Fresh Air – Tessa Thompson

Aired: January 8, 2026
Host: Tonya Mosley (with Terry Gross)
Guest: Tessa Thompson (Actor, Producer)

Episode Overview

This episode of Fresh Air features a conversation with acclaimed actor and producer Tessa Thompson. The discussion focuses on her intentionality in choosing roles that interrogate identity and control, her Golden Globe-nominated lead in Nia DaCosta’s adaptation of Hedda, and her star role in the new Netflix crime thriller series His and Hers. Thompson shares insights from her career, her approach to research and embodiment, the influence of her multiracial background, and her hopes for more audacious storytelling. Listeners get an intimate look at her artistic philosophy, her family’s formative role, and notable moments from her personal and professional journey.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Thompson’s Approach to Roles, Identity, and Research

• Intentional Choices and Character Archetypes

  • Thompson is known for playing intelligent, self-reflective characters who "use control as a way to survive" ([02:29]).
  • She sees a through-line of “highly intelligent, deeply self-reflective” women in her body of work.

• Research for 'His and Hers'

  • To prepare for her news anchor role, Thompson shadowed reporters in Atlanta, finding the industry "a very competitive" and "scarcity of opportunity" for women ([03:25–03:45]).
  • She immersed herself in the setting, Dahlonega, Georgia—a town that is "almost 98% white," which she notes gave her a tangible sense of being a Black woman in such an environment ([06:33–07:50]).

  "I'm a great lover, probably, because all the items that you find in these places are storied. But I love an antique mall... And I turn one corner, and the whole stall is Confederate flags."
  —Tessa Thompson ([07:12])

• Authenticity in Performance

  • Thompson describes the visceral experience of location-based research and how it informs her portrayal, especially the contradiction of beauty and historic racism in small-town America.

On 'His and Hers' and Complex Female Characters

• The series plays with perspectives: "There are at least two sides to every story … which means someone is always lying." ([01:37])

• Thompson’s role as Anna explores the blurred lines between professional and personal struggles, and the tendency for women in public-facing jobs to project strength while concealing vulnerability or conflict ([10:09]).

  "Anna is someone who is newly back or trying to regain her footing in her professional world and meanwhile is contending with a lot of choices… she's probably projecting… but really, she is really talking about herself."
  —Tessa Thompson ([10:09])

The Modern Reimagining of ‘Hedda’

• Why Take on Hedda Now?

  • The decision to undertake a classic requires “a good reason to want it” and the willingness “to do something daring”—Thompson praises DaCosta’s bold approach ([11:24]).

• Rage and Restraint Through Identity

  • Thompson discusses how casting a Black woman brings nuance to Hedda’s rage. She relates to her grandmothers’ experiences of “pretending” in the 1950s, their “rage,” and the intersection with race and queerness ([13:18]).

  "There are limitations that are put on us because of where we're from and who we are. And there are also the limitations that we put on ourself because we are too afraid to step into who we are."
  —Tessa Thompson ([14:24])

• Empathy for Dark Impulses

  • Embodying Hedda increases her empathy for characters who manipulate or destroy, noting all people harbor “dark impulses” that society encourages us to hide ([16:53–17:54]).

  "If I'm honest, I think in that moment…she's pretty dead set on destroying her…And the truth is, I think, thankfully, we are conditioned to not give credence to those sort of dark impulses inside of us."
  —Tessa Thompson ([16:53])

• On Envy and Emotional Truth

  • Thompson argues that envy, often discouraged, can reveal our deepest desires:

  "Being able to connect to moments of jealousy or envy actually helps us understand the lives that we want to live…if we can channel it in positive ways…"
  —Tessa Thompson ([17:59])

Early Career and Risk-taking

• First Roles and the Power of Letter Writing

  • Thompson began with “scrappy” efforts, cold-calling agents and mailing handwritten resumes ([22:20]).
  • Her audition for Cold Case (as a “lesbian bootlegger from the 1930s”) aligned with her love for research and roles that cross boundaries ([22:20–23:54]).

• Advocating for Herself

  • Sent audition tapes and notes to Tyler Perry for For Colored Girls after hearing the role may be open ([24:14]).
  • Later wrote a letter to Justin Simien for Dear White People when she felt discouraged by Hollywood's limited roles for Black women ([38:48–38:57]).

