The Role That Changed Everything: Pepi Sonuga Talks ‘Six Triple Eight’ & Her Nigerian Pride

Pepi Sonuga has always been that girl—the one who loved playing pretend so much she turned it into a career. Fast forward to now, and she’s among the women being honoured at the 56th NAACP Image Awards for her role in ‘Six Triple Eight,’ Tyler Perry’s historical drama that tells the powerful story of the only all-Black, all-female battalion who served in World War II.

The film, which follows the 6888th Battalion’s mission to clear a three-year backlog of undelivered mail, under tough conditions, in a war-torn country, became an immediate success, drawing over 52 million views in its first four weeks on Netflix. At its heart is a cast of seven women, led by Kerry Washington, with Pepi stepping into the role of Elaine White, a character she describes as both elegant and complex, a woman navigating war and discrimination with quiet strength.

When I sat down with Pepi, she arrived with a radiant smile and a charming cool. We talked about everything—Elaine White, the significance of telling this story, the power of representation, and what it means to be part of a film that amplifies Black women’s history, and, of course, her Nigerian heritage. She’s obsessed with Egusi and Pounded Yam, blasts Afrobeats, wears bold fashion, and lovingly calls Kerry Washington, “our Nigerian in-law.”

If there’s one thing about Pepi, it’s that she brings all of herself to the room.

Congratulations, Pepi, on being part of such a monumental film! Being part of the cast who brought the rich history of the Six Triple Eight Battalion to life is such a huge deal. What was your first reaction when you read the script?

Oh my gosh, I was so surprised that I had never heard of these incredible women. I just knew I wanted to be part of this project in any way possible.

When it truly sank in that you were going to play Elaine White, what was that moment like for you?

Oh my goodness, it was such a journey!

When I first auditioned for the film, it was for a different role. A few months later, I was told that Tyler had seen my audition, loved my work, but felt I wasn’t quite right for that particular part. However, he wanted to meet with me and see where things might go.

After we met, he told me how much he loved my read and promised he’d find a place for me in the film. In Hollywood, people often make promises with the best intentions, but sometimes things don’t work out due to outside factors, like business partners having different opinions. But Tyler is the boss. So he was able to make that executive decision, and, just like that – six months later – I got the call that I would be playing Elaine White. It was an amazing moment.

Well done. Your role, like the other women in the film – and the real-life women of the battalion – embodied resilience, perseverance, immense strength, and even tenderness, all under tough conditions. How much of yourself did you bring into your character?

You know, I didn’t even think I was bringing myself into it at all. When I was building Elaine, I didn’t grow up in the church or have an ultra-religious background like she did. Her father was a preacher. So I did a lot of research, especially on the Black church in the 1950s, to really understand what it was like and how it felt. I wanted to wake up every day on set fully immersed in her world. That meant listening to gospel music from that era, reading about church life at the time. Anything that would help me embody her.

But funny enough, now that I watch the film, I do see parts of myself in her. The part that stands out the most is definitely the Naija side. I can’t speak for all Nigerians, but in the way I was raised, there was a strong sense of structure, discipline, and a certain way you carry yourself socially. I see all of that in Elaine.

Compared to your previous roles, 6888 must have been an eye-opening experience for you. What were the key lessons you took from it that will stay with you?

Oh my gosh, the story itself was such a huge lesson. 6888 is

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