*Disclosure: I was invited by disney on an all expenses paid trip to L.A. to attend the press junket and premiere for Disney’s The Jungle Book, however all experiences and opinions are 100% my own!
So yesterday I got to share our interview with Jon Favreau & Neel Sethi, well today we get to talk to Raksha & Akela about parenting, role models & more…that’s right Lupita Nyong’o & Giancarlo Esposito talk about their roles in Disney’s “The Jungle Book”!
It’s not every day you get to sit down with inspiring people and it just so happens we had the chance to do this 3 times in one day! We all have the actors that we just adore, and for me I have several, Lupita being one of them. I was excited that we would be sitting in the same room with her.
When asked about what life experiences did she have to draw herself to this character as a mothering role, I wasn’t really shocked by her answer, but completely moved.
“Well, I have a lot of very, very powerful women in my life. My mother being the first. And most important. But in my culture, in my mother’s sisters are also my mother. And my father’s sisters are my mother’s, too. So I’ve have many mothers. My mom, she had a fierce love for her children. And she’s known to say things like if you die I’ll kill you. And so… That… For me, that spirit, that tenacity of mothering was something that I thought of. And that inspired my version of Raksha. Because it takes a woman with one huge heart to take on not only a child that’s not hers, but of a completely different species. And the fact that she does this, and she does it, and she doesn’t look back, and she does everything in her power to protect that child. And then to have to…let go of that child as well, that takes even more love, you know, to allow your children to do what they need to do. And all mothers go through that. I know… I went through that with my mother. And as a child, you don’t appreciate it until you’re much older, and you realize how hard it is to make new connections, and then how hard it is to lose those connections. So those were things I was definitely thinking about. And I love my mommy.”
It wasn’t hard for either actors to say yes to their rolls. Giancarlo was actually talking to Jon years ago about how wonderful to do this movie again and re-envision it for a new generation as they were filming the trailer of Destiny. So when Jon called to ask if Giancarlo was in it was a resounding YES! As for Lupita, what appealed to her about the role was the idea of playing a mother. Something that she hadn’t yet done. To do it in voice-over.
” Just opened myself up to something new! I have always loved children. I been fantasizing about motherhood since I was probably 2 ½.”
Giancarlo was asked if he identifies with Akiwa in any way?
“Oh, in so many ways. I’m a male, and on the way in, Lupita was talking about another film she did, and there was a lot of testosterone, energy! I have four daughters, and you know, I have to say that, while these questions, in regard to Raksha and how Lupita feels about her mom and being a mother, I feel like… the importance of the female and the mother presence in our society is greater than ever.
I have four daughters who, the eldest is 19, the youngest is 12, and I watched all of them journey into motherhood. Motherhood is very deep. It starts when you’re very, very young. Now, my 12 year old comes in, wants to put me to bed. And she’ll, you know, put her hand on my forehead and say the prayer with me. As for years I’ve done for her! It’s almost like a very beautiful, natural transition.
So while Lupita and you guys have been talking back and forth about motherhood, I have this vision that I’m really watching each one of my daughters start to become women, and mothers. And this is what’s gonna save our planet. I know it. Because there’s such a grace and understanding in the female persona when women have really come into their own. Part of that is to have children, and to be caring for those children, and not only in the care for them, but also in the nurturing and raising of them, they have to pass on their, their souls, and their intelligence.
And all those things can’t be taught. It’s something that, that in the essence of a woman, the essence of a mother, a mother knows! So to me, you know, I have learned to listen through, raising four daughters. But I’ve learned to become a progressive man because I have four women in my life. It is this strength of the mother that is going to change the way the world is. It’s the compassion, the love, the very open spirited mother, and woman that will move us forward in this new century.”
What is one thing that you want children to take back from your character? What’s one example or role model quality that you want the kids to see from parental figures in the movie?
Lupita – “Well, I think… what Mowgli is dealing with is finding belonging and what Raksha offers him is home. Her… as home. And as an anchor. And I think that’s a really important thing for children to have, So that they can veer away from it, but always be able to come back when they need to.”
Giancarlo – “We want to remember to be playful! We’re here in this… wonderful and incredible world! Like, the grand architect of the universe created this playground. And we’re supposed to have fun, and we’re supposed to play. And that’s what I tell my kids. And what I want people to get from this movie is that sense of freedom, that sense of, abandonment in the ride of this film, the sense of connection with family, even if you don’t have a family. The sense of trust that someone’s gonna adopt you and take care of you. That sense of, really being engaged by the world. You know? And I think people are gonna feel it in this film.”
So what’s next for the stars after this amazing adventure?
Giancarlo – “I’ve just made, um, my second feature film as a director called “This is Your Death”. It stars Josh Gemmell, Famke Janssen, and myself…and it’s an unflinching look at reality television.”
Lupita – “Well, I am on Broadway at the moment. I’m doing a show called “Eclipsed” by Danai Gurira. She plays Mishone. And she’s an incredible playwright. And she’s written this five female play about women in the Liberian civil war, and how they each individually deal with war, and get themselves out of very dire situation. We are the first all female performed, directed, and written play on Broadway.”
She is also working on another Disney film that releases later this year where she plays a mother, but this time live action mother…Queen of Katwe…and its about a Ugandan chess prodigy.
I loved listening to the two of them, and if we could have, I would have sat all day and listen to them talk!
Come back later this week for an interview with Sir Ben Kingsley plus “The Jungle Book” movie review!
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
