From solitary confinement to second chances, David Oyelowo breaks down the emotional depth behind Newborn—and why this role hit closer to home than ever.
In Newborn, David Oyelowo takes on one of his most emotionally complex roles to date. The film follows Chris, a man reentering society after years of incarceration, as he struggles to reconnect with his wife and son while grappling with the psychological toll of prolonged isolation.
At its core, Newborn is a story about family, which is something that immediately resonated with Oyelowo.
“As a father myself, I have three boys of my own and a daughter,” Oyelowo said. “So that I could relate to. I have a wife that I really love, and if I’ve been any kind of time away from her, I’m always looking to get back to her, let alone a seven-year stretch.”
That emotional through line—Chris’ determination to rebuild his relationship with his son—anchors the film. But stepping into the role required Oyelowo to explore experiences far outside his own, particularly the realities of incarceration and solitary confinement.
“The part that I needed to do a deep dive on was the incarceration component, especially the specificity of solitary confinement,” he said. “I think it’s as dehumanizing a thing as you can do to someone—to extricate them from humanity in that way.”
Chris’ story is also defined by a profound act of sacrifice—taking the blame for his brother, a decision that shapes the trajectory of his life. For Oyelowo, that selflessness was central to understanding the character.
“I’m a Christian, and one of the verses in the Bible that I’m most compelled by is, ‘Greater love hath no man than to lay his life down for his brother,’” he said. “In many ways, that’s what Chris does for his brother. I just deeply admire that attribute. I think that’s what a hero looks like.”
The film also explores the complicated dynamics between Chris and his wife, Tara, played by Olivia Washington. Their relationship is layered with love, betrayal and tension—something Oyelowo said was grounded in real-life inspiration.
“A huge tool for both of us was the couple that we shadowed,” he said, referencing Richard Rosario and his wife, Minerva. “He served 20 years for a crime he didn’t commit, seven of those years in solitary confinement, and she stuck with him through that entire time. We rooted our characters in the reality of a lived experience.”
To authentically portray the long-term psychological effects of incarceration, Oyelowo immersed himself in research, reading firsthand accounts and speaking directly with formerly incarcerated individuals.
“I read a book called Solitaryby Albert Woodfox, who had been in solitary for over 40 years, which is unthinkable,” he said. “I also read Writing My Wrongs by Shaka Senghor and spoke to him as well, and there was another book called Hell Is a Very Small Place.”
Through that research, Oyelowo began to understand the lasting trauma associated with isolation—something that manifests in Chris’ behavior once he returns home.
Throughout the film, Chris develops both healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms. While he forms a bond with his son, he also recreates a version of his prison cell—a space that paradoxically offers him comfort.
“I think that’s what makes the character relatable,” Oyelowo said. “We are both beautiful and brutal. We are fantastic and flawed. We operate from a place of faith and fear at any given time.”
That internal conflict is heightened by the film’s psychological elements, particularly Chris’ role as an unreliable narrator—a storytelling device Oyelowo said was embedded in the script from the beginning.
“That kind of thing only works if it’s already on the page,” he said, crediting writer-director Nate Parker. “My job was to perform that in the most truthful way possible.”
Despite the film’s heavier themes, Oyelowo said Chris’ ultimate motivation remains clear: love.
“The film is really about getting back to love, getting back to connection, getting back to family,” he said.
For Oyelowo, one moment in particular stayed with him long after filming wrapped.
“I love this line he says to his son: ‘You are my mission,’” he said. “The idea that your mission is to protect your kids, to educate them, to prepare them for life—that’s something I can really relate to as a father.”
With Newborn, Oyelowo once again proves his ability to fully inhabit complex, deeply human characters, continuing a career defined by captivating, transformative performances.
