IN CONVERSATION WITH KRYS MARSHALL
interview by JANA LETONJA
Krys Marshall stars in Hulu’s drama series ‘Paradise’ as Agent Robinson, which premiered on 28th January to rave reviews and over 7 million views globally. She is known for her fan-favorite role in Apple TV+’s sci-fi drama series ‘For All Mankind’, for which she received critical acclaim. Krys’ additional credits include FX’s ‘The Answer’, and the CW’s ‘Supergirl’.
‘Paradise’ has been getting fantastic reviews since its premiere. What drew you to the role of Agent Robinson, and what was the most exciting part about playing her?
Before even laying eyes on the script, I knew that the show was created by Dan Fogelman and starring Sterling K. Brown, so immediately I was in. Once I cracked open the material and began diving into the world, I was drawn in by intelligent, creative and original characters. And then in the final pages, I arrived at “the big twist” and was absolutely floored. I can’t recall the last time I read something so unique and compelling.
As for agent Robinson specifically, I initially didn’t love her. She comes off as hard as nails, and a no BS kind of girl. I’ll be honest, I judged her for sleeping with a married man, who’s also her boss. But as I got to know her, I saw the truth of her being revealed, an incredibly principled and strong woman, who has been placed in an impossible situation. She’s lost the man that she loves, and now is determined to find his killer, no matter what it takes. Robinson is loyal to a fault, courageous and valiant to the end. I went from hating her to being completely obsessed.
The show has an incredible cast, including Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden. What was it like working alongside them?
Sterling is magnanimous, just a bright shining light. He has so much personality, so much joi de vivre, and I’m in awe of how powerful and kinetic his energy can be. Obviously he’s terribly talented, and that goes without saying, but I think the quality in him I find most remarkable is his off-camera people skills. I see the way that he engages with the other actors and the crew, the way that he uplifts the newcomers and disarms their nerves. He is the engine of this production and takes that responsibility very seriously. Many times you’ll see the lead of the show operate with a level of self-importance or ego, and Sterling is the exact opposite. He begins the day with round-the-horn check ins, making sure folks feel good, feel seen and feel heard. Not only is that quality lovely to be around, but it also creates a better workplace and thusly, a better show. I admire him immensely, and look forward to carrying those qualities with me.
Agent Robinson is leading a high-stakes murder investigation. How did you prepare for such an intense role? Did you do any research into law enforcement or FBI work?
When preparing for any new role, I always begin with the written material, studying what the writers have given me, and any information I can glean about our world. So for ‘Paradise’, the work began initially with trying to understand this world. “How did we get here? What events lead us here? Where do I fit in this world?” From there, I then do extensive research on the Service Men and Women who protect the President. I research what formations they use when they’re in public, how they hold their guns, and where they position themselves in relation to the person they’re hired to protect. I also spent time at the gun range with a former marine and weapons tech, where we fired off live rounds so I could really be comfortable with the gun. And once you’ve done your research and studied the material, then you let it all go, and just play in the space with your scene partner.
Without giving away spoilers, what can audiences expect from the show?
Audiences can expect excellent storytelling and complex characters, which is the norm for any Dan Fogleman show. They can expect a hard hitting political drama that is rife with intrigue, mystery, and some major twists and turns. And most of all, they can expect the unexpected.
Your portrayal of Danielle Poole in ‘For All Mankind’ has earned critical acclaim. What has playing her meant to you, especially as a trailblazing astronaut?
Playing NASA’s first black astronaut was an honor and a thrill. In For All Mankind’s alternate timeline, we got to see that female astronauts and black astronauts quickly became common place. Danielle is the head of the program and was NASA’s commander for the first mission to Mars. Sadly in our real timeline, women and people of color are definitely NOT the face of the space program and it’s unfortunate. To date we’ve never had a person of color or a woman step foot on the moon’s surface, and that to me is a real shame. With all of the advances that we have made in technology, there’s still a glass ceiling that Black women in many ways have been unable to break. I wish so many aspects of For All Mankind’s fictional world could be incorporated into our real world. “Seeing is believing” and my hope is that by depicting women like Danielle in the world of STEM, it will positively influence our involvement in leadership positions in every field.
The show reimagines history in such an interesting way. If you could live in ‘For All Mankind’s’ alternate reality, do you think you’d be ready to go to space?
On ‘For all Mankind’, we explore the pros and the cons to space exploration. A major pro is that the technological advances made by NASA create real-life positive impact here on earth. Satellites, cell phones and stem cell research can all be traced back to NASA and for that I’m very grateful. Conversely, we see in our show just how dangerous space travel can be. Each season we see astronauts risk life and limb, always keeping the mission in mind. Me personally, I’m too much of a scaredy-cat to risk my life or the possibility of being marooned on the moon. I’m happy to stay put.
You’ve played such a wide range of characters, from superheroes to astronauts and detectives. Do you gravitate toward specific types of roles, or do you enjoy switching things up?
I feel so unbelievably fortunate to have played such a wide range of characters. One of my first jobs was playing a hooker on ‘Criminal Minds’ and later a single-mother in a soap opera. I’ve really done it all. But i think the common thread in all my characters is that they are interesting women from a variety of walks of life. I love the challenge of stepping into a world that’s completely unlike mine. And going forward, I hope to continue to work with intelligent and thoughtful creators, who aren’t afraid of taking risks. I like strong women, smart women, and playing in bold and strange stories. I feel very lucky.
Looking back, what was a defining moment in your career that helped shape the path you’re on now?
Being cast in ‘For All Mankind’ was a truly divine timing kind of moment. I originally came into Junie Lowry-Johnson and Libby Goldstein’s office for a totally different show, and the role of Danielle Poole had already been cast. But they saw something in me and knew I wasn’t right for the first show and was perfect for ‘For All Mankind’. On my way out the door, they asked me to take a stab at the audition material for Danielle, which I looked over for 10 minutes, came back in and did. I found out that evening they wanted to offer me the job. That brief moment of Junie and Libby seeing something in me, quite literally changed my life and I will always be eternally grateful.
What’s one thing fans might not know about you?
When I was a kid, my mom met a psychic who told her that her youngest daughter had “the gift” but would never learn how to harness it. I believe it with certainty that she was right. I sense things and can feel energies, but have never learned really what to do with any of it. I suppose I’m a bit of a witch.
Can you tease any upcoming projects or dream roles you’d love to take on next?
We return to shooting ‘Paradise’ in a few weeks and I’m stoked to step back into Robinson’s boots all over again. Our cast has such talent and so much respect for each other. It’s a really beautiful work environment and I’m ecstatic for audiences to see what we make. As for dream roles, I’d love to work with Barry Jenkins, Denis Villeneuve and Jesse Armstrong, who all create such expansive and immersive worlds. I’d also love to start my own production company, where I can spotlight and support small and interesting stories, by black, brown and queer creatives. I’m excited for my future and feel certain that the best is yet to come.
TEAM CREDTS:
photography JUSTIN NUNEZ
styling MELISSA LYNN
hair MILES JEFFRIES
makeup CHERISH BROOKE HILL
