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Nick Mohammed has described why his character in War is not defined by his cultural background.

Mohammed plays Michael Stefano, a lawyer at the firm representing Sienna Miller’s character. Although the character has an Asian background, the series does not make that identity a plot point.

A story set in multicultural London

Mohammed supports the decision, drawing a distinction between stories where cultural background is essential and those where it is not. He said that casting and writing should reflect a character’s culture when the story depends on it.

For War, however, he believes the setting makes the character’s background less relevant. The drama is set in London, a city he described as having been multicultural for decades.

“It does not matter who is playing my role or his,” Mohammed said, referring to co-star Archie Renaux.

What the approach means

The actor’s comments highlight a character-led approach in which ethnicity is not automatically used as a source of conflict or explanation. In this case, Michael Stefano’s role is presented within the professional and social setting of the story rather than through a plot focused on his heritage.

Mohammed also acknowledged that cultural background can be important when it is relevant to the narrative. His view is that the treatment should depend on the story, rather than being applied in the same way to every character.