Tonya Mosley

And I was just really struck by the fact that you wanted to acknowledge her in this room.

You wanted to say the sacrifices that she made allowed you to be in that room and also her understanding of identity in that way.

How did your mother's experience actually help you hold on to the parts of yourself in this world as you navigate trying to pinpoint the storyteller you are?

um and i'm not sure that i would have that i would have known how to do that were it not for my mother you know what i also note based on what you shared about your mother and in particular that speech you gave at that women's luncheon where you said i want to acknowledge this woman who's not in the room i mean oftentimes when we're talking about your identity it is really focused on your blackness yeah but you are biracial and your mother is is white and mexican and so she's

She's really not in the rooms when we talk about black discourse.

But this sounds like she was such a fundamental part in you understanding who you are.

Yay for moms.

Yay for moms.

Let's take a short break.

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

She's starring as Hedda in a film adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler.

We'll be right back after a break.

This is Fresh Air.

This is Fresh Air, and today we're talking to actor Tessa Thompson, who recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the film Hedda.

I talked about you sending that tape to Tyler Perry.

You also did something similar with Dear White People.

You, in this case, wrote a letter to the director and showrunner, Justin Simeon, a letter where you described

How much of a fan you were of the actual work and that you needed to be in the movie?

It's such a refreshing, dynamic satire.

It was also one of the first times you've done satire, right?