Jurnee Smollett was five years old when she discovered the power of her voice. After news circulated that Los Angeles police had been acquitted of assaulting a Black man, the Smollett family took to the streets in protest.
“[Activism is] a massive part of my DNA and my identity,” says Smollett, whose parents met during the civil rights movement.
“I’m drawn to projects that have something to say. Being able to touch someone’s heart through narrative is so powerful to me.”
Her latest film, Spiderhead (a sci-fi thriller adapted from a George Saunders short story), centres on the notion that humans are instinctively opposed to inflicting pain.
On the day marie claire speaks to Smollett, yet another school shooting has taken place, this time in Texas. In light of this, does Smollett feel the premise of Spiderhead still rings true?
“A sad thing we all have to reckon with is this idea of compassion, pain and power and what we are capable of,” she says. “I feel such a responsibility as a mother to raise my son [Hunter, five] to be a champion for human rights and… I want him to be an ally of feminists.”
When Smollett played Black Canary, a superhero who weaponises her voice, in 2020’s Birds of Prey, the actor was excited to embody the superhero she longed for as a child.
“Growing up, there wasn’t the representation I could relate to within the superhero/action genre,” she says.
“It’s great to see this new wave of filmmakers not only include people but centre them in a way that feels very radical.”
And what does a star with this much rise and roar do next?
“I want my next role to be something that forces me to sing. I’d love to do a musical.”
Watch Spiderhead on Netflix from June 17.
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