In this one-on-one interview, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne talks to rising actor, Alexis Chikaeze, about her Nigerian roots, how she got into acting, and her breakout role as Amina on CW’s All American, and more. This interview has been edited for clarity.
Kevin Bourne: Now you’re from Texas—Dallas, Texas. Nigerian background. What did that instill in you, growing up in a Nigerian home?
Alexis Chikaeze: I think it was simply the push to work hard; the push to follow your dreams, follow your passions; the push to never give up in the face of adversity, and to simply cherish this life and the opportunities that come daily.
Kevin: With some immigrant parents, they might want you to be a doctor or lawyer. Was there any of that in your house? Or were your parents like, “Whatever you want to do?”
Alexis: Of course, there was the doctor, the lawyer, the engineer, but I think what was beautiful was that my parents and their support has simply been unwavering for whatever passion that I had, whether it was like the arts and crafts, painting, instruments; no matter what. They were very keen on allowing us to do what we loved. Of course, there was a point in the start of my career where they were like, “You can be a doctor and an actress”, but I think slowly but surely they came to the realization that it is a full career and that if I wanted to follow it, that of course. I would have to go to school for it. So that was what I did.
“It was always important to put God first and that’s really all I say. This life is a blessing and I do not take it for granted. It’s been beautiful getting to just live and really and truly give all glory to God.”
Kevin: With some, with some Nigerian households, faith is sometimes a big thing. Was that something that you grew up with in your home?
Alexis: Of course. Yes, it was always important to put God first and that’s really all I say. This life is a blessing and I do not take it for granted. It’s been beautiful getting to just live and really and truly give all glory to God.
Kevin: Earlier you mentioned school. Where did you go to school?
Alexis: Well, I started at Howard University for my collegiate career. With time and the pandemic, I ended up taking a hiatus. Then I went to Clark Atlanta for a moment in time. And now I’m finishing at USC. I was studying theater arts at every single school, so the goal was always the same. It was just a matter of a different space.
Kevin: Now, what was the moment that you knew that you wanted to be an actor? Was there a particular moment or spark for you?
Alexis: I think I was always a performer. I always loved to entertain, whether it was when family came over and we put on shows, my siblings. I always wanted to be front and center, of course, which was funny because I was also very shy in the same breath. But I think performing allowed me to just be free.
I did pageants at one point and I did the acting sector. And in that moment, for the first time, I was like, “I really love how it feels to just lose myself in a character and not have to worry about what’s going on around me in reality, and just be, and live and embody someone else and showcase their life.”
Kevin: You appeared on the show Rap Sh!t. What was it like working with Issa Rae on an Issa Rae project?
Alexis: As wonderful as you could imagine. Issa is absolutely such a sweetheart. And so it was an absolute pleasure getting to work on the show. I did one episode during season two. So it was just, it was beautiful to work with Isa and Miss Rita. It was amazing.
“I think I was always a performer. I always loved to entertain, whether it was when family came over and we put on shows…”
Kevin: So let’s go forward now to All American. You were on season six. What was the process of you getting on the show? What was the lead up to you actually getting this role?
Alexis: So, the audition came in from my agents and, of course, you see an All American audition and your heart skips a couple of beats from excitement. And so, I also was simultaneously in school at USC. So, you know, I quickly gathered everything that I had to do for the week and sat down, did the audition, and turned it in on a Monday. With the auditioning process in general, you have to simply know that you did your work and let it go, and that’s exactly what I did. I was at a point in time where I said, “I’m going to do all that I can, but after I submit it”. I let it go. And so I submitted on a Monday and I got my call on that Friday. And I simply cried tears of joy because who wouldn’t be thankful for an opportunity so grand and amazing. And so I went to work that following Monday.
Kevin: Wow. That’s a very quick turnaround.
