#NYOTAculture
long ago. I would’ve been far more comfortable in my skin. I recently reposted a picture of 6 little black and brown girls, somewhere between 6-11, going to see Black Panther in full Dora Milaje uniforms. This was amazing! This excites me so much! These little girls have a greater sense of pride in their culture, their kinky hair, and their melanated skin because they see themselves represented as queens, geniuses, and warriors! I’m so excited to see the impact that Black Panther’s franchise will have on future generations! What was your favorite memory from the Black Panther set? The director, Ryan Coogler would greet us every morning with “It’s a beautiful day in Wakanda guys!” Regardless of what time it was or how cold it was, his voice saying those words at the start of the day united us under the Wakandan flag. I loved it! Did the other actors ever share any advice on set or tips on how to improve a scene? Florence Kasumba was great! She was always so open and willing to discuss set etiquette. I learned a lot!!! Just observing a master at work, Forest Whitaker, and being in awe of newcomer Winston Duke, taught me so much! You’re definitely a fitness buff. Did that help when preparing for your role as a Dora Milaje warrior? Absolutely! Being a Dora Milaje is very physical. Even in the scenes when you’re not fighting, you’re standing guard: scapulae together, chest out, fists clenched, feet shoulders width apart. Just standing this way for say ten hours a day taxes muscles in a completely different way. So going into the movie in great shape made things much easier (and a lot less sore) for me. Mastering the physicality of a Dora Milaje helped me with character development and being present in each scene.
doing leaps across the stage in Lion King and my pants fell down, like to my knees. You have to figure out what to do and the best way to do it. Unlike film, there are no second takes. So theater has taught me to take advantage of every shot because you never know how many you’re gonna get. What are your favorite things to do on a day off? I love blowing bubbles! I’m still fascinated by the magic of iridescent floating spheres! The giant ones are my favorites! I love to walk around NYC with my electric bubblegun, watching people’s faces light up as they’re surrounded by bubbles! It’s magical! A day in the park with bubbles, music, and good food and I’m golden!!! What tv shows and movies are you loving right now? Black Panther of course! Even outside of being in it, there’s sooooo much to say about it! It’s just a brilliant movie! Queen Sugar is great! It’s just real and the characters and their relationships are relatable. Getting into Seven Seconds, I have a lot of respect for Regina King’s work! What types of projects do you hope to pursue in the future? I’m thrilled because things are changing, finally! Black and brown people are no longer relegated to roles of “the help”, “thug #2/stripper #3”, and “sassy black woman”. I strive to have a career playing complex characters; representing women as they are: strong, vulnerable, intelligent, beautiful, messy human beings! I’d love to do more film and tv and I’ll always love theater, so I guess I’m saying I want it all! What advice do you have for aspiring actors? Dont’ quit! Hearing “no” is just a part of the game, don’t let that stop you! DO NOT QUIT!
You used to be a part of Lion King, what was that experience like? What skills did you transfer from Broadway to the silver screen? I was actually a part of Lion King, Las Vegas and I did After Midnight on Broadway. These experiences were incredible. There is nothing like live theater! It teaches you to be present at every moment because you never know what’s going to happen. Once I was
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