New York (AP) 鈥� Shamier Anderson is well aware that his Hollywood profile is rising, and he isn鈥檛 taking the moment for granted.
鈥淚鈥檝e been on the grind for a very long time, and I鈥檓 still grinding. And it鈥檚 not lost on me that I鈥檓 pretty ubiquitous in the marketplace right now. However, my work ethic hasn鈥檛 changed,鈥� says the 31-year-old Canadian actor. 鈥淚鈥檓 lucky, and that鈥檚 something that鈥檚 not lost on me 鈥� I also recognize that this moment will pass, right? And that鈥檚 something that humbles me.鈥�
Most wouldn鈥檛 blame Anderson for indulging in the moment, as his latest film, the Keanu Reeves-led 鈥淛ohn Wick: Chapter 4,鈥� debuted last week at No. 1 with a franchise-best $73.5 million domestically at . Anderson plays the Tracker, , who鈥檚 stalked Wick around the world in hopes of collecting a huge payday.
鈥淚 get to share the screen with people that I used to look up to, that I still look up to, a la Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Laurence Fishburne,鈥� said the Wing Chun kung fu student. 鈥淭hose are the moments that make me go, 鈥榃ow, things are changing.鈥欌��
Things are indeed changing, but it鈥檚 been a slow and steady journey. He鈥檚 starred in the film 鈥淏ruiser,鈥� a February release, with Trevante Rhodes, and appeared in movies such as 2020鈥檚 鈥淏ruised鈥� with Halle Berry and 2018's 鈥淒estroyer鈥� alongside Nicole Kidman. His first film credit came in 2010's 鈥淣ostrum.鈥� Each role has served as a building block to form a budding, substantial career.
鈥淭hese are my colleagues. These are my sparring partners. How are we going to get to the truth and do a great job and kill it? And when they call cut, I go, 鈥楥an I get a picture?鈥欌�� he said with a laugh, stating working with Reeves was a 鈥減inch me鈥� moment. 鈥淚鈥檝e done some incredible films with some incredible A-list actresses and actors, and I still get butterflies 鈥� I鈥檓 always learning, and I鈥檓 learning with a smile on my face.鈥�
Anderson grew up Toronto, raised by a single mother alongside his two brothers, one of which is Stephan James who starred in 2018鈥檚 Oscar-nominated 鈥淚f Beale Street Could Talk,鈥� as well as Ava DuVernay鈥檚 鈥淪elma.鈥� Hollywood was always in sight for Anderson, who studied musical theater at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, but not for James.
鈥淚 always make a joke saying Stephan has never been to an acting class in his life, and I鈥檝e trained all my life,鈥� said the older brother. 鈥淗e鈥檚 Golden Globe nominated, Emmy nominated, NAACP nominated 鈥� he鈥檚 more decorated than a Christmas tree at this point. But it just kind of speaks to just how this business works. There鈥檚 no blueprint.鈥�
However, the siblings are creating their own layout, and it鈥檚 now a family business.
Following protests after the murder of George Floyd during 2020鈥檚 coronavirus pandemic, the brothers formed the Black Academy (Building a Legacy in Acting, Cinema and Knowledge) to battle systemic racism. They also created the Bay Mill Studios production company to amplify Black Canadian creatives. Anderson says the company recently sold a project centered around famed painter Jean-Michel Basquiat to a major streaming service. Though Black music from Canadian artists like Drake, The Weeknd and PartyNextDoor has reached global heights, the film industry hasn't made similar strides.
鈥淭here are actually a lot of iconic Canadians in the film business: Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, James Cameron, Ryan Reynolds. I mean, it鈥檚 a long list 鈥� Sandra Oh 鈥� a bunch of cool folks," he said.
"Black filmmakers 鈥� Black actors and actresses鈥� that鈥檚 where it鈥檚 a bit scarce,鈥� said Anderson, who intentionally straddles the line between actor and activist. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not enough Black individuals in the arts at the highest level 鈥� there鈥檚 no shortage of talent. It鈥檚 just opportunity.鈥�
To highlight Canada鈥檚 wealth of talent, the Black Academy created the Legacy Awards. It's the country鈥檚 first Black awards show, described as a mashup of the NAACP Image Awards, Grammys and BET Awards. Deborah Cox was among the performers for the inaugural show, which earned four nominations, including best host, from the Canadian Screen Awards. Honoring a wide range of Black Canadians including athletes, musicians, actors and philanthropists, the show has a multiyear commitment to air on Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
And while his social and creative accomplishments are a source of pride, Anderson鈥檚 widest smile appears when discussing DJ Shamgod 鈥� his musical alias.
鈥淚鈥檝e been deejaying for 15 years. I used it as a way to pay for bills, to make money when I wasn鈥檛 getting acting work 鈥� just recently this past year, I said I鈥檓 going to go public with it,鈥� explained the multiformat DJ who performed a set at the John Wick after-party in New York following the premiere. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 another actor trying to be a musician. I鈥檝e been doing music. I really am on the turntables, and I really throw down.鈥�
Anderson will return to 鈥淚nvasion鈥� on Apple TV+ and has roles in the films 鈥淎 Lot of Nothing," now streaming, and Brad Furman鈥檚 鈥淭in Soldier.鈥� He is light years away from his Scarborough neighborhood watching his mother struggle to make ends meet. But he says his path is a reminder that the tortoise won the race 鈥� not the hare.
鈥淚t鈥檚 looking at the little boy in me and going, 鈥業 told you so. It鈥檚 all working out,鈥欌�� said Anderson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to see the work pay off.鈥�
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Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at: @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
