‘I am petty and salty’: Tessa Thompson admits her frustration over being snubbed for an Oscar… but says she feels ‘lucky’ to be breaking the stigma of Black female characters in film
Tessa Thompson has shared her frustration that her 2021 film Passing was overlooked by the Oscars, describing herself as ‘petty and salty’.
But admitting that film is ‘subjective’, the 38-year-old went on to detail her appreciation for the route she has taken in Hollywood.
Opening up during a new interview with Harpers Bazaar, the actress shared how ‘lucky’ she feels to have been given the opportunity to play characters that people ‘don’t usually see’ as a Black woman.
‘Petty and salty’: Tessa Thompson, 38, has admitted her frustration over being snubbed for an Oscar for her 2021 film Passing
When questioned by the publication over her appearance in drama film Passing, and it’s lack of recognition at the Academy Awards – Tessa admitted that while disappointing, it can’t be helped.
‘You win some, you lose some. I am petty and salty but the thing is, in terms of awards, there’s no objective truth about what’s fine and what’s good in a work. It’s all subjective. So what do you do?’ detailed the Thor: Love and Thunder actress.
At the time, the film – which was filmed solely in monochrome – was dubbed ‘too ahead of it’s time’.
Lucky: But the actress continued that she feels ‘lucky’ to be breaking the stigma of Black female characters in film
‘You win some, you lose some’: When questioned by Harper’s Bazaar over her appearance in drama film Passing, and it’s lack of recognition at the Academy Awards – Tessa admitted that while disappointing, it can’t be helped
Harper’s BAZAAR’s August issue is available from 26 July
Set during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, it explored the relationship between two Black childhood friends who reunite as adults and discover they have moved through life in two very different ways.
But despite the disheartening nature of awards, Tessa went on to explain how grateful she is for her journey in the film Industry.
‘I feel really lucky in my career to have gotten to play the kind of protagonist as a Black woman that we don’t necessarily always see,’ she shared.
Tessa is working on a HBO series based on Raven Leilani’s ‘Luster’, and explained her hope to change more perspectives of black women in film.
Breaking boundaries: ‘I feel really lucky in my career to have gotten to play the kind of protagonist as a Black woman that we don’t necessarily always see,’ she shared
Detailing: ‘My dream with something like Luster is to be able to allow audiences to discover a young Black woman in all of her beauty and brilliance and messiness.’
While the cast is yet to be revealed for the adaptation, Tessa will be executive producing alongside Kishori Rajan.
Harper’s BAZAAR’s August issue is available from 26 July.
Dreams: She also detailed that her dream is ‘to be able to allow audiences to discover a young Black woman in all of her beauty and brilliance and messiness’