HBO’s 12-Part Miniseries Gives Black Panther Star Michaela Coel an Acting Masterclass

Arabella’s Story and Its Aftermath

Arabella is a London-based social media influencer who becomes famous after writing a viral book about contemporary culture, drawing on her personal Twitter account. Her life changes after she is assaulted during a night out, and the series follows her through questions of consent, trauma and recovery.

The show spans 12 episodes, each running between 28 and 34 minutes. Its subject matter is heavy, but the story also uses dark humor, with Coel’s portrayal presenting Arabella as both likable and complex.

Coel’s Work Behind the Camera

Coel plays Arabella and also created, wrote and co-directed I May Destroy You. Her performance and storytelling are closely linked across the series, which draws on her real-life experience with sexual assault.

A Widely Praised Series

The Boston Globe described the series as “a great surprise,” praising how it portrays the complexities of sexual trauma without turning to lecturing or exploitation. Rolling Stone praised Coel’s writing for treating each character as a fully realized person.

The article also notes Coel’s work on Chewing Gum, a 12-part comedy series that earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Her other screen appearances include Mrs. & Mrs. Smith, Black Mirror and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Coel’s Next HBO Project

Coel’s upcoming HBO/BBC series, First Day on Earth, is expected sometime in 2027. It will be her first series as writer and star since I May Destroy You was released six years earlier.

The series follows Henri, a British novelist played by Coel, who travels to Ghana for a film job and to reconnect with her estranged father. The trip does not go as Henri expects, prompting her to confront herself in profound ways.