Hisham Tawfiq breaks down “Boukman Baptiste.”
Warning: This article contains spoilers forThe Blacklistseason 9, episode 9,“Boukman Baptiste.”
To make matters more complicated, Red blames Dembe for Liz’s death.
Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma.Will Hart/NBC
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What was your reaction to finding out Dembe would become an FBI agent?
Watching Dembe give a briefing is exciting!
It was challenging and a little nerve-racking at first.
Will Hart/NBC
It tripped me up a bit, but I got used to it.
What has it been like to take the dynamic you built with James Spader to this new place?
There’s another layer on that because it’s a bit weird personally and professionally.
It took me a while to get used to it after eight seasons of being next to him.
What is it like for you to play a character like this?
It’s not as hard as some would imagine because it started with the creation of this character.
[Dembe] came on for one episode and didn’t have any lines.
I was allowed the freedom to create this character based on my personal experience.
Before I was a New York City firefighter, I was a New York State Correction Officer.
It was a strange dynamic where people in jail would look at me as a sellout and the enemy.
What has developing that dynamic been like this season?
It’s a push-and-pull relationship.
Also, now there’s a bigger mountain to climb, and they have to do it together.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
The Blacklistairs Thursdays at 8pm ET on NBC.
