The Hollywood Reporter posted their annual pre-Emmys Drama Actress Roundtable interview today. Anya Taylor-Joy, Cynthia Erivo, Gillian Anderson, Elizabeth Olsen, Mj Rodriguez, and Sarah Paulson all sat down for this year’s virtual chat, and the discussion ranged from how each actor manages to leave a character behind to fighting for equity on set. We also got an idea of the kind of projects Erivo and Rodriguez are looking to do next.
When asked about how Pose has changed the opportunities that come her way, Rodriguez admitted that she didn’t expect another role to come her way immediately after the FX show wrapped its final season. “I didn’t think it was possible,” she said. “To get an opportunity like Pose and have myself centered in the story and to end it with hope, and then to get another opportunity with an iconic actress [an Apple TV+ comedy co-starring Maya Rudolph] was surreal. But if I’m still feeling the need for protection as far as my Blackness, my Latina-ness and my trans-ness go, that means there is more work to be done.”
“I’ve yet to see a Call Me by Your Name for a Black woman,” Erivo said when asked what kinds of parts she’d like to play. “I have yet to see a piece that allows a woman of color to be sensual and soft and loving and be loved. I’ve just not seen it, and I desperately want to experience that, just because I want to be able to be in that space of vulnerability and lilt. I really want to do that. And that hasn’t come my way.”
Rodriguez agreed: “Same. It’s been so hard when it comes to trans women being loved in a sensual way,” she said, “and I’d love to do something like that.”
With the planned sequel unlikely and the original film looking increasingly cringe-y in light of abuse allegation leveled at star Armie Hammer, maybe someone should just cast Erivo and Rodriguez in a remake!
