Martins Imhangbe Talks Driftwood, Identity and Belonging

Martins Imhangbe is a British Nigerian actor, writer and producer whose work spans stage and screen.

Best known to many audiences as ‘Will Mondrich‘ in Bridgerton, Imhangbe has also earned acclaim for his theatre work in productions including Barbershop Chronicles and The Royale.

Now starring as ‘Diamond‘ in Martina Laird’s debut play Driftwood at the Kiln Theatre, Imhangbe steps into a story that explores identity, inheritance, power and belonging.

Here, he reflects on Diamond’s search for answers, building the complex relationship at the heart of the play with Cat White, and the questions Driftwood asks about the past and its continued impact on the present.

Please introduce yourself…
Hi, I’m Martins Imhangbe. A British-Nigerian Storyteller.

Describe your life right now in one word or sentence…
I’m having one of those seasons where life is moving fast. Between Driftwood, auditions, writing and producing my own work, there’s a lot going on, but I’m enjoying the ride.

Why are we here?
Driftwood holds up a mirror and quietly asks: “what has really changed in the last seventy years?” It’s a story about belonging, identity, ownership and power. The uncomfortable thing is that many of the questions the play raises aren’t historical at all. They’re happening right now.

The place of focus in Driftwood is ALMA the distinguished gentleman’s club. Diamond enters ALMA as an outsider, but quickly reveals himself as someone with deep, unresolved ties to it. How would you describe who he is when he first arrives?
Diamond arrives with purpose. Diamond arrives like a man carrying a map only he can read. He’s confident, guarded and determined, but beneath that is someone searching for answers about who he is and where he belongs. He’s come to claim something, but he may end up discovering something much bigger.

What drew you to Diamond as a character especially in terms of what he reveals and what he holds back?
I was drawn to his resilience. Diamond has spent his life surviving and pushing forward, but survival comes with armour. What fascinated me was the gap between who he presents himself to be and what he’s actually carrying. He reveals just enough to keep people at arm’s length while desperately wanting connection.

Diamond is also returning into a system shaped by colonial power, ownership, and control. How did you approach his place within that world?
Diamond walks into ALMA believing he has a legitimate claim to something that has always been his. He’s entering a world built on systems and traditions that weren’t designed with him in mind, so his very presence becomes disruptive. What interested me was his refusal to shrink himself in those spaces. He’s not asking for permission to belong.

Your relationship with Cat White’s ‘Ruby‘ is central; often shifting between intimacy, tension, and competing survival instincts. How did you and Cat find that chemistry?
Through trust, curiosity and a lot of conversation.

We spent time understanding who Ruby and Diamond were before they met each other. Once we understood their individual wants, fears and wounds, the chemistry started to emerge naturally. What’s beautiful about their relationship is that they’re constantly trying to protect themselves whilst also being drawn towards each other.



You’ve done TV shows like Bridgerton and major stage hits like Barbershop Chronicles. How does playing Diamond in an intense, high-stakes play like Driftwood compare to those other roles?
I don’t think you can really compare roles.

Every character asks something different of you. What I will say is that Diamond is the kind of role actors dream about. He’s complicated, passionate, funny, frustrating and deeply human. There’s always another layer to discover, even after months of living with him.



Martina Laird has come from an acting background into writing this as her debut play at the RSC. How has that shaped the rehearsal room and the way she writes story and character?
Her characters are layered, flawed and beautifully human. Nobody exists simply to move the plot forward. Everyone has a point of view, a history and something at stake. That creates a richness for actors because there’s always more to uncover beneath the words on the page.


GETTING TO KNOW YOU …

If not this, then what? A drama therapist.

Storytelling can change people. I’m fascinated by the idea of using creativity, play and performance to help people heal and better understand themselves.

What’s made you sad, mad, & glad this week?
Sad, not as much sleep as I would’ve liked. Mad, I was stuck in traffic and was late to work. Glad, watching audiences connect with Driftwood and having some deep conversations afterwards.

What are you watching? I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries lately. I’m fascinated by people, so anything that explores human behaviour, identity and community tends to pull me in. Most recently, Welcome to Wrexham. It’s ostensibly about football, but it’s really about belonging and hope.

What are you reading? I’m reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin.
It’s one of those books that reminds you creativity isn’t just about making things, it’s about paying attention.



The last film you watched? Life.
Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are incredible in it. Hilarious one minute and heartbreaking the next.

What’s currently on your playlist? A lot of old school reggae and calypso. Current favourite, Island Dreams by Tarrus Riley, Tessanne Chin, and Third World.

Which podcast are you listening to? At the moment I’m listening to The Ring magazine’s podcast, The Ring. As someone who boxes, I love hearing fighters talk about what happens outside the ring as much as inside it. The psychology, discipline and resilience required at the highest level fascinates me.

What’s on your bucket list? Direct a feature film. Open a drama therapy centre.
Travel more of Africa. Keep making work that leaves people thinking long after they’ve seen it.



Where’s your happy place? With family and close friends.

Celebrate someone else. Who do you rate right now? Martina Laird. The courage it takes to write your debut play and have it premiere at the RSC shouldn’t be underestimated. She’s created something bold, thoughtful and deeply human.

Celebrate yourself. Make us proud of you… I’m proud that I’ve become more proactive in creating the stories I want to see in the world. Alongside acting, I recently wrote and directed a short film called Cycles. At its heart, it’s about the consequences of our choices and whether we’re destined to repeat the patterns we’ve inherited. Seeing audiences connect with those themes has reminded me that storytelling can entertain, but it can also start conversations and shift perspectives. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of.



What’s next? Hopefully more stories More acting, more writing, more directing and more opportunities to collaborate with inspiring people.



Where can we find you? Instagram:@martinsimhangbe



Where can we watch you at work? You can catch me in Driftwood at the Kiln and as Will Mondrich in Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Driftwood runs @ The Kiln Theartre Until 4th July