Actor Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric Effiong on the hit and acclaimed Netflix series “Sex Education,” has come out as queer.
In the series, Eric is an out gay teenager whose storyline revolves around his love journey.
Gatwa, 30, has disclosed for the first time publicly that he is part of the LGBTQ+ community.
But his statement was super subtle.
During an interview with Elle UK, Ncuti Gatwa recalled attending Manchester Pride with friends when he saw another Rwandan woman who looked like his aunt.
As they held hands, she confided in him that she didn’t know why she was at the Pride event. Gatwa told her that it didn’t matter and to be proud of who she was.
“I had never met another queer Rwandan person before,” he said. “I thought I was the only one in the world.”
The fourth and final season of “Sex Education” will be available Sept. 21.
What’s ahead for the new season?
Actor Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric Effiong on the hit and acclaimed Netflix series “Sex Education,” has come out as queer. Photo: Samuel Taylor/Netflix
“Following the closure of Moordale Secondary, Otis and Eric now face a new frontier – their first day at Cavendish Sixth Form College,” according to the series description. “Otis is nervous about setting up his new clinic, whilst Eric is praying they won’t be losers again.
“But Cavendish is a culture shock for all the Moordale students – they thought they were progressive but this new college is on another level. There’s daily yoga in the communal garden, a strong sustainability vibe and a group of kids who are popular for being… kind?! Viv is totally thrown by the college’s student-led, non-competitive approach, while Jackson is still struggling to get over Cal.
“Aimee tries something new by taking an Art A-Level and Adam grapples with whether mainstream education is for him.
“Over in the US, Maeve is living her dream at prestigious Wallace University, being taught by cult author Thomas Molloy. Otis is pining after her, whilst adjusting to not being an only child at home, or the only therapist on campus,” the series description reads.
Ncuti Gatwa, who was in this year’s blockbuster hit “Barbie,” also talked about working with Ryan Gosling, who played Ken.
“I was so nervous I hardly spoke for the first month (on set),” he said. “There was a time when I was talking to (director) Greta (Gerwig), and I turned around, and Ryan Gosling was looking at me, and his eyes were so blue that I just… fell over. I just drowned in his eyes.”
Gatwa will make history this fall.
Gatwa is set to be the new Doctor on the cult hit show “Doctor Who.” He will be the 14th Doctor — and the first Black and gay actor to portray the character — to travel through time and space in the British sci-fi series.
