Michaela Coel Joined 'Black Panther: 'Wakanda Forever' after Learning She Plays Queer Character

Emmy-winning British actress Michaela Coel had a clear political purpose when she signed for her first role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Coel, who plays combat instructor Aneka in the upcoming "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," told Vogue in a cover story interview that her character's queer love story was a major selling point for her involvement in the film.

In the comic books, Aneka falls in love with Ayo, one of her fellow all-female warriors. And Coel felt that playing a queer character in such a popular franchise was an opportunity for her to help address antigay sentiments and policies in Ghana, where her family is from.

"That sold me on the role, the fact that my character's queer," Coel said. "I thought, 'I like that, I want to show that to Ghana.'"

Members of Ghana's parliament have recently introduced a bill that would make identifying as gay or as an LGBTQ+ ally punishable by law with up to five years in prison, according The Guardian. Coel, 35, does not identify as LGBTQ from what she has said publicly, but her shows such as "Chewing Gum" and "I May Destroy You" have featured well-written, complex LGBTQ characters.

As far as attitudes toward Ghana's anti-gay policies in the country, Coel said some people say "Oh, it's fine, it's just politics,"

"But I don't think it is just politics when it affects how people get to live their daily lives," she said. "That's why it felt important for me to step in and do that role because I know just by my being Ghanaian, Ghanaians will come."

No word on how Coel's love story will turn out in the film, but casting her as the warrior was a full-circle moment for director Ryan Coogler, he said.

"It made a lot of meta sense with Michaela being someone who is pushing the industry forward and carving out her own space," he said.

Coel's casting in the MCU film marks something of a full-circle

See "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" in theaters Nov. 11.