*Javicia Leslie is speaking out about making history as the first Black actress to play Batwoman for live-action TV show or movie.
Leslis has been tapped to play the iconic character for The CW — picking up where actress Ruby Rose left off when she exited the show after season one.
“When I read the character description, it was definitely me. I love the idea that it’s goofy meets bada** meets a person who doesn’t like to be told what to do. A person who does not like to follow the rules. I loved the fact that Ryan was just who I am, just a hot mess!” Leslie joked during Saturday’s Batwoman panel at DC FanDome.
READ MORE: Javicia Leslie Makes History as First Black Actress Cast as Batwoman
Say hello to the new Batwoman! @CWBatwoman pic.twitter.com/7F8Wfshs6X
— Warner Bros. TV (@warnerbrostv) July 8, 2020
Leslie previously revealed that one of her biggest career goals was “to become a superhero.”
“I wanted to be a Black superhero. You don’t get to see that that often. And then a month later, I become the first Black Batwoman, so I think that that’s [fate],” she said back in July. “It really hits the nail on the head when it’s like, speak your dreams, speak your affirmations and truly just know that whatever you truly want to do, and you go towards it, it can happen.”
She says “it feels like an honor” to play a Black Batwoman who is bisexual.
“I was scrolling through all the followers and I saw all the rainbows in the bios,” Leslie said. “I felt like exactly what I wanted to be, which was a role model. I feel honored. I feel excited. I feel like there are so many little Javicias that don’t have voices; little Black girls that didn’t have a voice; little bisexual, bicurious, lesbian, gay, everything that just didn’t have voices. And I feel honored to be able to be a voice for my community — and the entirety of my community.”
“To play a character that represents my community in the same way, that’s not a common thing as an actress — to also be a part of a community and play a character of a community. It feels really powerful,” she continued. “With everything that’s going on right now, this is what we need. We need to see representation.”
“Batwoman” is expected to return for Season 2 on The CW in January 2021.
Are you excited for Black, bisexual Batwoman? Sound off in the comments.
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