The actor, musician and writer Bachir Samb describes the uncertainty of an artistic career in his new book. In an interview published on 14 November with elDiario.es the artist, who was born in Gran Canaria speaks about work drying up, self-doubt and racist stereotyping at auditions. He also calls for greater representation of society’s diversity on screen.
„Diario de un artista fracasado” is the title of the book: in German, it means “Diary of a Failed Artist”. Samb said in another interview with Radio Faro, that he did not consider himself a failure. However, given the gap between his expectations and the reality of working life, he had at times wondered whether he had failed.
He also wanted his book to show what often goes unseen in images on social media: the waiting between projects and the uncertainty over whether another job will follow. Samb told elDiario.es that he had worked in Barcelona made music in Paris and auditioned for numerous roles. When offers did not come in, he had also had to earn a living outside the arts.
Samb said that the lack of prospects had at times taken a toll on his mental health. Support from family and friends had been important to him during such periods. He also criticised the pressure to constantly present a successful life on social media. The number of followers people have there is also sometimes taken into account when casting actors.
In his interview with elDiario.es, Samb also spoke about racism at auditions. Black actors, for example, may be encouraged to speak with an accent. But people of African heritage can also play doctors, journalists or teachers. His observation that the diversity of everyday life is underrepresented in casting is a personal assessment, not a statistical finding.
According to the newspaper, Samb now lives in MadridIn his earlier book “El viaje al revés” he recounted his journey from the Canary Islands to Senegal, where he cared for his grandmother. The new book focuses on his experiences in the arts. The interviews reviewed do not make clear exactly when it was published; the date 14 November refers to the publication of the interview by elDiario.es.
Editor: Celestina Fuentes (Article created with AI assistance).