“Through this character, I have found healing I didn’t know I was in need of.”
Mbedu responded, “I made choices from what I saw in the script.”
As the South African newcomer tells EW, Jenkins “couldn’t wrap his head around that.”
Thuso Mbedu as Cora on ‘The Underground Railroad’.amazon
“She keeps to herself,” she claims.
“She keeps everyone at arm’s length.”
The catalyst for her passage toward freedom is fellow captive Caesar, played by British actor Aaron Pierre.
Aaron Pierre as Caesar on ‘The Underground Railroad’.Amazon
“He’s definitely somebody who really takes in his surroundings and analyzes his environment.
Mbedu and Pierre connected over Instagram before shooting began for what would become a long production.
When discussing Cora’s perilous decision to flee a life of chattel slavery, Mbedu puts its bluntly.
Aaron Pierre and Thuso Mbedu on ‘The Underground Railroad’.Amazon
“Thinking about freedom was actually thinking about committing suicide.
“There are a lot of dark moments for her, but she brought about a difference within me.
While Caesar’s path to freedom is cut tragically short, Pierre relished depicting his harrowing journey.
And to me, this story gives a powerful insight into the magnitude of that strength.”
The Underground Railroadis now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
