Michaela Coel Has New Truths to Tell

The actor, writer, and director is back with two new films and a highly anticipated show.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Michaela Coel, a generational talent, is known for her incisive vulnerability in writing and fearlessness in performances. She's starring in two new films, Mother Mary and The Christophers, while also finalizing the script for her long-anticipated return to television, First Day on Earth. Coel's creative process is intense, as she sees herself as a "vessel" for the stories that demand to be told, drawing from her own life experiences.

Why it matters

Coel's work confronts the raw, difficult parts of life and art, operating in a different register from the blunted attention spans often rewarded in Hollywood. Her unique approach to storytelling and performance has cemented her status as a singular creative voice.

The details

Coel stars as fanatical fashion designer Sam Anselm in Mother Mary, a haunting almost-horror, almost-musical from A24. She immediately connected with the script, saying she "ate her soul" and "swallowed it whole." In The Christophers, a much softer film, Coel plays Lori Butler, a forger hired by the children of a fading artist named Julian Sklar, played by Ian McKellen. Coel and McKellen developed a close rapport, with McKellen encouraging her to ask questions about the script.

  • Coel is traveling to Ghana tomorrow to start a four-month shoot for her long-anticipated return to television, First Day on Earth.
  • Mother Mary and The Christophers are both set to be released in April 2026.

The players

Michaela Coel

A 38-year-old writer, actor, and director known for her groundbreaking work, including the TV show Chewing Gum and the acclaimed series I May Destroy You.

Ann Akinjirin

An actress who worked with Coel on her series I May Destroy You.

David Lowery

The writer and director of the film Mother Mary, in which Coel stars.

Anne Hathaway

Coel's co-star in the film Mother Mary, playing a Gaga-esque pop star.

Hunter Schafer

An actress who played Anselm's assistant Hilda in Mother Mary and became close with Coel during filming.

Ian McKellen

The 86-year-old actor who stars opposite Coel in the film The Christophers.

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What they’re saying

“This is for the addicts, the obsessed addicts for whom creativity has bitten their necks.”

— Michaela Coel (Harper's Bazaar)

“Michaela was like, 'I want a higher BPM!' She just totally dived headfirst into it. It was such a good release.”

— Hunter Schafer, Actress (Harper's Bazaar)

“There's much of this film where the camera lovingly looks at her, of course, because it's a face that you can't stop investigating. It's beautiful and responsive, and what comes through is not a reminder of somebody else's style of acting but very much herself.”

— Ian McKellen, Actor (Harper's Bazaar)

What’s next

Coel is traveling to Ghana tomorrow to start a four-month shoot for her long-anticipated return to television, First Day on Earth, which she has scripted and will star in and executive produce.

The takeaway

Michaela Coel's intense creative process and willingness to confront the raw, difficult parts of life and art have cemented her status as a singular voice in entertainment. Her upcoming projects, including two new films and a highly anticipated TV show, promise to further showcase her singular talents and vision.