Capturing the Essence of a Multifaceted Icon
Regina King recently opened up about the daunting task of portraying the legendary Shirley Chisholm in the biopic.
The Oscar-winning actress delved into the complexities of embodying a figure as multifaceted as Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to seek the nomination for president from a major political party.
“As I was collecting all of the audio and visual of Shirley, she was collecting some that I hadn’t seen as well,” King revealed. “I was so nervous about trying to get this dialect right because it’s Shirley, and I gotta do that for her.”
“She Sounds Like a Bajan, a Scholar, and From Brooklyn”
King described the challenge of capturing Chisholm’s diverse vocal inflections and mannerisms.
“I’d be listening to it, and I’d be like: ‘But it changes so much. Sometimes, she sounds like a Bajan, a scholar, and sometimes she sounds like she’s from Brooklyn – sometimes it’s a mix of all three.'”
The director, Erin, offered invaluable guidance, advising King: “Exactly! Because that’s who she is. You’re not trying to mimic Shirley. What we need to do is find where Regina and Shirley intersect.”
Finding the Intersection Between Actress and Subject
King elaborated on the collaborative process of crafting Chisholm’s portrayal.
“So we kinda created these… ‘when does Shirley lean more into the Bajan? When does she lean more into speaking faster?’ I promise you, all of those videos and audio that you see of Shirley, you will see so many different composures.”
Despite the challenges, King embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly. “It was terrifying going into it. It was a challenge,” she admitted, underscoring her dedication to honoring Chisholm’s legacy authentically.
