Erika Alexander Expresses the Importance for Films Like 'American Fiction' at the Oscars

2 years ago

Erika Alexander talks to THR on the Oscars 2024 red carpet and shares why she thinks it's important for films like 'American Fiction' to be made. Plus, she dishes on this awards season celebrating the film.

Transcript

00:00 When I've spoken to so many actors this awards season, they often cite American Fiction as their favorite movie of the season.

00:06 What has it been like to receive so much support from other actors?

00:09 It feels good. You know, support from your peers. It matters. They know what it takes and how hard it is to break through.

00:16 And so those are your first cheerleaders. They're also cheerleading because many of these actors on here have been working for decades.

00:22 And they've been doing good, consistent work. So it's a wonderful feeling.

00:27 What's been the highlight of your awards season journey with American Fiction?

00:30 Well, obviously, here is wonderful. But we got supported early on by interesting critics who thought that this could be a winner.

00:40 And they predicted it. And then I think along the way, they made sure that it was talked about and seen.

00:47 And we had really great support from Amazon and MGM and Orion, no doubt. And our separate representation.

00:54 So I think I get now why people are so overwhelmed when they get here, because you're just so grateful.

00:59 And it does take a village. It really took a lot of people to get me here today. So I'm glad.

01:05 You look amazing today. I love your dress. What inspired your Oscars look tonight?

01:09 Well, this is Kristen Seriano. He famously won Project Runway and has become this amazing designer.

01:15 But he also has a legacy of dressing untraditional women. And he dressed black women when nobody would.

01:25 Because we don't necessarily have the size six body and all the stuff that, you know, a designer might like.

01:32 And he did it beautifully. And I always remembered what he did. And so when they said he called and he would love to make you a dress,

01:38 I said, that to me is a blessing. He's giving me something as a garment that to me speaks to what American fiction is about.

01:46 No marginalization, no stereotypes, breaking through borders and also being available to yourself,

01:52 your best self to reach out and bring the community in. That's what this dress is.

01:57 I love it. And it was such an amazing movie. And one of the themes is about also the importance of family and family relationships.

02:03 How did doing this movie and being a part of it affect your relationship with your own family and how you think about family?

02:08 Well, family is tough. It's dysfunctional inherently. Doesn't matter who you are.

02:13 And I think that seeing a family like this, a black family, was being marginalized into stereotypes,

02:20 whether it was Cliff, who was dealing with his gender and felt like he couldn't tell his family the truth as a black man.

02:26 And then, of course, Monk, played by the great Jeffrey Wright, writing these stories that he said really had very little to do

02:32 with what his skin looked like, but then suddenly breaking through with something that was more stereotypical.

02:38 What we're talking about is the marginalization of people. It happens to everybody.

02:42 Women know about it, certainly people who are differently gendered, ageism, all that stuff.

02:47 Geography, people think people from the South are dumber. Those types of things go on and on.

02:52 And I think in America it challenges us to look at the types of stereotypes that move the market and say,

02:57 "Is this an authentic representation of who we are?" And the answer often is no.

03:02 This new generation will have to attack those types of storytelling tropes, and they will do it very well.

03:08 Why do you think it's important for movies like American Fiction to get made?

03:12 For that one reason. Because we need new voices. We need new Shakespeare's.

03:17 We need new people who think differently. We need all these different executives that are coming in.

03:22 We want to see the world that they grew up in, and it is a diverse world. It's also a global world.

03:27 We're speaking different languages, thinking about the idea of Afro, that music coming in, and the Korean.

03:34 We've got all this great love for the new types of filmmakers that are making different stories.

03:41 But this is America. This is exactly what we're supposed to do. So people should get excited.

03:46 Your exciting journey with this film has all led to tonight. What are you going to do tomorrow when this is all over?

03:51 I'm soaking my feet. My feet hurt. They went to sleep three times. You hear me? Yes.

03:56 I mean, people had to nearly push me and walk me down, I mean, carry me down the carpet.

04:00 Not today, though. I've used some bengue on my feet, so we'll see what happens.

04:05 And then also rest a bit, and just sit down and gather myself.

04:12 Because my life didn't necessarily change because of this, but my future did.

04:17 And there's life in that.

04:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Erika Alexander Expresses the Importance for Films Like 'American Fiction' at the Oscars | THR Video

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