Tessa Thompson

You never got one.

Oh, I'd be holding a pizza box.

And I just found the whole process really challenging.

I was not very good at it.

It convinced me that I was probably not a very good actor.

because I couldn't do any of the things that they wanted me to do at these commercial castings.

And also typically you'd be like one of like 85 people that look vaguely like you just in like slightly different outfits.

And I was like, I don't know if I'm going to make it this way.

But I remember when Cold Case came through, I thought, oh my goodness, this is so fascinating because it aligned with so many of the things I already loved and one of which was research.

I was like, oh, I get to do so much research into the time.

And then I remember when I got the part, I went to, I think it was on the Universal lot, got to go to their costume archives.

And, you know, the suit that I'm wearing in it is an actual boy's suit from that time, from the period.

And I remember just thinking, like, wow, if this is what it's like to work in TV and film, because that was my very first time doing it.

I was like, I never want to stop.

This is extraordinary.

Yes, I heard it was cast, but I knew...

And sadly, because I think she would have been extraordinary, Journey Smollett had to fall out of it.

And so I got a call.

I was in the supermarket at the time.

I'll never forget.