Summary

• Regina King shines as Shirley Chisholm, leading a powerhouse cast in a captivating exploration of her historic presidential campaign.
• Co-stars Christina Jackson and Lucas Hedges share how King's immersive approach and collaboration elevated their performances.
• Shirley not only honors Chisholm's legacy but also highlights the impact of working with talented and dedicated actors like Lance Reddick.

Shirley follows Shirley Chisholm, the first black congresswoman, on her historic run for President. The movie explores the challenges she faced during her campaign, including low funds and challenges to her own morals at every turn. Although Shirley may not have won the election, she left an indelible mark on history and helped inspire a generation of voters and activists.

John Ridley helms Shirley as writer and director. Regina King disappears into the role of Shirley Chisholm, leading the movie as both the star and a producer, alongside her sister Reina King, who plays Shirley's sister as well. The powerhouse cast is rounded out by Terrence Howard, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Michael Cherrie, André Holland, and the late Lance Reddick.

Screen Rant interviewed Shirley stars Christina Jackson and Lucas Hedges about their new Netflix biopic. Hedges revealed how he hopes to lead a set like King does and shared memories of Reddick. Jackson shared her own memories about working with Reddick, discussed working with the real Barbra Lee, whom she portrays in the movie, and praised King's collaborative method.

Shirley Cast Praises Regina King As A Leader On Set: "She's So Immersive"

Screen Rant: This movie is incredible. Regina King completely disappears in this role. Can you both talk to me a little bit about collaborating with her to create the unique dynamics each of your characters has with Shirley?

Lucas Hedges: Please. I think I showed up on set and it was the first time I'd acted in a movie in a while and I was a little uneasy, and I think there was a process of through working, through running lines with Regina in between takes where she was giving me the confidence I needed to do it. And the scene we were doing was literally about the exact same thing, but with Robert in the campaign. So, the parallel was so obvious the whole time. What Regina meant to us and what Shirley meant to Robert, it was there in every moment.

Christina Jackson: I had the same experience with her where she was so willing to help and answer questions, but even before I came to set, I was given so many materials to watch and read and listen to. And I even did my own deep diving into podcasts and reading Barbara's interviews, and so he's right, there was that parallel of Robert to Shirley and Barbara to...

But it's also, you're working with one of the best actresses and she's so immersive, but I think because she cared about this project so much that just exuded and so you care about it that much more, too, and you just want to get in and do a great job. And so, I think that that's made everybody better.

I love that. I also loved, Christina, this was kind of the origin of Barbara Lee as well. Were you able to actually speak with Barbara Lee at all?

Christina Jackson: Yes, I was able to speak to Barbara and John, our director, he made it very easy. He just was like, "Oh yeah, no, I can get you in touch with her. That's not a problem." And then she came to set and she remembers so much about the campaign, but also she had a great relationship and friendship with Shirley up until her passing.

And so, there was just a lot that was being given to me as tools, even though you already have the words in the script, but I was very grateful to be able to talk to her and just get that first person, "Well, this is what it felt like and this is why I did it."

Lance Reddick Left Behind Many Fun, Playful Memories On The Shirley Set

And then Lance Reddick is absolutely phenomenal in this movie.

Christina Jackson: My heart.

Do you have a memory of working with him where he helped elevate you as a scene partner as well?

Lucas Hedges: Yeah. God, I think just all of my memories with Lance are incredibly playful and fun, and one of the ways in which he elevated the group, I think, and me included, was his sense of humor and just how much fun he was to be around. He was just so unique and not what I would think he would be like based on the characters he plays, like on The Wire-

Christina Jackson: He was personable and relatable and he had so many funny stories and just also his preparedness. He was able to be that way because he was prepared. He knew his lines, he was good in the scene, and when you said cut, we would just get into talking and that is a fondness that I'll remember.

What did you learn from this film that you would like to take into future projects?

Lucas Hedges: I think if I ever am a leading person again, I will remember how Regina was, in how selfless... When we weren't filming, it was almost like you would never know if you just were a visitor on the set that the whole story was on her. She was so light in between takes and so willing to give. It was almost like she supported me as though it was my movie when we were doing our one-on-one scenes together, but she was able to give so much of herself because she was so generous. So, I would hope to be like that, but I don't know that that's easy to be.

Christina Jackson: I agree.

About Shirley

Shirley tells the story of the first Black congresswoman, political icon Shirley Chisholm, and her trailblazing run for president. It chronicles her audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.

Check out our other Shirley interview with Regina King, Reina King, & Terrence Howard.

Shirley will have a limited theatrical release on March 15 in the United States before debuting on Netflix on March 22.

Source: Screen Rant Plus