Photo cover: Shah Onwuka (Matt Kallish)
Actress Shah Onwuka takes a defining step in her career with her first leading role in Dark Arrows, a western set in 1846 Alta California that offers a fresh perspective on the genre. Portraying Caroline, a woman navigating survival in a harsh and unpredictable world, Onwuka delivers a character that goes beyond trauma, highlighting intelligence, resilience, and transformation. In this interview, she discusses her immersive preparation process, the emotional depth of the role, and the importance of bringing historically overlooked voices to the screen.
Dark Arrows marks your debut in a leading role. What drew you most to the character of Caroline and to this story set in 1846 Alta California?
The character of Caroline drew me in because of her air of mystery. Diving in to where she comes from and what drives her required a piece of myself. I had to travel deep into my imagination and into the world of the story and as an actress, whenever you can accept a role that you can get lost in, you must take it. There is a gift at the end of the rainbow. As an LA Native I was very excited about the idea of traveling into this genre set in 1846 Alta California! I felt like I was tapping into my roots.
Caroline is a woman fighting for survival in a violent and unpredictable world. How did you prepare emotionally and physically to portray such an intense journey?
In order to prepare emotionally and physically for the weight of Caroline’s story, I worked closely with Gregory Berger, one of my trusted acting coaches on this role. I worked with imagination, and spiraling into a series of why’s. Emotion comes from actions, a reaction to getting closer or further form what you want. I worked with the text and my own creative connection to the story to clarify what Caroline wanted and what drives her. This allowed my work to flow, and also gave me a healthy pathway out of the character and back to Shah G.
The film offers a fresh take on the western genre by centering a character rarely given agency. What does this kind of representation mean to you as an actress?
I believe if we excavate our stories and genres throughout history, we will find hidden voices there. And those voices that we discover will lie in the marginalized groups of that time period. I come from a long line of women who have served their countries and communities and used what they had to elevate their families. For me Caroline represents those women, and with that voice comes agency. As an actress, unlocking the voices of a time where we in general feel we’ve heard all we’ve needed to hear is empowering and exhilarating. I have a great hope for what’s to come in my industry and I’m happy to be a part of this larger conversation as an actress and filmmaker.
The relationship between Caroline and the reclusive thief is at the heart of the story. How was it building that dynamic of trust and survival with your scene partner?
As an actress, I love to play pretend. At the core of all story telling is relationships. We don’t watch for the plot, we fall in love with films where the story changes and transforms people and their relationships with others. I find the story of Caroline and James to represent a kind of love that we don’t get to see on screen often. Two people fighting for their lives, and at the same time releasing all the things that helped them survived, so that they can let in the one person who represents their future and not their past. I love how this story challenged my biases of how the relationship of Caroline and James should be and allowed me to be transformed along with them.
Your background includes classical theater, Meisner training, and studies at RADA. How did those experiences shape your performance in this project?
Being a film/tv AND Theatre actress shapes my performance because of how the rehearsal process informs the freedom I will ultimately have on set. From Meisner to RADA one thing is for sure, my formative training was rigorous and proved one thing: I love what I do. I love to play in the shoes of these characters and put on the beautiful garments of new worlds and walk around with them. My training has shaped me into a resilient actress who is clear that this is her path and where she is meant to be. Acting is a service to humanity, and in this project I became a servant of the story of a woman releasing victimhood and stepping into her power that is big enough to change the destiny of future generations.
Caroline is portrayed not only through her struggles but through her intelligence, courage, and resilience. What was the biggest challenge in balancing these layers while creating the character?
The biggest challenge in balancing all of Caroline’s layers was remembering that in each scene she has a right to feel things anew. Knowing what I know about her but then trusting the work and remaining in a state of discovery to give a fresh spontaneity to Caroline’s journey.
This role is already being seen as a defining moment in your career. What do you hope audiences will feel after watching your performance in Dark Arrows?
Thank you for acknowledging this defining moment in my career. If this is the first gift I can give to those who are drawn to my work, then I hope each person who watches Dark Arrows finds their Caroline within. That is to say they leave the theater with a renewed sense of ability, faith, and clarity and a boldness to dream their dreams again with a magnetic feeling that this time if they take that first step, and trust magic of unexpected helpers along the way, their dream is sure to come true.
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