Sometimes, a star can simply do it all.
They may put in a lot of work, but their efforts appear, well, effortless.
“Alice” hits theaters on March 18 and follows Palmer in the titular role.
Unfortunately based on a true story, Alice is a slave living on an Antebellum-era plantation.
It’s here that she nearly dies via truck collision.
Instead, she’s rescued, and she learns the despicable truth about her circumstances.
You’ve had this long, extensive career already, which is amazing to see.
My experience as an actress has prepared me for a role like this.
You’ve done a lot of comedy and drama work.
[I] switch[ed] gears like I switch gears at anything.
I’m very careful about heavier roles because they mentally do take a toll.
It’s a preparation thing.
In that way, did you do any special research or anything to help prepare for the role?
None outside of getting into the Black exploitation films and era.
I think of Jordan Peele and I think of, recently, “Candyman” and all of this.
What does that mean to you now be really a part of that with “Alice”?
It means so much.
As artists, we’re always trying to say something.
I’m always trying to say that we deserve to be heard.
I know with “Alice,” it’s no different.
I watched a lot of old movies with my parents growing up.
Alice would not know, even though I really would’ve loved to do that.
She didn’t have that vocabulary.
That’s really interesting.
I guess I hadn’t thought about that time difference.
It’s almost like time travel in a way.
We were actually trying to give a more grounded representation of what that would be for today.
We also love the cast in the movie.
What was it like for you to work with Common on this movie?
Oh man, it was so amazing.
He’s such a good person.
He’s so much fun to work with.
His admiration of what that experience could be as a Black man is a beautiful thing to be around.
I love to hear that.
What is next for you after “Alice”?
“Alice” premieres in select theaters on March 18.
