Exclusive: Will Packer And Idris Elba On Putting Black Women First
Executive producer Will Packer’s new film Beast stars Idris Elba as a widowed dad caring for his two daughters (Iyana Halley and Leah Sava Jeffries) after his wife dies. While he’s trying to build a stronger bond with his daughters, the doctor encounters a ruthless lion in a South African game reserve and his daughters’ safety becomes his number one priority.
While Idris’ character is fighting to protect his daughters at all costs even if that means putting them before himself, that same thinking also translates into his personal life. Putting Black women first is a theme shared with xoNecole's new She Comes First podcast where we hear from our faves on Black women centering themselves, self-care, and self-love in their lives. In an exclusive interview with xoNecole, Idris and Will also share the importance of putting Black women first.
“My wife, she’s a priority just based on we’re married, and we’re a partnership,” Idris said. “She’s always someone I think about first."
xoNecole Asks Idris Elba & Will Packer: "How do you prioritize Black women in your life?"
He also mentioned his daughter. The Luther actor has two kids, a 20-year-old daughter named Isan Elba and an 8-year-old son named Winston Elba. “In this film, my character is prioritizing those two girls over himself and I worked really hard for a long time but I always think about my daughter, my kids, and my wife.”
Will echoed those same sentiments as he is married as well and has two daughters. “First of all, I love Black women and I try to show that love in my personal life. Married to a Black woman, two Black daughters, that is very important, son of a Black mom,” Will said. “I just realized that Black women don’t get enough appreciation for what they bring to this world to how talented and influential they are so I try to do my part and thank the women that I personally know and show them love but then also in my work.”
“If you look at projects that I’ve been a part of, there is either Black women right at the center or integral parts to the content that I make.”
Will has produced several films starring Black women such as Girls Trip, Little, Breaking In, and many more. “And that audience has shown their appreciation to me by going out and supporting my projects in a really major way and that is not lost on me. So I continue to always showcase my sisters in any chance that I get and they always show me love and I’m appreciative.”
Beast hits theaters on August 19.
xoNecole Asks The Cast Of Beast "How do you prioritize yourself?"
Idris Elba Explains Why Representation In Storytelling Is So Important
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Featured image by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images