With the imminent release of Steve McQueen’s anticipated anthology series Small Axe and a 2020 BAFTA Rising Star award under his belt, Micheal Ward is finally drawing global attention. That’s already more than most actors could dream of, but it’s just another point in the upward trajectory Ward has been on since his debut just a few years ago.

Born in Jamaica and raised in London, Ward started in front of the camera as a model, but landed a role in the Drake-resurrected series Top Boy, in 2019. “It’s been an incredible couple of years,” Ward says, in earnest. “The whole journey and process excites me.” Ward is in a unique position for an actor with his promise. His fame comes at a moment in time that feels as chaotic as it has ever felt, but he sees the silver lining. “I don’t believe the world is chaotic right now.

I believe we’re being tested massively, and we will come out the other end stronger. We’ve all had to take a step back and think, whereas before some do that and [others] are constantly on the go, [so] they don’t realize what is going on in the world. I’ve been a bit of both, so I’m glad I’ve had to really start figuring out who I am as a person, first and foremost, in order to be of some purpose in this life.” Now in “Lover’s Rock,” an episode of Small Axe that stands in contrast to the others with its fictional setting and buoyant atmosphere, Ward and his co-stars navigate a party in 1979 London. It’s a slice-of-life piece that shows a part of culture not often seen on-screen, and it’s the kind of story Ward wants to tell.

“I really want to continue to highlight stories that haven’t been told before but need to be, so people can understand certain things.” Nonetheless, the young actor is ready to spread his wings and take on the kind of roles that allow him to grow as an artist and performer. In that, he may have found exactly where he has purpose.

“I don’t ever want to be comfortable and get complacent, because I know if I continue to learn and grow the possibilities are endless. I want all the work I do to resonate with people. Whether they love or hate the story I tell, they felt something and that’s a beautiful thing.” “Lover’s Rock” is out now on Amazon Prime.