Regina King wants people to know about Shirley Chisholm's good fight

M
most people have it's a pet, but for actress Regina King, her latest project is an attempt to make her own. And it's a solution so necessary that it's been almost 15 years in the making.

Premiering March 22 on Netflix, the new biopic Shirley It stars King as the indomitable Shirley Chisholm, the Brooklyn politician who made history in 1972 as the first black woman to run for president of the United States. While King plays the title role, she also helped develop the film with her sister, Reina Chisholm, after the two were frustrated when they walked into rooms where people didn't know who Shirley was.

“So many people aren't [familiar with Chisholm]says King. “That's why Reyna and I decided her story needed to be told.”

Known for her difficult roles in boyz n the hood, Jerry Maguire, The remains, guards, and If Beale Street could talk, King has spent nearly four decades in Hollywood establishing herself as a scene-stealing actress and fearless filmmaker—and has been rewarded with four Primetime Emmy Awards, an Oscar, and plenty of critical acclaim. But Shirley It's not just King's lifelong dream — it's her first role since losing her son, Ian Alexander Jr., to suicide in 2022.

“Shirley it's the only thing I've played on [since]says King. “I had to finish it because I always said to Ian, 'Finish what you start.' And because Ian was so much… why That's him integral part of it Shirley even happen. He was by my side through it all.”

While on a walk in a rainy Los Angeles with Earl, her three-year-old Labrakita, King talks to Rolling rock about rediscovering the person behind Chisholm's storied political career, the game behind directing, and learning how to embrace her new normal.

You play Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for president. Do you find that with historical figures who reach mythic proportions, their achievements can supersede the more established facts about them?
I think this is true of any great figure. Whether it's a slice of life or a cradle-to-grave biography, I'm not interested in spending two hours watching [something] and I walk away feeling no different.

What was most important to you in your approach to this portrayal?
Shirley's emotional likeness and interiority. Imitation becomes caricature many times. The biggest thing that concerned me [was that] My depiction or incarnation of Shirley will be seen as an imitation as opposed to a celebration of a person.… Hopefully, people will be more removed and interested in galvanizing around someone. [who] they have so much fight in them. I won't even try to touch on the political discussion because it's too frustrating right now. I just wish I had some of that Shirley good fight energy.

After its critical success One night in Miami, that you directed, are you surprised that more directing opportunities didn't come knocking on your door?
There were certainly directorial opportunities there. What I would say is that they were opportunities that did not interest me. Unfortunately, this [is] a business of people who want to be first in second — suddenly you get an influx of scripts or civil rights scripts in a hotel, scripts in a room.

What draws you to the experience of directing?
I like to be the person who starts the idea. And then you give those thoughts to your department heads, and they get excited and take it even further, and then they bring things to the table that you might not have thought of. It's really fun. I like doing puzzles. die-hard. I'm an enigma. And so maybe a little bit of that spirit is what's exciting.

I know you and your dog are on a walk right now. What is your favorite thing about having a pet?
The count was [my son] Ian's dog, and when Ian passed, I just felt that… I'm still a very spiritual person, and I felt like Ian was putting a lot of things into place to take care of me. And Earl, his love is unconditional. There is no crisis. When I'm sad, he just runs around the room. He thinks he's a small dog – he's 90 pounds – and will literally try to hug me.

I was very sorry to hear of the passing of your son Ian. How did you feel about the treatment process?
Only people who have suffered a life-changing loss, a traumatic loss, understand that you are always in a place of healing. When I talk to other people who are 16 or 18 years old after losing their children, they seem to be just as broken as I am. So it's not as healing as accepting that your relationship with [the] the person who is your life has changed.

I know my baby was exhausted because she would tell me. And it's selfish to say I wish he was still here, but I don't want him to be here in pain. So it's acceptance. Accepting that the universe chose this as a journey for Ian. I wouldn't have it any other way. I would do it all over again to be his mother. The greatest joy I have ever received in my 53 years on this earth is being Ian's mom. And I will always be his mom.

Are there other things that bring you peace and joy in your life right now?
I'm trying to figure it out. This is a devastating thing. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. But when you live in public, it just hits differently. You just don't have that much confidence. Having to go through this project promotion journey because everything started before, I had to talk to my team about how to navigate. Because I don't know how not to talk about Ian. How can I do this and not break down and be out of control? There is this constant kind of stress. And then it never fails — Ian will send me a sign. Sometimes a sunrise and sunset – Ian's favorite color is orange. They pass me by. I feel like it's a hug.