Danielle Deadwyler on the profound family bonds of ‘40 Acres'

Boston Globe

5 hours ago

Deadwyler, who was raised in Atlanta, studied history and African-American Studies at Spelman college, then got a masters in American Studies from Columbia University and another in creative writing from Ashland University. After getting her start on stage in Atlanta, Deadwyler, 43, has shown she can handle a gun and a fight scene onscreen in movies including 'The Devil to Pay' and 'The Harder They Fall' and 'Carry-On,' while also honing her acting chops in episodes of 'Atlanta,' 'Watchmen,' and '
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Danielle Deadwyler in "40 Acres."
Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
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But Hailey in '40 Acres' also feels, in a weird way, like a descendant of Deadwyler's two most acclaimed roles, as Emmett Till's mother Mamie in '
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'They all think about how to shield, protect, and nurture their families, although they all go about it in different ways,' Deadwyler said in a recent video interview. 'But they all also understand the impact of history and legacy on their present situations.'
Q.
What drew you to this role and story?
A.
It was the family's connection to the land and the desire — the hardcore, passionate, urgent desire — to stay together, to stay connected by any means. And by any means, I mean, by any means.
Hailey knows the government never gave a damn about Black people and that things happen to folks who look like her, historically. … So at this juncture, she is assuredly just saying to hell with anybody who crosses their fence. You will get the blade.
At the time I read the script, I'd been thinking about family connectivity, recalling my maternal grandparents and what they had carved out for my mom and her siblings and the long history and the memories of being on their land and wanting to explore that in a story.
Q.
How much does each of these roles not just inform the next role you take on, but stay with you and affect who you are in real life?
A.
They do have connectivity, but every experience is unto itself. And Danielle is learning from them all, for sure, but hopefully they are learning from me, perhaps. It's a crossing of knowledge — the text is teaching me them, and I am having a fusion of sorts with the roles. But Danielle is always trying to come back to herself.
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Q.
Are there ways in which you relate to Hailey? Are you good with a knife?
A.
Oh, hell yeah. How did you know, Stuart? [
She laughs, but in a way that makes you believe she really may be good with a knife.
]
No, I have an intensity like her and Berniece and Mamie. Or I
had
an intensity. I think I'm coming to a place now where I need a little bit more balancing. I guess that's what they've all taught me. They beat me up enough in this movie that I had to chill out.
I had the understanding of the need to teach, to protect, and to defend doggedly, but over the last couple of years I've learned that it's actually true that things work a little better with honey. We learn that as we get older.
In Hailey's world, there are violent, nihilist folks coming to kill [her] children on [her] land, so she needs to be vigilant with her son.
As a parent I'm actually a little lenient — you can't rule with an iron fist — but I send things for awareness, things to have a conversation about. Like a lot of Black parents, I want to help my son understand the severe nature of the world outside. We've witnessed an onslaught of violence against Black children, Black teens, Black young adults, Black people in general.
Q.
You've had roles in action movies like 'The Harder They Fall.' What were the physical demands of this role like, and how did you prepare?
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A.
To be honest, 'Till' was more exhausting than any other role. Emotionally, but there's a physicality to it, too. As a dancer, I have an understanding through movement, and everything I get the privilege to do is imbued with the physical. With Mamie in 'Till,' there was a regalness, a rigidity, a discipline that had to happen for her, and that's a challenge. When does one slouch down into some release?
Hailey was military and there's rigor, and she's erect, too, but we see her drink when she's alone, and there's the scene where she's smoking a little cannabis. She's got vices, because the world is difficult, so we get to see that physicality in her, too.
The fight scenes are exhausting, but we had a team that was just lovely, including the stunt team, and so we just rolled with the punches. It's a dance — this is choreography.
Q.
In movies, you're usually so intense, and it feels like you can kill with a glare, but in person you're funny and fun to talk to. Do you want to show that side of yourself onscreen?
A.
I started in comedy and have done it on stage numerous times. And I am consciously trying to balance my life and my art, yes, I am. … You should keep your eyes open for the remainder of the year — there will be some fun stuff. I'm trying to do a wide span of things, a deep exploration of what it means to be in the world. And it ain't all drama.
Interview was edited for length and clarity.
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