Javicia Leslie on what differentiates her Batwoman from her predecessor

“Batwoman” had a major makeover between seasons, after original star Ruby Rose left the series in May 2020. In her place is Javicia Leslie – and while she is not playing Kate Kane’s character, she is wearing the suit of Kane’s latex.

Leslie will headline the show as Ryan Wilder, a homeless young woman who discovers Batwoman’s suit when Kane disappears. With her own account to settle with Gotham’s criminal underworld and a strong distrust of the police as a black woman who served time for a crime she did not commit, the character certainly brings a different point of view to the superhero show.

As Leslie pointed out when talking to TooFab, Ryan’s distrust of the police force is only a reflection of the society in which we live.

“I mean, come on. I think the day before yesterday was proof of the difference in the way the police react to groups of people,” she explained, referring to the siege of the Capitol, in which predominantly white protesters met little resistance from the police. Their reaction, of course, contrasted sharply with the police response during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

“It’s not just the color of the skin, it’s often also the class, but I think sometimes the color of the skin is the first thing people see and they automatically equate it to the class,” added Leslie. “I think this is a big part of our reality … so, of course, it’s going to be a part of the entertainment right now.”

Throughout the first two episodes shown to the press, Ryan fears that she is not worthy of the suit and the hood, something Leslie admits that crossed her mind before signing on to the show.

“It definitely crossed my mind sometimes – a feeling like, ‘Did they make the right decision?'” She explained. “I feel like everything happens for a reason and being Batwoman was bigger than me. Being Batwoman and me being in this role in general is an inspiration for so many people and it makes it worthwhile. It makes all fear go away, because I I know it inspires other people to do their purpose. “

“If I’m proud of myself, then I think the people I represent will be proud of the work,” he added.

Expect Ryan to make his own mantle as the season progresses, while also forging his own relationships with the returning cast. Viewers can also expect a queer love interest in the character, something Leslie promises will be “a little tricky” for all parties involved.

As for the mystery of what happened to Kate, don’t expect an answer to that right away. She is missing at the premiere – and Leslie told us that it has been easy to keep her whereabouts secret because even she doesn’t know the answer yet. She also added that she has not yet connected with Rose on the role, although Ruby sent congratulations on social media when her cast was announced.

Read on to see what Leslie said about training for the role, wearing the costume and the Batmobile for the first time and the one thing she couldn’t wait to do on set. The second season of “Batwoman” opens on January 17 on The CW.

First of all, what emotions went through your head when you first donned the full outfit?

The moment you wear this suit, you automatically feel like a superhero. You feel the responsibility, the epic character, it is really a powerful feeling the moment you wear this suit. That was the first thing that crossed my mind.

You bring a new layer of representation to the show, as the character is now a queer black woman. What kind of responsibility do you feel when you take on the mantle, knowing what it will mean to viewers?

The responsibility I feel is to make sure to give everything and give everything of me and leave every day as if I left everything on the table, having no regrets at the end of the night for nothing. Just knowing that I did everything. Walking in this truth is enough. I don’t think I have to prove anything, I think it’s just making sure that I’m giving it my all and that way, there’s something to be proud of at the end of the day. And if I’m proud of myself, then I think the people I represent will be proud of the work.

You talk about giving it your all. Obviously, joining a superhero project requires a lot of training. Ryan’s character is proficient in martial arts, so how was your training for the show?

I was already training martial arts before I got the part, so it was kind of natural for me. I was learning Muay Thai and bo staff before I got the part. When it came time to start working with the stunt crew, it seemed that we were already speaking the same language.

What was it about martial arts that attracted you in the past?

I am a very physical person. I have been on track all my life. Being physical helps me to relieve stress a lot. When I started martial arts, being able to hit something was a relief from stress. Being able to hit something made me feel like I was letting out a lot of pent-up tension. I remember the first time I did that, I cried, because it was only because we have so much imprisoned inside us, to be able to release it is necessary.

It becomes clear that Ryan has an inherent distrust in law enforcement after serving time for a crime he did not commit – and, at one point, she says she believes Alice would be dead if she were not white. How is it for you to have the program incorporating these important issues into the program, thanks to its inclusion?

I mean, let’s go now. I think the day before yesterday was proof of the difference in how the police react to groups of people. It is not just the color of the skin, it is often also the class, but I think that sometimes the color of the skin is the first thing that people see and they automatically equate it to the class. So, yes, I think that’s a big part of our reality … so, of course, it’s going to be a part of the entertainment right now.

Ryan starts out as a copy of Kate’s Batwoman, but starts making her cloak – can you talk a little bit about this transformation?

The journey for her to become her own Batwoman is very important, because I think Ryan’s representation is really the representation of all of us watching the show and how it shows that anyone can be a hero. But you need to put your own pride aside, you need to put your own vengeance aside and this is the journey she has to take. When she begins to realize that while Kate is missing, it is important that she take Kate Kane’s place, she begins to realize that the only way to do this fully to the best of her ability is to do so. her way. She is not Kate Kane, she is her own person and she has to find her own way of doing her job, saving people, but doing it in a way that is representative of herself.

How is Ryan’s relationship with these characters that are already established thanks to his connection with Kate?

Ryan is coming from a clean slate, she really doesn’t know any of them. She may have come across one or two of them in a different way, but it’s not like a relationship. She has to build a relationship. Fortunately, she has Mary on the outside, Mary is very receptive to her and helps to connect her to the rest of the crew. She slowly but surely builds a relationship with each person in her own way.

The big mystery going into this season, once we knew there would be a new Batwoman, is what happened to the old one. How has it been for you to keep this secret and are people trying to take it away from you?

I don’t know what happened yet! This makes it much easier.

How has the fan response been to you so far as new images and trailers keep popping up?

It’s been incredible. Everyone is so receptive and excited about the debut. I’m excited! I can’t wait for everyone to see all the work we’ve done.

Ruby Rose congratulated you on social media for getting the role after you left. Have you connected or maintained any communication with her since then?

No, I don’t.

After you got the part, was there a gadget that you couldn’t wait to use or something that Batwoman does that you were eager to try?

The gauntlets, I really wanted to fly. So, we did that and it was a lot of fun. Every time I fly, it’s very, very exciting. It looks like I’m a human being on a roller coaster, but there is no roller coaster.

Driving in the Batmobile also feels like an explosion.

This car is so good! So cool. You definitely question everything, like, ‘Am I allowed to do that? Can I do that? ‘They do a lot of stunts in the car, so do you worry, if something happens, will I be okay? These cars are very expensive, but it’s really fun to be able to play in that world, especially the Batmobile. This is something epic for us as Batman fans.

Alice is still a big villain here, “Bruce Wayne” is kind of in the picture too, but are there any other DC characters you would love to interact with going forward?

I would have loved to crossover with Black Lightning. I have good friends on that show and it would be really cool to play. But, honestly, let’s cross them all, why not? That is the main point.

Can you tell us what we will see from Ryan’s love life, since it is so important that she is a gay superhero?