Category: Ariana DeBose

Dimitri: Scarpetta is coming up, and from the trailer it feels very precise, intelligent, and dark in tone. What really drew you to this project?

Ariana DeBose: Jamie Lee Curtis. That’s who really pulled me in. She called me while I was out walking in my neighborhood and asked if I’d be interested in a character like Lucy. She explained who Lucy was, how she functioned in the show, and who else was involved. I thought, yes, absolutely. I think Liz is brilliant, and very specific about how she writes. She sticks to her guns and sees where the story is going long before everyone else gets there, like any good showrunner. It was really a perfect storm of wonderful people. That’s what drew me to the project.

Dimitri: You’re surrounded here by an extraordinary cast, including Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis. What is it like working with artists of that caliber?

Ariana DeBose: It’s such a wonderful opportunity for me. Every day I get to be on set and do scenes with Nicole, Jamie, Bobby, Simon, and all of my colleagues, it becomes a learning opportunity. Every single one of them shows me something I might not have considered, and they push me to be a better actor. As much as it is a job, it also feels like a wonderful playground where I get to explore my own range. The last TV show I was really part of was a musical theater parody, so diving into something like this lets me stretch different muscles and show people a side of my talent they may not have seen before. And honestly, it’s thrilling. Who expects to get to act opposite Nicole Kidman or Jamie Lee Curtis?

Dimitri: Scarpetta is based on Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling novels, which already come with a passionate following. Do you think longtime readers will connect with this adaptation and the way these characters have been brought to life?

Ariana DeBose: I really hope they do. I think what we’ve all worked very hard to create is a beautiful interpretation of the world Patricia built, and obviously built very successfully, because the fandom is so strong and loyal. I’ve never been part of something based on existing IP in this way, so I’m sensibly terrified of the fans, but in a healthy way. You never want to feel like you’re letting people down. I also hope they keep an open mind, because our goal was always to honor the world Patricia created while also taking it further. I understand that even in my interpretation of Lucy, I may not be what some fans pictured, but I can promise you that I love her. I love Lucy Farinelli-Watson with my whole heart, and I promise I’ll take care of her.

Dimitri: Do you find that long-form series storytelling gives actors and writers more room to build a world and deepen a character than film does?

Ariana DeBose: I do think series work allows that, but I also think a feature film can absolutely flesh out a story when you have a very smart script and very talented actors. What a series gives you is the opportunity for the story to continue, which I think is really fun. There have been films I’ve watched where I immediately wonder what happens next, where these people go, what they do after the ending. A series can satisfy that curiosity. It gives me more time to enjoy the character.

Dimitri: You’re such a physical performer. When you’re building a role, what does your process usually look like?

Ariana DeBose: Every character is different and requires different things. Lucy is a hacker, a grey-hat hacker, which in that world means she operates outside certain legal lines, but she would never do anything intended to hurt anyone. So I did research into what it means to be a hacker and how that mindset works. She also uses hacking as a form of investigation, so I spoke with a member of local law enforcement to better understand their process. There’s also an AI component to the show, so I was curious about how AI now plays a role in investigation and potentially in hacking as well. They can all work together. That said, we suspended disbelief a little bit, because while Lucy is an expert hacker, some of what she does on screen would probably take a little longer in real life.

Dimitri: Across your career, you’ve taken on such a wide range of work. Beyond the people involved, what usually attracts you to a project?

Ariana DeBose: It could be a million different things, and I think that’s part of what has kept me versatile. With this project, it was definitely the people involved and the subject matter. I also found the character fascinating because some of her circumstances are very similar to my own, or at least to things I experienced in childhood. Not all of them, of course. I did not grow up affluent. But there was so much nuance here, and a lot of care was needed. When you play a character of color who is gay, a beautiful brown human being raised by a predominantly white family, that is very much part of my lived experience. I knew I could bring a certain amount of truth and nuance to that. It was quite personal for me to play this character. It required a bit of bravery. Every actor wants to keep some parts of themselves private, and this role became an exercise in deciding what parts of me to give to her and what parts of me to keep.

Dimitri: You also have Tow coming very soon. Can you tell me about that project?

Ariana DeBose: Yes. It comes out, at least in the States, on March 20. I hope people will go see it. It’s a beautiful film about a woman named Amanda Ogle, and it’s based on her true story. She was unhoused at the time and living in her car. While she’s in a job interview, her car gets stolen. The film follows her journey as she tries to get it back. It really highlights how our systems are often stacked against the little guy who is just trying to maintain some dignity and put a roof over their head, whether that roof is a car or a house. I loved this film so much and fought to be part of it. I had the most glorious time working with Rose Byrne, who gives another spectacular performance, and with Octavia Spencer and Demi Lovato. We had a beautiful experience making it. It’s an indie, and we shot it in 18 days, which I still can’t believe.

Dimitri: Eighteen days is incredibly fast, especially for a film with that kind of emotional weight.

Ariana DeBose: It really was. Truly intense work. But I’m so proud of our director, Stephanie Laing. She made the absolute most of what she had and told a beautiful story. I think this is exactly the kind of work we need to keep championing. As much as we all love a great crime thriller, we also need stories that give people hope and remind us to let our better angels prevail.

Dimitri: Rose Byrne is fantastic, and it must have been wonderful to work with her. Do you know yet whether Tow will have an international release beyond the US?

Ariana DeBose: I believe at this moment it’s just the US, but I’d have to double-check my notes on that.

Dimitri: When you do get time away from work, how do you recharge?

Ariana DeBose: When I do have spare time, I really cherish it. I love to work, and I love to learn, and I learn through my work as well. But I’m at a point in my life where I know I have to recharge. That’s really important for me. Yes, I fall into my couch and binge-watch shows and movies, but I also love to travel when I can. When I’m home, I spend time cooking, even if it doesn’t always turn out well. I love taking dance class, and I work out because moving my body is really important to me. When I have the time, I dedicate it to whatever is going to refill and recharge my spirit, because if I’m functioning on empty, then my work isn’t good.

Dimitri: That balance feels essential, especially in a career that moves as quickly as yours.

Ariana DeBose: I think joy and happiness are radical acts. The only way you experience them is by giving yourself the opportunity to experience them. If you’re hustling all the time and that doesn’t bring you joy, then I hope people can at least try to find the little moments that do.

Dimitri: You’ve already achieved so much, and at a level many people spend decades working toward. Looking at your journey now, how do you reflect on that?

Ariana DeBose: Thank you so much. I’m very proud of the experiences I’ve been afforded and of the way they’ve been received. Now I’m blessed to have more choice and more opportunities, which I know doesn’t always happen. So I try to handle that responsibly, to the best of my ability.

Dimitri: If you could go back and speak to your younger self, what advice would you give her?

Ariana DeBose: I love this question. I think I would tell her that her thoughts, feelings, and opinions are valid. I’m someone who speaks her mind, and I try to do it gracefully, but there was a period in my life when I felt frozen, like I wasn’t breathing. I think the most important thing that version of me needed to hear was that it is okay to breathe. It is okay to take up space. And ultimately, doing that is what will get her where she wants to be.

Dimitri: That’s a beautiful note to end on. It was such a pleasure speaking with you today.

Ariana DeBose: I’m so happy we got to do this. Thank you for your time.