"We out.” That is the Harriet Tubman quote emblazoned on my favorite T-shirt. Did she ever really say it? Probably not. But what is so dope about the conceit is that it distills her heroism so acutely, that you feel it in our now. That is the beauty of the film “Harriet.” The performance of Cynthia Erivo as Harriet Tubman is so sharp and nuanced that this mythic, historical figure becomes real. We feel Harriet’s fierce devotion to love, family, and womanhood viscerally. Cynthia Erivo is a striking actress. But great performances do not happen in a vacuum. Kasi is known as an “actor’s director,” and her skill shines throughout the film. The connection between artist and actor is palpable. You feel their trust of one another. Their shared singular focus of Kasi’s vision. A great director guides, pushes, nourishes, steps back. They provide the tools upon which an actor can build. And oh, what tools Kasi provided in costumes, production design, location and voluminous research. Crafting a performance with an actor is the most important job of a director. It starts with trust, and creating a space in which an actor feels safe enough to give you everything. Cynthia gave Kasi everything and we are better for it. We watch an extraordinary woman live, love and fight, and leave the theater inspired."

"Romeo + Juliet. I was always a big Leo fan and Claire Danes fan. And Baz Luhrman just, I dunno, looked into my soul. I think I was maybe 12 when that came out, 11. It had an effect on me that made me wanna be an actor."