“We get to follow people into their homes, where we normally might not, to avoid judgement and to prevent characters becoming one-sided or stereotypical.” As Nordic Watchlist sits down with Sara Shirpey, who gives an outstanding performance in the Viaplay drama Taelgia, we can’t help but notice how passionate and philosophical she is in her responses.

We’re discussing the six-part series, in which she plays the Syrian-Swedish police officer, Sibel. Torn between internal and external expectations of who she should be, she finds herself caught up in gang violence and prejudices within the tower blocks of Ronna. Hugely powerful in its portrayal of poverty, crime and consequences, this impactful series has been in the works for quite some time.

“The writing and the script are always one of the main draws that brings to me a project. And in this case, Jens [Östberg, the director] had worked on this project for so many years, doing extensive research and getting so much input from people in the community. His writing made the characters’ journeys and their struggles very clear. Of course, it’s a gift as an actor to be able to come in and take her off the paper and flesh her out with emotion and make her my own.”

And make Sibel her own, she absolutely does. Shirpey was the recipient of the Rising Star Award at the 2022 Stockholm Film Festival and Taelgia features a lot of rising talent in the likes of John Hanna, Jonay Pineda Skallak and Ranja Jan Barvary. How important is bonding and mentoring time when working as part of an ensemble cast?

“It’s always very important to get a feel of everybody you’re playing with, especially those characters who are very close to yours. My role was very enjoyable because I had a foot in both worlds which allowed me to connect with and spend time with many of the cast. Overall, it was a fantastic group of people – both in front of and behind the camera. Everyone was very engaged with the project. We thought what we were doing was important.

“It was a very young cast – I believe it was John and Ranja’s first acting job while Jonay had done some work before. It was just a real pleasure working with incredible actors. Each of them brings a unique presence and fearlessness to their work. I love seeing actors thriving … it’s a thrill to watch and collaborate with. It’s very inspiring.”

More than just young talent, Taelgia showcases a cast of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Sibel sees herself quite firmly as Swedish, despite the racist remarks she receives from her colleagues and out in the community. For Shirpey, the way a character is portrayed is important when it comes to choosing her roles.

“It’s important to me that a character has conflict and depth. The character doesn’t need to be likeable, we don’t need to agree with everything they do but I strive as an actor to understand the reasons behind the choices they might make. It’s important to convey the complexity of the person.

“In this script, it’s very crucial [to see a range of ethnicities on screen] because it tackles very challenging subjects and it’s important that the characters feel real and multi-faceted. This project aside, I feel there are so many fascinating stories about people from diverse backgrounds that deserve to be told.”

Taelgia thrives on its storytelling. Weaving together different narratives and perspectives of life within a multi-ethnic community, it focuses on the consequences of crime and the traps that poverty sometimes sets. It’s not about glamour or even violence in a way that viewers might come to expect from the crime drama genre.

“Beforehand, we had a lot of discussion,” Sara says. “Because we were aiming for a very real and unromantic portrayal of sensitive issues like violence and poverty. It was crucial for us to handle them with care and respect. On days when we were filming sensitive scenes, be it violence or even just conflict within family, we always made sure to check in and encourage openness. It was okay to feel and express discomfort.”

That supportive environment is something that Shirpey’s character, Sibel, could have benefitted from. She is torn between the identity her community thinks she should have and the identity she wants to put out into the world, particularly at work.

“She was really torn. It was challenging and, of course, fun to navigate my own emotions in the way that Sibel does,” Sara smiles warmly and gesticulates more as she gently unpicks the heart of her character. “She has so many layers, she’s under a lot of pressure and she keeps so much inside and, in a way, she’s so lonely. She’s stuck in the middle of so many expectations that others have of her and her own.

“She puts a lid on everything and it’s just boiling underneath the surface. She works hard on not showing anything so that was one of the toughest aspects of the work because everything had to be subtle. Figuring out how well she could hide her emotions within a scene was challenging – to regulate her in a way. And sometimes, she boils over, as we see.”

One of the reasons we see Sibel lose her usual calm disposition is owing to a nasty social media campaign against her. Police incidents within Ronna are filmed and uploaded within hours, leaving Sibel a target once again.

“It’s another world with social media. Everything is out there for everyone to see. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way,” Shirpey muses. “In Sibel’s case, social media plays a huge part because there is already division within the Syrian community and her decision to be a police officer. So, it’s harmful because it deepens that divide. And, in turn, it impacts her family and her relationship with them.”

For viewers across the world, the proliferation of already deep-rooted divisions is something we are all, sadly, coming across more and more. What messaging does Sara hope people will take from the show?

Sara pauses, thoughtfully, before answering. “It’s always hard to tell the audience what they should think. But I hope that it resonates with them and provides them with a broader perspective … because, ultimately, it is a story about family and about individuals and people’s destiny.”

In the case of the show, destiny can be decided in a split second. “You just took that route, which wasn’t your original plan,” Sara adds. “Everyone is trying for a better life – but the meaning of that can differ so much depending on where you’re born.”

The closing shot of Taelgia is incredibly haunting but also quite open, so Nordic Watchlist wonders if we will see Sibel back for season two? Or what other projects are we likely to see Sara in soon? She grins mischievously and tosses her hands in the air; there’s even a hint of a giggle.

“It’s always so hard with these questions … I am working but I can’t talk about the projects. But please keep an eye out!”

Given that Sara’s career to date includes the likes of Diorama, State of Happiness, Top Dog and, now Taelgia, we most certainly will. We can’t wait to see what this thoughtful, talented young star does next.

Taeglia is available on Viaplay UK and Viaplay USA