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Letitia Wright Shares How Faith Gave Her ‘The Good Foundation [She] Needed’

Photo from Letitia Wright’s Instagram

Letitia Wright Shares How Faith Gave Her ‘The Good Foundation [She] Needed’

By Movieguide® Contributor

Though Letitia Wright is seeing success on the big screen, she says that Christ keeps her grounded amid her fame. 

Wright started acting at 16 and quickly garnered critical acclaim. However, with the success came hard partying, and a loss of values and perspective. She said that one day, friend and fellow actor Malachi Kirby called her to say that God told him to reach out to her. 

The actress agreed to go to a Bible Study with Kirby, and everything changed. 

“[Faith] gave me the centring I needed, the good foundation I needed, and it helped me to put in perspective what was important for me,” Wright explained. “Chasing something that is not tangible or not wholesome is not the way I want to go. If I was to pack all this up I’d still be happy with my faith, the contentment I feel and the connection to God.”

“We all chase things,” Wright continued. “You feel you need a better job, or better role, or more accolades, or more recognition. And I was chasing that. I had been chasing, chasing, chasing, but feeling empty. I realized I don’t have to chase that any more. If I trust that God has a plan for my life and I follow that and trust I’m doing the right things, then if people feel it, they will.”

Wright shared that, while her parents “have always had faith,” it was not part of her upbringing. 

“It wasn’t something we continually practiced. I had to find what worked for me and I found that Jesus worked for me,” the actress said. “The more I prayed, the more I felt connected, and the less anxious.” 

Her faith has become an even deeper part of her work — she recently launched her own production company called Threesixteen after John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

Wright frequently talks about her faith. Movieguide® previously reported:

Hollywood actress Letitia Wright, best known for her role as Princess Shuri in Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER, is candid about her faith and how she rests in the comfort of trusting God.

“Worrying will kill you, man,” Wright told W Magazine. “It will…Eat. You. Up. But in the Bible, Jesus is basically like, ‘Chill out, guys.’ If you gracefully trust that everything is going to be okay, you start to feel lighter. You’ve just got to let go and let God.”

However, for Wright, she knows that the process of trusting God means active participation on her part.

“I’m still considered a baby Christian,” Wright, who started attending church three years ago, said. “I have to learn my Word. For as long as I can remember, I knew something about my life was meant to be meaningful, that I’ve got something to do here. I don’t know how I knew, but I was sure I’d make an impact.”

By 18, Wright had already landed roles in popular British television shows. However, as her career began to take off, Wright said it did not provide her with the bliss of success she originally wanted.

“I was depressed and full of anxiety,” Wright said. “I think it was that pressure to be accepted, to be somebody. When you’re looking outside of yourself for happiness and validation, a mean comment on social media can wreck you. I was okay when I was on set, hiding behind my work, but when I wasn’t acting I was full of fear and doubt, trying to fill this void inside of me any way I could: drinking, smoking. It was bad.”

However, Wright found the answer to her anxiety in God and even thought about giving up acting entirely to avoid having to portray immoral content on-screen.

“When I first became a Christian, I said, ‘I’m never acting again. I’m done,’” Wright remembered. “[But] God was speaking to me and said, ‘This is your talent, it’s what you’re meant to do.’”

Wright said one key component to upholding her faith in God while pursuing her acting career was learning to say no.

“For me, anything I attach myself to needs to have a purpose. And if it feels like a red light in any way, I don’t do it,” Wright said.

Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.