Do you believe in manifesting your way to the things you want to achieve?
Definitely. I think about it from a spiritual perspective by remaining connected to them energetically throughout my little acts within a day. But I also think about things logistically. I’m a Capricorn, so I’m also: how do we make this happen practically.

I think we can forge the lives that we want in a number of ways. If you spend a lot of time being self-deprecating, that’s what you’ll create around yourself because you don’t believe that you should have nice things. Self-love feels anarchistic in a world that is constantly trying to shrink you. You see the effects of pouring love into the people around you and how that helps them blossom, so afford yourself the same thing. I love the story of Dumbo, and how he thought he could only fly because he had a feather, but it was him all along. Everyone that you love is that to you, but sometimes you have to be that for yourself too.

Let’s talk women directors: I read a statistic that said fewer than one in six movie releases will be directed by women this year. Yet some of the biggest and best films of the last year have been made by women. Why are women’s voices still not being heard? And why are we still having this boring conversation about it?

It doesn’t make any sense to me. Especially as the contributions are there: Greta Gerwig just broke a million records with Barbie. It was always wilfully obtuse from the perspective of people that have the power and have the money. But it feels like bad business at this point. I’m in awe of all the incredible female directors, particularly female directors of colour, who find a way, because no one wants you to do it, even when you’re the best at it.

Vivian Oparah: “Self-love feels anarchistic in a world constantly trying to shrink you”