Tonya Mosley

And I thought, what a hell of a way to start.

You know, but you talked about being drawn to characters that don't fit neatly, who, you know, they cross lines, they resist categories.

Where does that actually come from, though?

You know, you go out and you audition, or whoever represents you says, oh, here's a role for you to go to, to audition for.

But like, this is a pretty specific role to say, like, I want to go for this, you know?

This collage that you made with these little handwritten notes, that's something that is a through line that I see in a lot of the roles that you ultimately got.

I mean, there's this story about you writing Tyler Perry.

First off, you sent a tape to Tyler Perry for Colored Girls after you heard that the film was already cast.

I mean, for colored girls, it's a raw poetic exploration of what it means to be black and a woman in America.

And you are alongside all of these titans.

When you go back and watch it, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton, Felicia Rashad.

What did you absorb being among them?

Janet Jackson.

How could I forget Janet Jackson?

Let's take a short break.

If you're just joining us, my guest is actor and producer Tessa Thompson.

She stars in the new Netflix murder mystery limited series His and Hers.

We'll continue our conversation after a short break.

This is Fresh Air.

This is Fresh Air.