When I catch up with Omar Sy on the day of the Met Gala, I get the impression that this is the first chance he’s had to sit down and breathe in a while. The 47-year-old French actor was in New York for days before the fashion world’s big night out, making the rounds to promote the new movie Shadow Force, in which he costars alongside Kerry Washington. That’s tiring enough. But then there’s the notorious first Monday in May to contend with. For attendees, the hours before the Met Gala are a blur of preparation—grooming and styling and readying oneself for walking the red carpet at one of the most exclusive events to which you could hope to score an invite.
But for now, he’s in a car, en route to whatever thing comes before the next thing before the big thing later in the evening. And here I am, on the phone, ruining whatever chance he has at relaxation. Luckily, he’s supremely gracious about it. Over the course of our conversation—punctuated by spots of dicey NYC phone reception and a few check-ins with his team to ensure he’s translating from French to English properly—we talk about how things are going for Omar Sy.
He talks to me about why the Met Gala’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, feels so important this year. About the Ozwald Boateng suit he’s wearing. About his upcoming movies, why nice guys in real life make great bad guys on the screen, and the most stylish spot on Earth (after Paris, of course). And then I hang up the phone and he, hopefully, has a chance to relax before getting thrown back into the thick of it.
This conversation has been condensed and edited.
“It’s amazing. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to be there and enjoy the moment because it’s an amazing party.”
What does it feel like going to your first Met Gala?
It’s amazing. I’m so excited. I can’t wait to be there and enjoy the moment because it’s an amazing party. Especially this year. I’m so grateful to be there and for the people I’ll be with tonight, being at the Ozwald table. It means so many things for me.
How do you feel about the theme?
It’s so important for all of us, and especially at that time of the history. I think having a message today is very important. It gives us more strength moving forward, because there are still so many things to fight. So having an event like tonight will give us more strength and, I think, the fuel to continue.
Esquire has spoken to a few people who have said something similar. It feels like in this political environment, it’s a necessary statement to make.
Exactly. You celebrate the culture, celebrate us. Knowing that we’re all here, the multiple talents all in the same place, it offers something very unique and special. And to show that to the world is important.
“I think having a message today is very important. It gives us more strength moving forward, because there are still so many things to fight. So having an event like tonight will give us more strength and, I think, the fuel to continue.”
In past years, some folks have noticed how attendees have had trouble dressing to match the Met Gala theme. Was it challenging at all for you?
To be really honest with you, I left all of that to my team. And, of course, Ozwald did all the work. So everything was in his hands. He’s so talented, I had no concern. I was really relaxed. And my outfit today is amazing.
Can you tell me about it?
It’s a green, double-breasted suit with Ozwald’s fabric [based on the house’s Authenticity Adinkra symbol]. And you know Ozwald always has a meaning with his fabric. The one I have is self-truth and integrity.
How was it with the first time you got to try it on? What was the feeling like?
Oh man, I don’t know. It’s so special. He’s so talented that he always finds the right thing to use, so the line is perfect. The fabric is amazing, the feeling inside, it’s like wearing a tracksuit. And at the same time you are very, very… You feel so good. You feel confident, you feel strong. It’s amazing. I don’t know how to describe that.
Have you ever worked with him before?
This is the first time. I’ve always been a huge fan, always looking at his work from afar. Sometimes you tell yourself stories: Maybe it’s not for me, maybe I’m not ready. I think I’m ready today.
“I’ve always been a huge fan, always looking at his work from afar,” Sy says of Boateng, shown above. “Sometimes you tell yourself stories: Maybe it’s not for me, maybe I’m not ready. I think I’m ready today.”
When you’re not getting dressed for an event like this, how would you describe your personal style?
I try to be casual, very comfortable. But at the same time, I’m French, so I always have to… My French style is a little bit chic. That’s how we do.
Is there a place that you think has the best style in the world?
We put Paris to the side, right? Because Paris is the first.
Yeah. Paris is too easy.
You know what? Senegal. There is a vibe in Senegal. Everybody has his own style, I like that. Everybody’s unique and they have something to say with their clothes. I love that.
You’ve been here in New York for a few days. What do you think of New York style?
New York, I think, is very close to Europe. You can feel a lot of European and French influence in New York. There is a little bit of English, a little bit of French, all of that combined. New York style is more efficient, you know what I mean? It’s like ready to do the work.
Yeah, I could see that. New Yorkers have a bit of reputation for that sort of thing.
Just like practical.
“There is a vibe in Senegal. Everybody has his own style, I like that. Everybody’s unique and they have something to say with their clothes.”
Over the course of your career, has the way you think about style changed or evolved?
The main change was as a man than the career. It’s more like as a man, how you grow.
Your vision of yourself evolves, so your vision of your style evolves too.
Omar: Yes, exactly. It’s who I am as a man more than the career I or how to present myself as an actor.
You’re in New York to promote your new movie Shadow Force. Can you tell me about that?
Yeah. I’m so happy because we shot that movie two years ago and I couldn’t wait to have it out. Now, it’s going to be out May 9. It’s a wonderful story. It’s an action movie, but there is some heart in it. Everything has a real purpose. It’s about character, and it’s about family, it’s about love, and I’m surrounded by wonderful actors. Kerry Washington, she’s the best. She’s also the producer and she brought me in that project. I’m so happy to work with her because I was a huge fan. I had the chance, so I couldn’t say no. But the script is amazing. We have a wonderful cast. Jahleel Kamara is playing our son. Da’Vine, Method Man, Mark Strong… all our cast. It’s amazing.
Is Mark Strong as severe in real life as he seems on screen?
No. He’s the nicest guy in the world. I don’t know how he can play the bad guy that well. I think maybe because, I was thinking about it, he’s so nice and I think his only way to be a little bit mean is when he plays the bad guy. I think that that’s why he does that that well, because he’s so nice.
Playing the villain is his only outlet.
Exactly.
“It’s an action movie, but there is some heart in it,” Sy says of Shadow Force. “Everything has a real purpose. It’s about character, and it’s about family, it’s about love, and I’m surrounded by wonderful actors.”
I like that theory. Also, I just saw today that the casting for Dumas: Black Devil was announced, and you’re in that.
I’m so excited about that. It’s going to be one of the biggest projects we will have in France. And the story also, it’s so important. [The movie will focus on Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, father of the famed author Alexandre Dumas. Thomas-Alexandre was born to an enslaved Black woman and a French nobleman and eventually became a major figure in the French Revolutionary Wars.] We know his son well, but no one knows his dad and his story. They tried to forget him, put him on the side. I’m so happy and honored to be part of the team to remember him, because he deserves it.
Is there anything else that you’ve got upcoming that you’re able to talk about?
I don’t know. I think we did a lot. Dumas is a good project that I’m really excited to talk about. We talked about Shadow Force. We talked about tonight. I think we did a lot.
All right, wonderful.
Yeah, we covered it.
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