Sisterhood, Spells, and Sammie: Babirye Bukilwa Illuminates the Spellbinding Story of 'Domino Day'

In the bewitching world of 'Domino Day,' actress Babirye Bukilwa takes centre stage as the empathic witch, Sammie. As we delve into the enchanting series that seamlessly blends magic, metaphors, and modern challenges, Babirye shares her initial excitement, the allure of playing a queer witch, and the intricate relationships woven into the magical tapestry of the show.

Interview with Babirye Bukilwa (Sammie)

What was your first impression of the scripts?

When I read the first episode of Domino Day I immediately called my agent to get the next episode. I rarely ever get that excited about a TV show. I thought it was sexy, exciting and I love that Lauren was using a lot of metaphors in the series for things like feminism, womanism, sexuality and rage.

Tell us about your character?

I play a witch called Sammie who’s from London originally but moved to Manchester to find a family and new life for herself. Her specialism is that she’s an empath, which has manifested in being able to see people’s auras. So she’s constantly on another plane and can see if people are feeling discomfort, happiness, are in pain, etc. She feels very deeply.

Do you have anything in common with your character?

I resonate with Sammie and her values a lot, for example how she cares for humans, the planet and her sense of justice. I think she’d be a Libra. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a triple Libra somewhere on her chart. I think justice is very attractive to her and integral to who she is as a person.

What attracted you to the role?

What appealed to me about Sammie is that she’s a queer witch and I was like…am I looking in a mirror? I’ve never seen her character on paper like that and I was like…absolutely…that’s a bit of me.

Can you tell us about the relationships your character has in the show?

I really enjoy Sammie’s relationship with Kat, played by Alisha Bailey. Kat is the coven leader and there’s a real nuance and beauty to their story because they share so many intersections like their race, being a woman, and that they’re both black witches.

What was your favourite scene to shoot?

The scenes with the coven were my favourite. I love Siena but everything with Sammie and Domino was so heavy. I learnt a lot from Siena as an artist, she’s brilliant. But the scenes with the coven were so fun. There was one scene where I actually think we had to have the lines fed to us because we were laughing so much because it was so ridiculous.

What do you want audiences to take away?

I’d love the audience, especially the audience members that were raised as girls, to take away that their rage is just as important as their innocence and that their rage is a gift. They’re deserving of every single emotion in the spectrum of life. There is no one way to be a woman in society where you’re 100% safe all the time because we live in the patriarchy so I want them to feel empowered to not shy away from the beauty of all their emotions.

A heartfelt thank you to Babirye Bukilwa for offering us a glimpse into the captivating universe of 'Domino Day' and her compelling portrayal of Sammie. As the series unfolds, her empowering message resonates, reminding audiences to embrace the complexity of emotions and celebrate the uniqueness that each magical moment brings. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the enchantment she brings to the screen and the powerful narratives that unfold in this extraordinary world of witchcraft and self-discovery.