Why Common Is Finally Ready To Call Himself An Actor

Common is showing off his menacing side in the new Apple TV+ series Silo.

In the post-apocalyptic sci-fi tale the the rapper-actor plays Sims, the head of Judicial Security within the massive 144-level subterranean compound, and it’s clear he’s not to be messed with.

“As much as it’s sci-fi, it’s a mystery. It’s a thriller. It really is a new approach to what people are talking about when it comes to post-apocalyptic stories,” he said.

HipHollywood caught up with the Oscar winner to talk about the series and playing a character everyone loves to hate.

“Some of my team was watching the series and was like, man, I don’t like Sims. I don’t like that dude,” he jokingly confessed.

“But that’s what I love about getting to play characters, because you don’t always get a character that’s you,” he continues. “I’m not trying to be myself up there. I want to be who Sims is. Who is Sims in that story? And how can I bring as much of a person and humanity to them? That’s the beauty of playing these characters.”

Common also loved working opposite a star-studded cast like Tim Robins, David Oyelowo, Rebecca Ferguson and Will Patton.

“I definitely just sit across from an actor like, wait, I’m actually acting with Tim Robbins. This Tim Robbins. This is a legendary actor, and I’m in a scene with him,” he gushed.

Fact is the Chicago native says he used to shy away from the title “actor” and lean more towards rapper, that is until nabbing roles opposite big names like Denzel Washington in 2007’s American Gangster.

‘When I was in the scene with Denzel, I’m like,  wait … I’m an actor. I am. And that’s what it is. And I’m also a hip hop artist, but I love it, and I do feel stronger in it and I want to become one of the greats.”

You can see more of Common as Sims in Silo, Fridays, Apple TV+