Just under one year ago, in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, she was announced as the new star of The CW’s Batwoman, making history as the first Black woman to play the character on a TV show that was already breaking ground in LGBTQIA+ storytelling.
“What effect it makes is amazing, but for me, it’s really about focusing on the work itself.
The actress was best known for the CBS show God Friended Me when she was cast as the new Batwoman, replacing former star Ruby Rose, who decided to leave after the first season.
The part that was foreign to me was the Batwoman part, and it was OK that that was foreign to me, because it was foreign to Ryan.
While the deeper Batwoman voice is partly thanks to a modulator, she recalled getting notes after filming the first couple of episodes about lowering her voice herself.
I had to figure that out for myself, figure out what a superhero for myself looks like, for Ryan looks like,” she said.
She joined a show in its second season, when the rest of the cast already knew and loved each other.
“It wasn’t difficult at all,” she recalled.
But before we can get to next season, there’s a finale to deal with, and Ryan is at a bit of a crossroads.
“Technically, she’s the true Batwoman, and she should have her cowl and cape back.