Naomie Harris has been set as the narrator for a “Swim Sistas,” a new documentary celebrating Black women’s relationship with swimming.
Directed by filmmaker, actor and author Catherine Joy White, “Swim Sistas” is described as a “poetic and visually rich love letter to water, sisterhood, and the resilience of Black women across generations.”
The film features four Black British women in Alice Dearing, the U.K.’s first and only Black female Olympic swimmer, professional rugby player and “The Traitors” contestant Jasmine Boatswain, teenage athlete Lexi Sandiford and Roni Bruno, who learned to swim at the age of fifty-four.
Featuring original poetry written by White, the film — billed as “a heartfelt exploration of visibility, community and reclamation” — sees Harris narrate as ‘Mami Wata,’ a central poetic figure who embodies ancestral strength and hope for the future.
“Swim Sistas” is produced by Oriane Pick and Anais Ferrato of BAFTA-nominated Candid Broads Productions and executive produced by Afua Hirsch (“Enslaved,” “Africa Rising”) of Born In Me Productions and Amandla Crichlow (“Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul”) alongside White’s Forbes 30 Under 30 company Kusini Productions.
“Working with Catherine Joy White on ‘Swim Sistas’ has been an inspiring collaboration rooted in shared purpose and creative power,” said Hirsch. “At Born In Me Productions, we are passionate about telling stories that reflect the richness and complexity of Black women’s experiences — and this film does exactly that. Catherine brings such vision, courage, and authenticity to her work, and ‘Swim Sistas’ is a testament to what happens when we create space for joy, freedom, and community on our own terms.”
“Swim Sistas” was filmed at Britain’s historic Penshurst Place and aims to respond to the striking statistic from governing body Swim England that just 5% of Black adults in the U.K. can swim.
“It was an honour to be a part of ‘Swim Sistas,’” said Dearing. “Catherine is such an incredible storyteller and her passion for swimming has led to the most beautiful and impactful projects. To have my story told alongside three other beautiful black women was an opportunity which I will cherish forever.”
Added Candid Broads Productions: “Our mission is to amplify bold, untold stories — and ‘Swim Sistas’ is exactly that. This mini-series reclaims space, challenges cultural narratives, and celebrates the beauty, strength, and legacy of Black women in water. It’s more than a film — it’s a movement, and we’re proud to help bring it to life.”
White, whose upcoming projects include “To My Daughter” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and “Black Samphire” with Cathy Tyson and Stephen Fry, is developing “Swim Sistas,” which was a finalist in Season 3 of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Black Britain Unspoken, into a mini-anthology series. She says it is part of a wider initiative to create the U.K.’s first national archive documenting Black women and girls in aquatic spaces.
Development on the mini-series, which will travel from the U.K. to the USA, Africa, and the Caribbean, is underway with production slated for 2026.
Harris is represented by The Artists Partnership, WME and Untitled Entertainment. White is represented by Curtis Brown Talent and UTA.