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KiKi Layne first met herNative Sonscene partner Ashton Sanders in 2012.
InNative Son,directed by Rashid Johnson, they have an enviable, easy chemistry.
Its a modern romance.
He lives with the family during the week, carting them to and from parties and appointments.
In scene after scene, Bessie peers at Biggers new white acquaintances with a little bit of disbelief.
The Dalton kids, especially, move through the world with a kind of weightlessness that seems dangerous.
What do you recall about that first meeting with director Rashid Johnson?
I read thatNative Soncame along as you were still working onBeale Street.I shot this right after I filmedBeale Street.
I actually met with Rashid about playing Bessie during the last week of filming forBeale Street.
[Note: Wrights novel revolves around Biggers life in 1930s Chicago.]
I was excited to play this version of Bessie and to explore these characters in this modern way.
A lot of peoples first experience withNative Soncame in high school as part of an assigned reading.
Is that how it happened for you?Yeah, I read it in high school as well.
Has your understanding of the novel especially Bessie, because her arc in the movie is so different changed?
[Note: Light spoilers ahead.
]Yes, its very different.
When I first read it, honestly, a lot of it went over my head.
I was just not really understanding what it was that Richard Wright was really talking about.
Reading it again while preparing to do the film, it just hit me in a very different way.
I was thankful that Bessie doesnt die in the screenplay.
Sometimes those things just arent in alignment.
Then, when it finally gets to the point where she does, I feel that she chooses herself.
I think thats really, really powerful.
It struck me as a moment where we really saw how selfish Bigger could be.
Hes really just asking her to be there for him, because shes been there for him.
Hes really asking her, Just be here with me.
To me, its not really asking for so much.
I mean, under the circumstances, yes.
Would you have run off with Bigger?Honestly …
I cant go any further with you.
At that point in the story, too, she still has her speculations.
Bessie knows something is wrong but he hasnt straight up told her that he did it.
Theres still that part of you that could think like, Well, maybe he didnt.
Maybe thats actually not the case.
My Big wouldnt have done that.
Theyre both just such great artists and just took such great care of me.
It was awesome working with Steph.
Working with Ashton, I mean, Ive known Ashton since 2012.
I got to come onto a set and know that I would be working with a friend.
After these literary adaptations, whats next for you?
That ones an action film, based off of a comic book.
Thats gonna be very different fromBeale StreetandNative Son.
But, ultimately, I just wanna do it all.
I dont want to be put into any punch in of box.
One more thing because I guess Im in your business today: Your skin is so beautiful.
I used to have really bad acne and so theres a cream and a gel that I use.
Thats what is helping me out there.
Im not sure what it would look like if I wasnt using those medications.
