Bio: Dela Ruth Hini is an emerging Ghanaian-Canadian actor, writer, and all-around creative. Dela draws from an interdisciplinary and intercultural background as part of her storytelling practice. Training includes the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, the Young Actors Company at the Alexandra Palace, the Identity School of Acting, Collage Voices, and soon, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Dela currently resides in London, England, where she enjoys collaborating with other theatre makers and developing her skills in theatre and screen acting.
I have recently been accepted into the Acting Diploma program at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. This award will enable me to fund my studies, as well as to take on a variety of one-on-one tutoring to support my voice and accent work.
Dela Ruth Hini
What does it mean for you to receive this award?
I currently live in England, where I'm an immigrant twice over. First, I was an immigrant to Canada, where my family had moved from Ghana. Now, I'm an immigrant anew, this time having moved on my own. In both cases the decision to move country was made based on a desire for more opportunities and new experiences. It goes without saying that moving countries presents a plethora of financial challenges, and that coupled with pursuing a career in the theatrical and creative arts means that funding not only plays a role in my work, but in the extent to which I can engage meaningfully in creative work without sacrificing basic needs. Receiving this award gives me the opportunity to dig deeper into my artistic practice with greater freedom. As well, it means that I get to contribute more boldly to the theatrical and creative landscapes of both Canada and the UK.
What piece of art, by a Black artist, inspires you?
Belle (2013) by Amma Asante is a film that's always stayed with me, from when I first saw it as a teenager and now into my early adulthood. The story follows a woman, Dido Elizabeth Belle, who is of mixed-race heritage, her father being a British naval officer and her mother being an unnamed slave. Based on a true story and inspired by a painting of Dido at Kenwood House, we watch as the main character grapples with her identity in British society, while her guardian, who happens to be the Lord Chief Justice of England, takes on a case that would eventually spur on the eradication of slavery in England.
I'm inspired by this film for many reasons. Asante's work as a director is superb and crafts the world of the characters with immense care and thoughtfulness. The story itself often makes me wonder just how many unknown histories there are about Black and mixed-race individuals across the diaspora, who's lives and experiences shaped Western society in pivotal ways. As an artist I look forward to discovering these stories and collaborating with other creatives in order to tell them.