Exclusive: Leslie Uggams Talks ‘Deadpool,’ Roots’ Remake And Upcoming ‘Empire’ RolePosted by Wilson Morales
February 9, 2016
Coming out this week is the comic book film, Deadpool, starring Ryan Reynolds as the title character.
Directed by Tim Miller from a screenplay written by Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese, the film also stars T.J. Miller as Weasel, Gina Carano as Angel Dust, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Morena Baccarin as his love interest Vanessa Carlysle (aka Copycat) and Ed Skrein as Ajax.
Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, “Deadpool” tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life.
Playing the role of Blind Al is actress Leslie Uggams, who is best known for her role as Kizzy in the groundbreaking ABC miniseries “Roots.” Blind Al is a character based on the comic book who Cinemablend has described as “a sharp-tongued old blind woman who Deadpool keeps as a hostage in her San Francisco home (which he also uses as his own home base). Deadpool has an affinity for torturing/playing pranks on her, and obviously the whole hostage thing isn’t optimal for a friendship, but the two are actually very close in the comics, and she has a long history of being one of the Merc with the Mouth’s few confidants.”
A veteran stage, TV and screen actress, Uggams had her own variety show called “The Leslie Uggams Show,” and won an 1983 Emmy Award for Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series (“Fantasy”). She’s appeared on numerous TV shows and starred in plenty of theater productions including winning the 1967 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in “Hallelujah, Baby!”. On the film side, she starred in the cult classic “Poor Pretty Eddie” and was featured in “Sugar Hill” opposite Wesley Snipes.
Uggams spoke exclusively with Blackfilm.com about her role in Deadpool, her upcoming role in TV’s “Empire,” and her thoughts on the remake of “Roots.”
How did the role come about for you?
Leslie Uggams: It was bizarre. I was in Florida working on a musical when I was asked to audition for this movie. I had to do it from Florida. I had no idea who I was really playing because everything was so secretive. I just went on imagination. Then I didn’t hear anything and a couple of weeks later, I got the materials sent again and started to think that the character was blind. That was the only hint that I got. After I got back to New York, I met the director (Tim Miller) and we talked. That’s really how it came about. Out of the blue.
Were you aware once you got the role that this was based on a comic book character?
LU: My husband and I were having dinner with my son and I said to him, “I’m going to be doing this movie called “Deadpool.” He went, “What? Deadpool! Mom! Oh my God! That’s incredible!” I then thought that this must be a big time comic book. Then I said, “Whoa! This is great!”
Once you got the role, did you do any research on Blind Al?
LU: I did a little bit. Our Blind Al is a little bit different from what was in the comic book, but I used it in creating my character in a way. In the original, I believe he kept her (hostage) in a box. I felt it was about the relationship between he and I in the storyline.
How would you then best describe her?
LU: Even though she’s blind, she’s obviously cares about him but at the same time she doesn’t take any stuff from him. She’s an independent woman and basically doesn’t think like a blind person. She tackles all types of things. She puts up with a lot of things like insults from him but at the same time she knows what he does and in the original comic book, she was a spy. It turns out to be a relationship made in heaven, but maybe made in hell in this story.
In playing a blind person, how did you prepare for the role?
LU: The glasses are part of her look, but I had played a blind person before and I had spent a lot of time at the Blind Institute here in New York and working with someone. I really knew what it was like to not be able to see and to live in that world.
How was working with Ryan in those scenes, which seemed comical at times?
LU: He’s the best. I just enjoyed working with him. The chemistry was there. My character is not trying to be funny. She’s just tells it like it is. It just happens to be funny but she’s not trying to crack jokes. She’s just responding to what he says but she has this sarcastic way about her. She’s not aware that she’s funny. She thinks she’s just telling it like it is.
Although you have been steadily working for years, it’s been a long time since you had a plum role in a film. Why the long layoff from films?
LU: I was never out of the film world. I just didn’t get the parts to come on the big screen. I just think in my life now, it’s time for me to do other things. I’ve always branched out. Most of my stuff has been in the theater world. I loved this character once I knew what the role was about. I thought this was a great character to play. The fact that it’s on the big screen is a bonus. I love the director Tim Miller. We had great conversations about the role. I really didn’t think about doing a big movie. I didn’t realize until later on how big a following this character has. It’s just absolutely amazing. It’s not only men, but I have had a lot of women, once the promos start airing, come up to me and say, “I can’t wait to see the movie. I’m so interested in that character.” I was like, “Wow! This is really something.”
It was cool of the producers to change the character for you since in the comic book, Blind Al is white.
LU: And British. I love the fact that they had great ideas about changing her and I think the change is good. When they started showing the trailers, especially in the theaters where they play like ten of them before you see the film you paid for, a friend told me that he had heard my voice and was like, “Is that Leslie?” And then he saw me in the trailer and was surprised. The response from people who have seen the promos or trailers are exciting and it has nothing to do with color. The fact that the producers went that way is the icing on the cake.
Are you a fan of these comic book movies? Have you seen anything else?
LU: I’ve seen “Ant-Man.” I see all that. Once it comes out, my husband and I go to the movies to see all the comic book characters. We enjoyed this film. The fact that I’m in one makes it better. I enjoyed watching “Captain America” and the rest of them.
As I mentioned before, you’re always working, specifically in the theater world. Any projects coming up?
LU: I was supposed to do a play called “Dot” but I’m actually leaving tomorrow to starting shooting scenes for “Empire.”
That’s great! What role are you playing?
LU: It’s supposed to be a secret who I’m playing but it will be great. I will on towards the end of March. I’ve been a fan of the show from the first episode. The fact that I’m on it is still unbelievable. At one point when I was watching the show, I said to someone, “You know what? I should be on that show.” Little did I know that later on, I would be asked to be a part of it. It’s absolutely fabulous.
Next year will be the 40th anniversary of Roots?
LU: Yes it will. I can’t believe it’s been 40 years. Of course, that was an incredible experience. To this day, people come up to me and tell me how moved they were when they saw the series. A lot of people show it to their children and it’s a wonderful thing to be part of history.
What do you think of the remake that being done for the History channel?
LU: I have no control of that. As far as I’m concerned, I will always be Kizzy. They are doing a new version and we will see how it is. To me, why make it over? That’s my baby, but good luck to them.
As Deadpool is set to open this week, what do you tell friends about the movie?
LU: The first thing I say to them is that I’m playing a role that they would never expect to see me in. I always like reinvent myself. I don’t like to repeat the same ol’ same ol’. For those who are not familiar with Deadpool, I tell them about Marvel comics and that gets them interested. I’ve been getting phone calls from friends and a lot of them who may not have been interested in seeing the film, will now be going. They are curious to see what I’m doing. It’s been a great experience.
Should a sequel be green lit, will you consider coming back?
LU: Absolutely. They can’t kick the roommate out!
Trailer
Blind Al TV Spot