Alexis: Yes, it was. You always have to basically stay prepared. Anything can happen in this industry. So, I was just really grateful that I had that opportunity from the start and it was really amazing. My professors were so kind and worked with me through the process. But yes, it was amazing to simply get the news that I had booked the role of Amina.
Kevin: Now, in season six, you’re in more of a supporting role, whereas now season seven, you’re one of the leads. What was that transition like?
Alexis: I always say the joke was I’m just happy to be here. When we were filming during season six, I didn’t expect to be a series regular. It’s about letting go of the reins and allowing the unknown to come to me and It would make itself known when the time was right. And so when we were filming season six, I was simply just happy to be around the OGs—Daniel, Mike, Greta, Sam, and Breezy. Everyone was so kind and welcoming that I was just happy to simply be in the space. So, now as a series regular, of course, you want to just carry on that same beautiful energy that they brought to the set when I was supporting and, uh, and, uh, yeah, just just keep that energy going. So it’s been an honor. Of course, it’s much more work and you feel that it’s a responsibility. It’s a great responsibility to tell these stories because they were very impactful on our lives, when I watched the show growing up. So you want to do the character justice as well.
Kevin: In episodes three and four of season seven, Amina is really front and center. We’re getting to know more about her. She’s dealing with her mother’s birthday, all that kind of stuff. Can you talk about what the preparation was like specifically for those episodes that are really focused around your character?
Alexis: So, I, along with, NK, the producers and the writers’ objectives were to piece together situations that Amina faces as she moves from a child into this new pivotal reality of her life. Amina is a very intelligent girl and she has a very mature approach to life. And with everything that she faced as a young girl—her mother’s death, her father being incarcerated, so on and so forth, she’s now on a journey of self-exploration. Now, as we see in this new season, she is coming to the forefront with a spotlight of expansion into her new family structure, finding love, and not only finding purpose, but making others see her and respect her too.
Kevin: Are there ways in which you and Amina are similar? Do you see ways where you see some of yourself in her?
Alexis: Of course, she’s very headstrong. She’s not afraid to speak her mind. She cares for the people around her. She is willing to go above and beyond to make sure that others can be their best self, which is what I love to do in my real life because life is about connection, and I think she really cherishes it. She cherishes the connections in her life, whether it’s with KJ, whether it’s with Khalil, whether it’s with her father and Coop, and all of the surrounding people in her life. So I think that’s the same way I tend to move in real life as well.
“I would love to continue in the realm of TV and or film…I simply would love to keep telling authentic stories. I simply want to continue to give representation for young black girls; to see themselves and to see that they’re capable of reaching such spaces…”
Kevin: Was there any pressure with fans? The All American fan base is very passionate. So with the other OG cast leaving, was there any nervousness at taking over for that OG cast that people are so passionate about?
Alexis: I will say that everyone is still very much involved, which is amazing. Even, all of the OGs are still involved, which is great. Daniel came back to direct and he’s in one of the episodes this season. Sam also came back. So it was more so about sharing this thing that they’ve built with them. And of course, it can be scary, but we love the fans and we hope that with the work that we put in, they will love the energy we’re bringing to these new characters. With the guidance from the OGs, it’s just been to simply. do your work and do it well, and take in everything. So that’s, that’s been the journey so far.
Kevin: Last but not least, where do you hope to see your career go in the future; in the next, in the next few years?
Alexis: In the next few years? Well, right now, All American is front and center, but of course, I would love to continue in the realm of TV and or film. My first project was a film called Miss Juneteenth, so I started in the film world, but I simply would love to keep telling authentic stories. I simply want to continue to give representation for young black girls; to see themselves and to see that they’re capable of reaching such spaces where they can be creatives and they can embody characters, and they can show what life is about through, through the characters that they portray. That’s the ultimate goal—to do each character justice and whatever format that may come. Of course, you just want great roles, great projects, great directors, and to work with other great actors.
All American airs Mondays at 8pm on the CW.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 340 international voters for the 81st and 8nd Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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