Gina Prince-Bythewood: When Suso first auditioned for ‘Empress’, I thought ‘Nawi’. [one of the film’s leads, a warrior in training], but she still had someone to meet, and I said, “Good luck with your career.” We laugh about it now, but she sounded like her death knell to her, and once on her set, her admiration for her only grew.I see her confronting Viola [Davis] and Lashana Lynch. Additionally, I was able to give her an element of increasingly difficult fights.In the big Oyo fight, her character has this sequence where she has a machete tied to a rope. Well, Tuso learned it. She took that rope with her everywhere.
We filmed in her native South Africa, but it was important for her to go back to school and see what these young women are capable of. A big part of who I am. Once in this position, there is nothing special about her being the only one in the room.
One of the things I tell young filmmakers is that the first film should speak for itself. When I left school, I tried to write a script that reflected what I was making at the time, but I had a different story in my head. NBA That was all I could say.
Suso Mbedu: “Love & Basketball” (2000) is a rite of passage movie. I made it clear that whenever I posted about “The Woman King,” the director would be the same and the comments would come back! I was average at the sport, so when I got the role of Nawi, I learned my lesson in Muay Thai. I threw Gina attended my sessions so she bonded before we set and we still train together, she’s an athlete so she has that competitive side of hers.
Before working with her, I had only shot TV series, so she helped me understand new spaces. Not smart about it. She also helped me navigate the industry.
The interview has been edited and condensed.
Hair: Sharif Poston Makeup: Rebecca Aladdin
