When three powerhouse women like Angie Martinez, Tessa Thompson, and Nia DaCosta come together, it’s more than just an interview it’s a moment. The conversation, filled with laughter, reflection, and raw honesty, dives deep into the making of Tessa and Nia’s latest collaboration: a bold new film adaptation of Hedda Gabler.
This project marks a full-circle moment for the pair, who first joined forces a decade ago on Nia’s debut feature. “It’s crazy that it’s been ten years,” Tessa says, laughing as Angie teases her about her timeline. “Back then, we were just figuring it out. Now we’re stepping into something totally new but it still feels like home.”
🎬 A Bold Reinterpretation of a Classic:
Hedda Gabler has long been one of literature’s most complex and provocative works. But under DaCosta’s direction, this adaptation becomes something entirely its own. The film reimagines the play with modern context, switching up time periods, shifting locations, and even gender-swapping a central character choices that reshape the story into a more inclusive and deeply human narrative.
“I think I might be the first Black woman to direct a screen version of Hedda Gabler, and Tessa might be the first Black woman to play Hedda,” Nia says thoughtfully. “But for me, it’s not about making a statement it’s about centering Black women in layered, complicated stories without having to explain our existence.”
Tessa adds, “What I love about this version is how it explores chaos the kind that brews inside you and spills out into the world. Hedda’s not evil; she’s human. She’s curious, restless, brilliant, and messy and that’s what makes her fascinating.”
💡 Redefining Representation:
DaCosta’s adaptation refuses to play by the rules. She intentionally cast attractive actors to challenge the traditional portrayals of the story’s characters. “Usually, Hedda’s husband is portrayed as this boring, unappealing guy,” Nia explains. “I thought—what if he’s actually hot? What if the tension isn’t about looks but about emotional disconnect? It changes everything.”
The film’s world is visually stunning, sensual, and unapologetically queer. “One of the characters was originally male, and when I switched them to female,” Nia recalls, “the entire story became queerer. But it wasn’t about trying to be provocative—it was just about following the truth of who these people could be.”
Her creative philosophy is simple yet radical: representation doesn’t need to teach; it just needs to exist. “I don’t want to lecture audiences about diversity,” she says. “I just want them to live inside our stories and see us as full human beings.”
🌟 A Decade of Growth and Firsts:
It’s hard to overstate how much both women have accomplished since their first collaboration. Nia DaCosta became the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film (The Marvels) and now stands at the helm of the upcoming 28 Years Later. Tessa Thompson, meanwhile, has built an extraordinary résumé with Dear White People, Creed, Thor: Ragnarok, and Westworld, becoming one of Hollywood’s most versatile and respected talents.
Their achievements are historic but their humility remains intact. “I still feel like the same girl who showed up at Sundance with a dream,” Nia laughs. “The only difference is now I have a few more cameras and a bigger crew.”
🤝 Friendship, Faith, and Female Support:
At the heart of the conversation is their friendship born at the Sundance Director’s Lab, strengthened by creative trust, and sustained through a decade of growth. “When we first met, Nia asked me, ‘When I make this movie, will you make it with me?’” Tessa recalls. “Not if when. That kind of faith stays with you forever.”
Angie leans in, smiling. “That’s sisterhood right there.”
For Tessa, the friendship represents something even deeper. “When people ask what advice I’d give my younger self,” she says, “it’s this: seek out community. Find people who lift you up and believe in your vision. Nia’s been that for me—a blueprint for what real creative partnership looks like.”
Nia returns the love. “This business can be brutal. You pour your heart into everything you make. Having someone who understands that, who can hold space for you as both an artist and a person it’s everything.”
🎭 Inside the World of Hedda:
In Hedda Gabler, Tessa embodies a woman both magnetic and destructive what she calls a “festive lady” who stirs chaos wherever she goes. “Hedda wants to see people’s true selves,” Tessa says. “She believes that a little chaos is good for the soul. But what she’s really doing is reflecting her own internal storm.”
Nia nods in agreement. “The story is about control, power, and the cost of repression. It’s also about how women navigate those things differently—and how that navigation can both free and destroy them.”
🎬 A Safe Space for Greatness:
When Angie asks what makes Nia such a strong director, Tessa’s response is immediate: “She builds a space where everyone can shine. She hires brilliant people and lets them do what they do best. There’s no ego, just collaboration. That’s rare in this business.”
As for what they hope audiences take away, Nia smiles. “I hope people see it and see themselves in it. Hedda’s story is extreme, but her longing, her ambition, her flaws they’re all deeply human. If people walk out reflecting on their own choices, then we did our job.”
✨ Closing Words:
By the end of the interview, there’s laughter, gratitude, and a few teary eyes. Angie closes with her signature warmth: “You two are walking examples of what happens when women believe in each other. I love seeing this kind of magic come full circle.”
With Hedda Gabler, Tessa Thompson and Nia DaCosta aren’t just reinventing a classic they’re redefining what power, artistry, and sisterhood look like in Hollywood.
Hedda Gabler opens in select theaters this weekend.
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