Regina King had to learn many traits to take on the role of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in the new Netflix film “Shirley.” The Oscar-winning actress had to study Chisholm’s mannerisms, adopt a Barbadian accent, and learn what it takes to run a presidential campaign.
The most important, and personal, characteristic she had to learn, however, was resilience.
King told Black Love that working on the film taught her just how resilient she really is and the true meaning of family. The actress began filming the biopic one month before her only child, son Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide in January 2022, at age 26. Filming on “Shirley,” which is dedicated to Alexander, wrapped later that spring with reshoots in April 2023.
King hasn’t spent much time in the public eye since 2022, just recently making her first few public appearances at the 2024 Oscars and 14th Governors Awards. The actress has paid tribute to her son on social media, sharing a sweet note dedicated to him on her Instagram page on what would have been his 27th birthday.
“January 19th is Ian’s Worthday,” she wrote. “As we still process his physical absence, we celebrate his presence. We are all in different places on the planet…so is Ian. His spirit is the thread that connects us. Of course orange is your favorite color…Its the fire and the calm. I see you in everything I breath. My absolute favorite thing about myself is being … Regina the mother of Ian the GodKing. Continue to shine bright, my guiding light.”
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Filming “Shirley” during this time in her life also taught King how the support system around you can become family. The actress credits not only Lucas Hedges and Christina Jackson with that support, but also longtime friend and “Shirley” castmate Terrence Howard and late actor Lance Reddick. Howard stars as Chisholm’s campaign manager and future husband Arthur Hardwick Jr. in the film, while Reddick appears as campaign advisor Wesley McDonald “Mac” Holder.
“To be honest, you know, [Terrence and I], we’ve known each other forever,” King told Black Love. “Lance Reddick as well. Terrence was the only person we reached out to for Arthur and Lance was the only person we reached out to for Mac. [Director] John [Ridley] saw and understood how important it is to bring these real life relationships [into the movie]. How they could help tell the story in spaces where there wasn’t any dialogue. I think it comes alive on screen.”
Howard shared his co-star’s sentiments, saying that their friendship and family connection “comes from an organic space of trust and shared appreciation.”
“I am honored to be next to her,” Howard said about his time with King. “I believe that Arthur [felt this way] with Shirley because they were destined. That’s where he wanted to die with this woman there. So it was such a natural process, because I’ve been such a big fan and friend and always drawn to [King] anyway. That played the biggest part for us — knowing that, okay, there’s a natural ground here. [The relationship] is not a preposterous thing to consider. It makes it so much easier.”
“Shirley” tells the story of Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign and the wide-ranging effects it had on her family, the Black community, and the country at large. Chisholm was a history-maker, becoming the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and the first Black major-party candidate for president of the United States. She was also the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
“Shirley” is available to watch now in select movie theaters and will begin streaming on Netflix on March 22.
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