Narayan Hecter: “I don’t have strong foundations or feel like I belong anywhere”
The actor on his nomadic life, how the industry opened his eyes and trying to find his purpose
Hi, welcome back to Mixed Messages! This week I’m speaking to actor Narayan Hecter, who is of mixed Jewish, Polish, Romanian, French and Vietnamese heritage – phew! Narayan plays Joseph in Paramount+ series No Escape, and drew on his own feelings of not quite belonging for the role. Growing up on a small island near Madagascar before a nomadic childhood, Narayan’s identity has always felt in flux, but perhaps this fluidity, expressed in Narayan’s French lilt, is a refreshing way to live. Read his story below.
Can you tell me a bit about your family background?
My father is Jewish, Polish and Romanian, and my mum is French and Vietnamese. I grew up on a French island near Madagascar called Réunion Island, which was a mix of every kind of person.
In France, people referred to me as Asian first. When I’m in Asia, I’m referred to as white. I say exactly the same line in the show. Now that I’m an actor, it’s quite important to know what I represent. My dream is also to get parts where it doesn’t matter where I come from, but I like the fact that I’m mixed.
Has being mixed been a journey for you?
I always feel a little lost when it concerns where I come from because I grew up in France but always travelled. I don’t have strong foundations or feel like I belong anywhere. I’m just on earth wandering around, trying to find a purpose. I always wondered if I wanted a home, where would I go? I have no answer. I’m just trying to figure it out.
When I arrived, I was a bit naive. Then I saw that for casting, all of this is very important. I started to be more realistic in the sense that I knew I couldn’t do certain parts. Now, I know what I can and can’t do. There are more and more Asian roles for actors at the moment and I’m all for that, so now I feel [the barrier] is more about my accent.
I left school at 15 because I was very anxious, so I was isolated at home. I saw all these different cultures from far away but I never mixed in. In France I guess my mum was trying to fit in – she wasn’t cooking Vietnamese dishes every day. When I started to go out when I was 18, when I came to London, I discovered the world and how actors are accepting of each other, all coming from different cultures and countries.
Did you ever speak to your family about being mixed?
I have a brother, and sometimes we laugh about things we can do because we’re Asian and white. I’ve never spoken to my mum [about it.] I grew up without questioning it too much, and I don’t think my mum would care. All the conversations I want to ask now are because I’ve learned so much about life and being mixed-race.
How does your mixed heritage impact the roles you go for as an actor?
This part [in No Escape] is all about not fitting anywhere. I end up on a boat with weird people and try to fit in while also being an outcast. I love that it’s part of Joseph’s origins that he can’t fit in anywhere so he’s in the ocean. I was so lucky to get this part because it’s half-French, half-Filipino.
Do you think there are stereotypes of what it means to be mixed?
People should be aware that being mixed isn’t only being Black and white. There are so many countries in the world. One of the leads in No Escape is Indian and white, and people will see more and more of that.
When I was a kid, I was one of the only Asian kids in my school even though it was very mixed. There was lots of racism. People told me that I was Chinese. It’s due to the lack of good media that informed them. I wish people would be more informed when they’re young, that parents could teach their kids.
What’s the best thing about being mixed for you?
I think being mixed has helped me find an identity, especially in the acting world. It helped me find specific roles, but I don’t know if it helped me get more opportunities. Maybe I’d work more if I was completely white or Asian. I love acting and I want to play great parts. When we talk about my work, I don’t want people to say ‘oh that’s the mixed one,’ I want to be known for my work.
Can you sum up your mixed identity in a word?
Nomad. You don’t know where you come from and you’re just going from place to place.
Watch Narayan in No Escape, streaming now on Paramount+. Next week, I’ll be talking to actor, writer and singer Natasha Cottriall. Subscribe to get Mixed Messages in your inbox on Monday.
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Mixed Messages is a weekly exploration of the mixed-race experience, from me, Isabella Silvers. My mom is Punjabi (by way of East Africa) and my dad is white British, but finding my place between these two cultures hasn’t always been easy. That’s why I started Mixed Messages, where each week I’ll speak to a prominent mixed voice to delve into what it really feels like to be mixed.
Love how he leans into the in-betweeness of being mixed & forms a new identity out of that! Connecting with other mixed people and hearing their stories has made this so much more real for me as well.