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'Blake's 7's Josette Simon made me realise I could be an actor,' says Murderbot's Noma Dumezweni

The actress opened up about sci-fi and representation.

Noma Dumezweni in Murderbot standing in front of an illuminated background with a dial, looking downwards.

Apple TV+

Published: Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 4:33 pm

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Noma Dumezweni (Only Murders in the Building) is currently starring in Apple TV+'s shiny new sci-fi Murderbot alongside Alexander Skarsgård.

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Her character Dr Mensah leads a team of scientists tasked to survey a dangerous alien planet, and faces plenty of challenges along the way.

During an exclusive chat with RadioTimes.com, the actress opened up about the importance of representation in sci-fi, and how another iconic character in the genre inspired her.

"The first time, when I was young, that I saw a possibility of myself being an actor was actually Josette Simon in Blake's 7, all those years ago," she said.

The cast of the PreservationAux survey team in Murderbot season 1

The PreservationAux survey team in Murderbot. Apple TV+

"Dark-skinned, Black woman with short hair. And here I am sitting in front of you because of that woman in Blake's 7, a sci-fi in the future," she added. "There's a possibility of different worlds. And she made me see myself as possible."

Simon famously played Dayna Mellanby in the '70s sci-fi.

Dumezweni is no stranger to appearing in exciting, and even fantastical, worlds. She famously played Hermione Granger in Harry Potter stage play The Cursed Child, and recently appeared in Disney's live-action Little Mermaid as Queen Selina.

"Representation is literally that thing," Dumezweni explained. "Can you see yourself in the narrative? Can you see yourself in the story, not just emotionally, but physically, environmentally? It's all of the things. Who are you as a human? And that's what representation is."

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Murderbot is currently airing on Apple TV+. Subscribe to Apple TV+ here.

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Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Ben Williams

Lidia Molina Whyte wears a mustard-coloured top. She is smiling and looking upwards to her left

Lidia Molina-WhyteFreelance

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