Was there a time in your career where you had to push past people’s expectations of you?Oh my God, of course—I’m a brown girl from Queens. I was neve
Was there a time in your career where you had to push past people’s expectations of you?
Oh my God, of course—I’m a brown girl from Queens. I was never written into any time-honored textbook. I was always vacillating with those realities, those truths. It wasn’t always only because I was of color or a woman. Sometimes it was because he met this other actress and he really wants to go with her, or “this is a very specific story about his life or her life and blah, blah, blah….” But after a while, when you just hear that repeatedly, you begin to wonder: “I know they’re good people, but does that mean that they’re open enough to tell the story?” And when I came up with the answer being no, then I wasn’t afraid because it wasn’t about me. It was never about me at all. I’d rather find people along my path that are more aligned with me.
You’ve been in some of the most successful movie franchises in history and played iconic characters. But did being in those projects ever create barriers for you with other opportunities?
They did in the sense that my time was very much consumed in the franchises and the scheduling of these franchises, whilst starting a family, still living my life and growing. And so that became challenging. But in terms of the amplification it allowed my name to [be heard] worldwide, that only benefited me—to be considered as an asset for other projects, for other filmmakers. Sometimes the opportunity was there, but I couldn’t take it because of scheduling. It became a little frustrating, but the moment I would go to work, even if I was doing part two, part three, working with amazing filmmakers and back with the same cast, I was grateful. Always.
Do you view wrapping up Guardians as the closing of a chapter in your career?
Maybe. I can’t ever say that I won’t ever go to space. I love being in space. I would like to just be a human in space. I don’t see myself going through the three to four hours every morning of makeup. I’m so concerned about just the chemicals and stuff that you’re putting into your system for long periods of time, because we shoot these films in a period of five months. But I love science fiction.
What’s next for you?
I would say everything. Why not? I’m a Gemini, so I never know what I really, really want. But for some reason, unconsciously, I’m always waking up every morning and walking toward it. So I am going to trust that.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. For fashion and beauty details, go to VF.com/credits.
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