On the Verge: Adeola Role

As fans eagerly await the second season of Fox’s new hit show, Alert: Missing Persons Unit, we wanted to talk to one of its stars about her breakout role on the show. When Casting Networks virtually sat down with Adeola Role, she shared how 15 years of working in the industry led up to the booking that has her entering a new chapter in her career. Before joining the cast of Alert, the New York-based actor had worked steadily in TV doing spots on series like The Good Fight, Blue Bloods and The Blacklist. She opened up about the career-affirming feeling of booking her first series regular role and making space for herself in the industry. Keep reading for a window into this on-the-verge actor and the role that “opened the floodgates” for her in the industry.

It’s great to virtually meet you, Adeola, and congrats are in order for your breakout role in Alert. How’d it feel to find out you booked the show?

To be fully honest, the first thing I felt was this deep sense of relief. I’ve been in this industry for over 15 years, and I’ve gotten to do some incredibly challenging character development work during that time. Being the first American to play Hermione Granger on Broadway [in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child], performing in a play that’s a Pulitzer Prize finalist (On Sugarland) and doing spots on acclaimed television shows are beautiful successes, but they sort of come and go. The truth of it is that sustaining success in this industry is so rare. You know, there’s just this overwhelming fear that most actors share. We wonder, “Am I actually ever going to make space for myself in this industry?”

To land a role like this was a gorgeous, large affirmation that I am successfully creating a lane for myself in this business. And to be gifted with such a complex role, as well, felt indicative of how the industry sees me. Having both those things happen was absolutely exciting and propulsive in all the ways that I’ve been hungry for years.

So, after a long and intensely deep sigh of relief, I cried for like five hours. I just sat there and started saying “thank you” as if I was giving a legitimate Emmy speech. I was like, “Thank you, Fox. Thank you, Sony. Thank you, producers. Thank you to the castmates that I’ve never met, but I know are incredible. Thank you to my fiancé.” [Laughs] Because, I think the second fear most actors have is that no one will believe in the work you’re putting out. So, when you’re gifted with a role and an opportunity like this, you do have to stop and say “thank you” — out loud — to the people who believed in you. As an actor, the work and the struggle never stop, but this is a new chapter for me. Things feel more attainable than they did a year ago.

Adeola Role on set of Alert: Missing Persons Unit. Courtesy of FOX.

I love that and imagine it’s encouraging for our actor readers to glean how your perseverance got you to a place in which it feels like a new chapter of your career is beginning. And now, can you tell us what your process was like in preparing to play the character Kemi Adebayo?

Kemi is so fascinating. In a way, she’s an anthropological study of someone who has to balance their spiritual beliefs with their legislative beliefs. I find that to be such an interesting conversation and narrative to explore at this moment in our history. So, to sort of understand who she is as a detective, we really did the work of creating a spiritual world that was based in authenticity. I’m Nigerian, and we drew from my background for her identity. There’s a form of mysticism in Nigeria called Orisha, and Kemi is an Orishan shaman.

But, I discovered that her superpower is her emotional intuition. She has an ability to embrace humanity in the way she sees things. Kemi notices little clues — that no one else in the precinct sees — by virtue of the fact that she’s open to humanity. She works to learn a person’s history before she fortifies an option of them. Kemi’s also the kind of person who knows how to lend grace, and having someone with those characteristics in the law enforcement world is so deeply valuable.

Part of the empathetic approach I developed for the character is that she’s non-violent. You’ll see scenes where I’m holding a Taser instead of a gun. The narrative I was trying to develop is that Kemi is interested in navigating humanity rather than meeting it with violence. Ultimately, what I got to do was create the kind of law enforcement I would like to see in the world, the kind of law enforcement that is willing to understand people before judging them.

That’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing those insights. And before we wrap, I’d love to hear how landing the role of Kemi on Alert has impacted your career so far.

It’s created more of a platform for me to share my work. I was surprised after our first episode aired, and Dania [Ramirez], our lead, said that close to four million people had watched it. I’ve done a lot of TV and film, but you really do forget that you’re getting to show your work to millions of people. I hope they love Kemi and are learning something from her. Being entrusted with such a complex role and storytelling at this scale also made me realize I should be doing more of my art. I’ve always considered myself an artist — not an artist within the industry. I got that from a quote by DMX.

Any interview with a DMX quote is a good interview in my book.

[Laughs] So, I’ve been writing and directing and producing for years. Since this job sort of opened the floodgates for me in the industry, I decided to start working more in those disciplines. I’m in this sort of nascent period of producing a couple of television shows right now, which is exciting and a new chapter for me, as well. It’s really everything I’ve dreamed of doing. I know the word “dream” has become so loaded and cheesy to say. But it’s true that things I’ve only dreamt of are now happening. I mean, especially in this industry, it feels virtually unattainable to be a professional actor or writer or director for a living. I think that when you’re a good storyteller, though, you know it through and through. So, you have to fight for it. Because now, more than ever, our world needs new stories.

(L-R) Scott Caan, Adeola Role, Ryan Broussard, and Dania Ramirez on set of Alert: Missing Persons Unit. Courtesy of FOX.

Before the interview ended, Role shared one last insight into her breakout role on Alert: Missing Persons Unit. “It is always such a gift when your showrunner says, ‘Let’s bring you into the character,’” the actor conveyed. “And I got to name Kemi after my sister — it all felt like kismet.” Those interested in keeping up with the actor’s career can find Role on IMDb.

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This interview has been edited and condensed.

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