  "I just thought, there's not enough for me here...I don't know if I want to do it anymore. And then I got this script, and it felt like...I could play a character that was not just the object of the narrative, but the subject."
  —Tessa Thompson ([38:57])

Representation and Mentorship

• On Being Inspired and Paying it Forward

  • Working with titans like Phylicia Rashad, Janet Jackson, and Whoopi Goldberg was “pinching myself every single day,” underscoring her sense of community and lineage among Black actresses ([25:38–27:30]).

  "I just spend a lot of time energetically feeling connected to black women inside of this business, because...it shaped so much of my ideas of self, you know, seeing black women on screen."
  —Tessa Thompson ([26:57])

Personal History and Influence of Family

• Father’s Influence

  • Her father, musician Mark Anthony Thompson, involved her in photography and storytelling ("He would use me to test light…then we graduated eventually and I could use him as my cameraman" [29:02–30:39]), creating a foundation of creativity and trust.

  "I was lit up by a camera's presence…it was actually later in life when I began working professionally that I had to build a new relationship with a camera."
  —Tessa Thompson ([29:02])

• Music as Storytelling

  • Grew up in a “constant music” environment which influences her creative process, especially in character and scene development ([32:01–33:13]).

• Mother’s Role and Navigating Mixed Identity

  • Her mother, of white and Mexican descent, was a critical supporter and taught her "not to make any concessions of self" ([34:17]).
  • Navigated and celebrated both Black and Mexican heritage, reflecting on the pressures to assimilate and the importance of authenticity.

  "My mom gave me an early sense of self enough that I...could say, no, actually, I want to look like myself."
  —Tessa Thompson ([34:17–36:33])

Artistic Optimism and Boundaries

• On Industry Change and Storytelling

  • Recognizes cycles in Hollywood’s approach to race and satire, expresses optimism for more boundary-pushing work ([42:29–43:04]).

  "I love storytellers that are audacious...one of the most audacious things currently is to be optimistic."
  —Tessa Thompson ([43:04])

• Personal Philosophy: Yes and No

  • Has tattoos with "yes" and later "no" to balance optimism with the importance of boundaries.

  "We are as much defined by the things that we don't do than by the things that we do...sometimes it breeds a yes that maybe should have been a very polite no."
  —Tessa Thompson ([44:11])

Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes

• [07:12] On Being Black in Small Town Georgia:

  "I turn one corner, and the whole stall is Confederate flags. It's all kinds of...some things I won't even say, but really sort of shocking bumper stickers and pieces of literature..." —Tessa Thompson

• [16:53] Empathy for Hedda's Dark Side:

  "If I'm honest...she's pretty dead set on destroying her...I think, thankfully, we are conditioned to not give credence to those sort of dark impulses inside of us." —Tessa Thompson

• [17:59] On the Utility of Envy:

  "Being able to connect to moments of jealousy or envy actually helps us understand the lives that we want to live..." —Tessa Thompson

• [34:17] Mother’s Guidance:

  "My mom really wanting to make sure that I didn't feel like I had to make any concessions of self, that I could show up exactly as I was." —Tessa Thompson

• [43:04] On Optimism:

  "I love people full stop, that are audacious. I think one of the most audacious things currently is to be optimistic." —Tessa Thompson

Key Timestamps

• [01:37] Thompson discusses the premise of His and Hers and dual narratives.
• [03:25–04:17] Thompson on shadowing news anchors as research.
• [06:33–07:50] Describes the experience of being Black in majority-white Dahlonega, Georgia.
• [09:42–10:52] In-depth on character Anna’s internal/external conflicts in His and Hers.
• [11:24–14:58] Discusses the motivations for Hedda, adaptation, race, queerness, and societal pretending.
• [16:53–17:59] Explores empathy for Hedda’s manipulations and views on envy.
• [22:20–23:54] Early career hustle and the significance of her Cold Case audition.
• [24:14–27:30] Getting the role in For Colored Girls, the importance of Black female community.
• [29:02–31:20] Relationship with her father, early filmmaking, and the power of trust.
• [32:01–33:13] Music’s impact on her craft and process.
• [34:17–37:57] On her mom’s influence, mixed identity, and negotiating Hollywood’s beauty standards.
• [38:48–41:19] Letter to Justin Simien, struggles with representation, and the impact of playing protagonists.
• [43:26–44:11] Personal tattoos ("yes" and "no"), and balancing optimism with setting boundaries.

Conclusion

Tessa Thompson’s conversation on Fresh Air is one of candor, depth, and reflection. She details her journey from a persistent aspiring actress to a leader in on-screen representation, discussing her commitment to authenticity and emotional truth. Her insights into the complexities of race, gender, ambition, and artistry demonstrate why she is both a compelling performer and influential cultural voice.