Tessa Thompson Wrestles with Cynicism but Chooses Optimism

Character Preparation & Research

• 💡 Tessa Thompson emphasizes thorough preparation for her roles, including shadowing local news anchors in Atlanta for "His & Hers" to understand the industry's competitiveness and the anchors' active role in writing stories.
• 🎯 She also visited Delana, Georgia, the small town setting for "His & Hers," to viscerally experience the racial dynamics and atmosphere of the almost 98% white town as a Black woman.
• 🧠 Thompson believes that deep research and understanding of a character's world, even if not explicitly in the script, informs the performance and makes it more authentic for the audience.

Acting Philosophy & Role Choices

• 🔑 Her approach to acting was significantly shaped by director Ryan Coogler, who delves into extensive character background (e.g., Bianca's musical tastes, schooling) to create authentic, recognizable women.
• 🎭 Thompson is drawn to characters who make "dangerous choices" and resist easy categorization, seeking roles that allow her to embody the "subject of the narrative" rather than just an object.
• ✨ When adapting classics like "Hedda Gabler," she believes in "implicating yourself" and having a daring reason to reinterpret the material, as director Nia DaCosta did by casting a Black, queer Hedda.

Navigating Identity & Emotions

• 💬 Thompson explored the "great pretending" of the 1950s through Hedda Gabler, drawing parallels to her grandmothers' experiences and the rage stemming from societal expectations and limitations.
• 💖 She interprets envy not as inherently negative, but as a "whisper" that can reveal personal desires and guide individuals toward the lives they truly want, if channeled positively.
• 🧩 Her role in "Dear White People" allowed her to explore the contradictions and "silly" aspects of race and identity, particularly as a biracial person navigating a majority-white campus and questions about her Blackness.

Early Career & Influential Mentors

• 🚀 Her first TV role as a 1930s lesbian bootlegger on "Cold Case" was a pivotal experience, showing her the joy of research and immersive work in television and film.
• ✍️ Thompson proactively sought roles, sending handwritten notes and audition tapes (e.g., to Tyler Perry for "For Colored Girls," to Justin Simien for "Dear White People") for projects she deeply connected with.
• 🌟 Her mother fostered her self-acceptance, particularly regarding her biracial identity and natural hair, enabling Thompson to resist industry pressures to conform.

Optimism & Personal Mantras

• ✅ Thompson has two tattoos, "Yes" and "No," representing her constant wrestling between optimism and cynicism, with "Yes" symbolizing affirmation and "No" serving as a reminder to set boundaries.
• 💡 She considers optimism an "audacious" choice in the current climate and strives to embody it, reflecting her preference for audacious stories and storytellers.