IN CONVERSATION WITH EMAYATZY CORINEALDI

interview by JANA LETONJA
photography TIZIANO LUGLI

Emayatzy Corinealdi has carved out a remarkable career defined by power, presence, and nuance. She currently stars as fearless defense attorney Jax Stewart in Hulu’s hit drama ‘Reasonable Doubt’, now in its third season — a performance that earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination. Her breakout role came in Ava DuVernay’s Sundance feature ‘Middle of Nowhere’, which earned her the Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor and an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Since then, she’s built an impressive resume across film and television, from ‘Miles Ahead’ opposite Don Cheadle to ‘Roots’, ‘The Invitation’, and arcs on ‘Ballers’ and ‘The Red Line’.

What initially drew you to the role of Jax Stewart on ‘Reasonable Doubt’, and how has your connection to her evolved through three seasons?

Her complexity. Her messiness. Her strength. Her contradictions. The opportunity to portray a woman like this, the thought was electrifying for me. I started off by having to search for my entry point into who she was and now by season 3, I have a much clearer understanding of who she is and the why behind her choices. 

Jax is fearless, flawed, and uncompromising. What do you love most about portraying her?

I love her imperfections mostly. You can’t fully understand her. She won’t let you and I love that. 

How do you prepare to embody the intensity of a high-powered defense attorney navigating both the justice system and her personal life?

My preparation has involved being clear on the why for any given choice, even if I don’t agree with it. And then taking that answer as far as it will allow me. That’s usually when the fun begins. 

What can fans expect from Jax’s journey in the remainder of season three?

Fans can expect to continue to see true growth from Jax in season 3. Her self-awareness is clear, along with her desire to not fall into the same traps that she has before. She genuinely wants to be the best version of herself and is seeking the answers to find out what that looks like.

Your breakout role in ‘Middle of Nowhere’ launched you into the spotlight. Looking back, what did that experience teach you about the industry and yourself as an artist?

‘Middle of Nowhere’ was a whirlwind indeed. That film taught me that a good story transcends time and race and space. It taught me that portraying real, flawed characters is where the fun is for me. That is what I like to explore. Yes, it resonates with audiences, but more importantly, it resonates with me. Perfection isn’t interesting for me. The pursuit of it is. 

Many of your projects engage with powerful themes of race, justice, and identity. How important is it for you to tell stories that resonate with social issues?

Yes and I am so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to tell those kinds of stories through my work because they are the most inclusive and also the best entry points into the human condition. Telling these stories is important to me because they’re the ones that allow us to hold a mirror up to our truths by examining them through art. 

As a Black woman leading a primetime legal drama, do you feel a sense of responsibility to represent voices and perspectives often overlooked on screen?

I do feel a sense of responsibility to make sure that just as I have been given the opportunity to lead this show, the show is reflective of the world that we are portraying. It is imperative that behind the scenes those same opportunities are given. Having an all Black writers room and directors through 3 seasons has added exponentially to the authenticity of Jax’s voice.

What kinds of stories excite you most right now, and are there genres or roles you haven’t yet explored but would love to?

I love drama. Right now, I am yearning for an extremely flawed, duplicitous character who’s duplicity is unexpected. That is what I need next. Along with that, it’s action. I’m very athletic and I’ve always loved women led action films. Vivica and Uma in ‘Kill Bill’, top tier. We are overdue for a Black woman led true action drama.

Outside of acting, are there creative outlets or passions you’d like to explore more deeply — perhaps producing, directing, or writing?

I shadowed our producing director Anton Cropper this season to get a feel for directing TV. I do have a real interest in producing as I have many ideas not only for myself, but for a lot of my peers who have yet to have the opportunities to do their thing.

Looking ahead, what do you hope audiences will take away from your body of work as it continues to grow?

I hope that audiences will see my heart in all that I’ve done. My commitment to truly putting the human condition under a microscope. I love the craft of acting and I pour my heart and soul into every role. I’m selective about every single character. It’s never happenstance. I hope that the hard work translates as joy onscreen. I want people to say “Oh yeah, she’s having fun with this.” Because I am.