experienced racism my whole life, and while I always believed in myself, always knew [racists] were stupid and uneducated, I guess it did misinform my view of how the world works. It makes you think everyone has that opinion and you’ll constantly have to fight through life – then you learn that you don’t: you can find a tribe, you can find your people.”
Sex Education's Enduring Message Of Acceptance And Self-Love
Although it is primarily a comedy, in its three-season span, Sex Education sees characters confront hateful ideologies and stigmas symbolic of the conflicts individuals encounter today. In season 1, episode 5 for example, Eric is assaulted and robbed by a pair of homophobic men on his walk home. Viewers then witness his once-vibrant personality dull as he sinks into himself following the attack. Seeing his character face extreme homophobia is one of the show's darkest points.
The weight of playing Eric perhaps comes with its own challenges. In fact, the Sex Education star revealed "it wasn't always joyous" taking on his role and exploring stories that are not often told. Gatwa's decision to leave Sex Education after season 4 may have contributed to its 2023 conclusion, despite the show having a devoted base.
With season 4 of Sex Education bringing Eric and the other Moordale alumni to a new secondary school, the final installment of the Netflix show will likely bear fresh character dilemmas along with its updated setting. Although much of the plot of the season remains ambiguous, viewers can rest assured that Gatwa will play an active role.
Sources: Elle