SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points fromStarzsPower Book II: Ghostseries finale.
Watch on Deadline
Could you imagine if they had teamed up instead of fighting each other?
Chikezie said of Noma and Monet during a recent chat with Deadline about theshows finale.
Caroline Chikezie as Noma in ‘Power Book II: Ghost’Starz
A shattered Noma held her in her arms as she took her last breath.
As much as Noma loved her child, she was as good as dead at that moment.
Chikezie expands on this and more in our Q&A below.
(L-R) Caroline Chikezie as Noma and Sydney Winbush as Anya in the ‘Power Book II: Ghost’ series finaleStarz
Why was this so important for viewers to know?
CAROLINE CHIKEZIE:Thats her villain origin story.
As you’re able to see from that scene, shes actually a victim herself.
I cant imagine what witnessing something as horrific as that at such a tender age could do.
Shes been traumatized and has vowed never to let that happen again.
DEADLINE:Not only did Noma survive but she thrived.
CHIKEZIE: Thats exactly right.
Shes a victim of circumstance, but she decided to take that and empower herself to propel herself forward.
As with many victims of trauma, shes been able to compartmentalize a lot of it.
So thats why people may say, Oh, youre very dishonest to your daughter.
Its compartmentalization to be able to live and survive.
Because if she were to relive the trauma daily, she wouldnt be able to function.
DEADLINE:Noma has an important conversation with Anya in the finale that was a long time coming.
Why did this conversation take so long to happen?
CHIKEZIE: Thats the first time they had an honest conversation.
Noma has been lying repeatedly to Anya but to Noma, it was to protect her daughter.
So when Noma said, I dont care about any of this.
Its you Im trying to protect, that did connect with Anya.
She just needed time to process.
Anya does say something horrible to her mother but they soon have forgiven each other.
You see the smiles on their faces and theyre about to reconcile but by then its too late.
DEADLINE:Do you think in those final moments of life, Noma had any regrets?
In those final moments, I felt like she wasnt afraid to die.
In fact, I think she found it preferable because Anya was everything to her.
Without Anya, is it worth it?
When they killed her daughter, her soul left her body.
And that was why when her brother stormed off, she opted not to go with him.
I think it was a relief for her to die, actually.
CHIKEZIE: When I first got the script it was a real page-turner.
I couldnt believe what I was reading.
Its incredibly rare for a woman in this industry to get such a multifaceted boss role.
It felt like such a gift.
I found my inspiration for Noma in Denzel Washingtons Frank Lucas inAmerican Gangster.
With so few female boss roles, I was inspired by a male.
There was also Monet, of course, portrayed by the excellent Mary J. Blige.
She was another source of inspiration.
If I was doing it, I couldnt hesitate or it would come across as weak.
I made it make sense.
Without that, youre judging the character youre playing and it closes you up.
Nobody wants to be perceived as a bad person, right?
But when youre playing a character, you commit and do whatever it takes.
DEADLINE:Noma committed some pretty heinous acts during her time on the show.
Were there any moments that were the most shocking to portray?
CHIKEZIE: The most shocking moment was when she killed Monet.
When I read the script, I gasped out loud, it was so chilling.
I love Mary J. Blige and her portrayal of Monet.
But I knew that if Noma [killed Monet] then Noma had to go.
DEADLINE:Why was Cane the right person to kill Noma?
CHIKEZIE: He was absolutely the right person to pull the trigger.
The way she turned on him, the betrayal of it all and on their wedding day!
She couldnt even wait a few days.
He didnt believe her.
He chose to go along with Noma, and you saw how it played out.
But Woody, I love Woody so much.
Hes such a gem and an incredible scene partner.
I loved working with him, Michael, Method and Mary.
There were so many nice, wonderful actors who are family moving forward.
There was so much love on that show which I never expected.
I never expected such a warm reception and so much love and support.
Im so honored that I was invited to participate in such a great show.
DEADLINE:Have you already said goodbye to Noma?
CHIKEZIE: Oh yeah, Im shedding.
Work like that takes a toll.
When Id go home, I would soak in Epsom salts.
I would also do something called flotation therapy deprivation in a tank.
Its you in a tank with Epsom salts and you float; its sensory deprivation.
Theres no sound, theres no sight, and you just float for like two hours at a time.
What insight can you give as to what goes into those scenes?
CHIKEZIE: My goodness.
He was so protective and made sure that I was okay.
We had our boundaries in place and an intimacy coordinator on set.
I had boob tape on and he had a little protection.
I think both of us were like, lets get this done as quickly as possible.
Lets just do this.
[Laughs]
DEADLINE:Both you and your husband,Bel-Airs Adrian Holmes, are actors.
Does that help with understanding when your partner has to participate in love scenes for work?
So now when we go do our jobs, we encourage each other.
We say, Go for it!
It feels really nice to get that support from your partner to really own a scene like that.
DEADLINE:People have taken to the Noma in a big way and are wishing for a prequel series.
What are your thoughts on this?
CHIKEZIE: Oh, my goodness, that made me cry.
I think thatd be incredible.
It would be so interesting because shes international.
She has roots in Nigeria and London, and now in America.
It would be interesting to see how this character was created.
I think its a no-brainer, really.
Do you know what Id really like to see?
I would like to see international connects.
So my brother on the show Chinedu, played by the brilliant Sahr Ngaujah, is of Nigerian origin.
I want to see Tariqs next move, and what he does next.
Id love for that to happen and see how that whole thing unfolds.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
