At this year's BAFTAs, Clara Amfo found herself interviewing breakout star of the film Rocks, Bukky Bakray. It was over a video link (peak pandemic) and Bukky had just won the EE Rising Star award. ‘Dare I ask how you feel?’ began Clara.
‘You know when you don’t believe something is going to happen and then it happens?’ said the actor, wide-eyed and breathless. ‘I’m in shock... I’m in real shock.’
What happened next speaks volumes about Clara’s contagious warmth and her ability to put anyone at ease. ‘Get Mummy in!’ she squealed.
Obediently, Bukky’s mum appeared on screen, bursting into tears as the three women talked. It was touching television; a tender, unscripted moment between mother, daughter and broadcaster; one that felt more like a family Facetime than an interview with a film star.
So much of Clara’s success as a broadcaster and beyond comes down to her authenticity. Regular listeners of her BBC Radio 1 mid-morning show tune in for her infectious optimism - but she’s not afraid to shy away from important topics either. Last year, she gave a powerful speech about racism in the wake of George Floyd’s death which went down in radio history. As an interviewer, she has a unique ability to strip the formality out of a conversation; to show the human behind the celebrity. Whether she’s backstage with Jay-Z or in LA with Billie Eilish (who personally requested Clara speak to her for a recent BBC documentary) she seems strikingly comfortable in her own skin. Which is why I’m surprised when she tells what was going on in her head at the BAFTAs.
‘I was absolutely caking it,’ says Clara. ‘I was so nervous I was having palpitations. I remember calling my agent to say I felt really overwhelmed. I messaged Dermot [O’Leary] and Edith [Bowman] to say I was panicking. When I got home that night I sobbed on my sofa and said to myself, babe, you’re not winding yourself up like that ever again - because the BAFTAs were actually a really magical, really rewarding experience.’
Those feelings stuck with her. ‘When it comes to my career, my number one mantra is feel the fear and do it anyway. I've really had to learn that. The fear monster, the insecurity monster, they’re scary because they can feel so real. The amount of jobs I've gone into thinking I don’t know if I can do it… and then it’s fine. It’s so easy to talk yourself into thinking you’re not good enough, we’ve all got to apply that same logic for talking ourselves into something.’
That’s exactly what Clara’s been doing. The BAFTAs was just one of an endless list of recent career highlights. Next month, she will take over Radio 1’s Future Sounds show, a revered slot previously hosted by the likes of Zane Lowe, and most recently, her friend Annie Mac. There are a lot of eyes - and ears - on her. “The thing I’m excited about with any kind of new work is the trial and error - people ask, “how are you going to make it different? Look at who came before you”, but the one thing I’ve learned in my career is that you can plan all you like, and you can have a healthy expectation of how you might want things to go, but certain things will always be out of your control; I think knowing that gives you control.”
Having made her legacy on daytime radio, her move to evenings is allowing her to take on more projects. She’s just finished filming The Drop, a new TV show where emerging designers battle it out for the chance to have their streetwear line stocked by a major retailer. Clara hosts, alongside a judging panel including R&B artist Miguel and skateboarder and model Blondey McCoy. She’s extremely passionate about streetwear. We talk about how the pandemic has irrevocably influenced our wardrobes, with many of us embracing tracksuits over actual suits. Does she think streetwear will become the new workwear?
A lot of people didn't expect me to do Strictly, but guess what, I can twirl around in gold sequins and still sit down and have a serious conversation with an artist
‘Streetwear has always been my workwear. I used to work in streetwear shops, it’s always been part of my culture. Anyone going back into the office who has to look semi-professional, see if you can get away with a nice crisp air force one or a silky tracksuit bottom with a heel’ Despite being the perfect candidate to host the Drop, Clara says the opportunity was initially daunting, ‘It was so exciting but that little voice was like, “Clara, can you do it?! There's always a constant dialogue that I accept may not ever go away completely.’ Still, she refuses to let imposter syndrome get to her. ‘I want to challenge the stereotype of what I'm capable of. A lot of people didn't expect me to do Strictly, but guess what, I can twirl around in gold sequins and still sit down and have a serious conversation with an artist.’
Clara has an insatiable work ethic, but she says, ‘It's only over the past two years that I've really been afforded these opportunities. I’ve been having conversations that I wouldn't be having two years ago, and it's not that I haven't been trying, but it’s about how people perceive you. I have interests in so many different things, but there are all these particular roles you’re supposed to fulfil as a woman or femme or however you identify [in the public eye]. Are you going to be the hot leggy paparazzi girl, the serious type or Mrs Saturday night shiny showbiz? In so many ways I haven’t been sure about where I fit in. I know I'm not the girl-next-door, I'm the girl from round the corner - that’s ok! I don’t want to be the girl-next-door; we’re at a point now where we have to accept that the UK looks like a lot of different people, so when I am asked to front TV shows, hell yeah I’m going to go for it.’
She loves hearing how her listeners are progressing in their careers too, recounting stories of students who would text her during freshers week who have now graduated from PHDs. With the pandemic changing so many ways of working, she offers some valuable advice: ‘People say “there's 24 usable hours in the day” or “sleep when you're dead.” Ignore all of those bullshit mantras about not sleeping or taking breaks; no job is worth making yourself ill. Look after yourself, and above all, feel the fear and do it anyway.’
Radio 1’s Future Sounds with Clara Amfo (Monday – Thursday, 6pm- 8pm) launches on Monday 6 September.
Photo credits Photography: Zoe McConnell; Stylist: Justin Hamilton; Hair: Stefan Bertin; Makeup: Yasmina Bentaieb; Styling Assistants: Raghav Tibrewal, Tioluwanipinmi Enitan; Creative Director: Carolyn Roberts; Shoot Producer: Nathan Higham