During this period, Mbatha-Raw was also discussing themes of activism and visibility in relation to her role in Misbehaviour (2020), which tells the story of the 1970 Miss World protest. She noted the bravery required for women to hijack a live broadcast to get their message across before the era of social media.
In a 2022 interview, Gugu Mbatha-Raw addressed the common misconception that actors perform primarily to seek attention. She clarified that for many, acting is about self-expression and personal fulfillment rather than public validation. Key Insights from Gugu Mbatha-Raw During this period, Mbatha-Raw was also discussing themes
: She emphasized that her drive came more from "how it made me feel" rather than the external reaction of an audience. During this period