{"id":45495,"date":"2024-02-08T12:36:35","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T11:36:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1988620"},"modified":"2024-02-08T13:24:22","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T12:24:22","slug":"genius-mlk-x-star-had-a-lot-of-fear-playing-iconic-character","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/genius-mlk-x-star-had-a-lot-of-fear-playing-iconic-character\/","title":{"rendered":"Genius: MLK\/X star had \u201ca lot of fear\u201d playing iconic character"},"content":{"rendered":"

The fourth season of the National Geographic drama explores the politics and lives of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. <\/p>

By Abby Robinson\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 08 February 2024 at 11:36 AM<\/p>

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Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X are the focus of the fourth season of drama anthology series Genius, <\/span>which also marks the first occasion the franchise has explored two iconic figures.<\/span><\/p>\n

MLK\/X, <\/span>which is streaming now on Disney Plus<\/a>, stars Kelvin Harrison Jr (Waves) and Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad) as the visionaries in their \u201c<\/span>formative years\u201d, as their distinct identities were taking shape.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just their politics and contrasting approaches that are spotlighted. We also gain an understanding of who they were behind closed doors, which includes their relationships with their respective wives, Coretta Scott King (I May Destroy You\u2019s Weruche Opia) and Betty Shabazz (The Woman King\u2019s Jayme Lawson).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Opia told\u00a0RadioTimes.com<\/a> that there was \u201cdefinitely excitement\u201d in taking on the role of Coretta, but also \u201ca lot of fear and a lot of anxiety\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

[squirrel-affiliate-playlist squirrel_playlist_id=\u201d608\u2033 \/]<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cThis is my first time playing a real-life human being who\u2019s walked the face of the earth, and so, for me, it was a very different situation, very different process [to what I\u2019m used to]. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause normally, all the characters I play, I<\/em> give them everything they have, apart from obviously what the writer has, and so I had to make sure I kept the authenticity of Coretta and what we know of her, but also add my understanding of her \u2013 because I\u2019m not her, I can never be her. <\/span>All I can do is show my idea of her and what I think she was like. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it was definitely a mix of excitement, fear, responsibility, reverence, respect, but there was a lot of fun in it, as well, to be able to play in such an interesting way and on such a scale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n