Colman Domingo on Commanding the Conversation

Despite severe weather warnings of high winds and flash floods across New York, Oscar nominee Colman Domingo’s disposition was bright and sunny during a recent video call from his home in Beacon. This contrast mirrors his professional life, where he often seeks to challenge perceptions.

“I feel like a lot of times, I get caught up in very prestige dramas or series,” Domingo explained. “Most people who know me know that I’m very playful, and that I’m always willing to reinvent and try something different.”

His current schedule is a testament to this versatility. Domingo is directing the first episode of and starring in the second season of Netflix’s The Four Seasons. Soon, he will begin press for The Running Man alongside Glen Powell, followed by roles in an upcoming Michael Jackson biopic and a closely guarded Steven Spielberg project. He is also set to direct two other feature films.

This packed agenda follows a year in which he has already filmed the third season of Euphoria, co-hosted the Met Gala, appeared in a Sabrina Carpenter music video, and attended Paris Fashion Week.

Amid this demanding schedule, Domingo is embracing another role: Valentino Beauty’s first global fragrance ambassador. The partnership is a natural extension of his existing relationship as an ambassador for Valentino menswear, a brand he deeply believes in. A passionate fragrance aficionado, Domingo revealed he owns a collection of around 200 scents.

He believes scent is a powerful tool for perception and connection. “When you walk into a room, you attack people’s senses, and you want to make them feel a certain way,” he said, noting how people remember a scent after a hug. He also shared his fondness for Valentino’s Born in Roma for its surprising and comforting marshmallow note.

This sensory awareness is integral to his craft as an actor. Domingo often selects a unique scent for each character he plays, considering what “essence” that character would want to leave behind in a room. His personal preferences lean toward ouds and notes that are grassy or woodsy.

When asked about his status as a style icon, Domingo was reflective, suggesting it’s about more than just clothing. “I think it’s not just the style, it’s about how I feel, and I think that’s what people are seeing,” he shared. “I feel good in these spaces, and I’m okay with claiming my space.”

He concluded by citing a guiding philosophy from Maya Angelou: “She said, ‘Your crown is already prepared and ready for you. All you have to do is put it on.’ I put mine on a while ago, so I think I’m walking with my crown on.”

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