Photo Credit: Bobby QuillardBria Samoné Henderson is one the the breakout stars of the new Hulu/FX miniseries drama, Mrs. America.
The series, which centers on the 1970s movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, follows second-wave feminists like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Shirley Chisholm, who fought to push the amendment through, as well as their female opposition.
Henderson tells ABC Audio that her character, Margaret Sloan, was definitely a powerful “force” in the the real-life struggle for equal rights.
“Margaret Sloan was an early editor of Ms. Magazine. She was a feminist, a civil rights activist, an out lesbian and a mother and an amazing poet,” Henderson says. “She became activist very, very young. She marched with Martin Luther King [Jr.] at the age of 14.”
While Sloan could be described an intimidating figure, Henderson says she found she had a lot in common with the blunt advocate.
“I am also an outspoken activist when it comes to black people and our rights, especially being a black woman,” Henderson reveals. “And, I’m also a poet as well….And she’s fierce. She is a fierce writer.”
Even with those similarities, Henderson notes there are some differences between her and Sloan, with one being the fact that she’s not yet a mother. Still, the actress feels an overwhelming connection to the activist because they both have an unique sense of humor.
“She was also very funny. And I’m funny, too,” Henderson says. “I love to make people laugh and humor people a lot. So that was a fun connection that I do think I was able to bring to her on screen.”
New episodes of Mrs. America, also starring Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne and Uzo Aduba, are available Wednesday.
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