[Thisstorycontainsspoilersfor[ThisstorycontainsspoilersforMortal Kombat II.]
Not many people can say they turned into the video game character they admired while growing up.
But Tati Gabrielle got the role of Jade Mortal Kombat II It was a full-on moment for the 30-year-old actress. “My little girl would never have thought that I was sitting there playing that game downstairs in our den, and that I would one day play that character,” she says. Hollywood Reporter. “The best I can say is that I felt connected in this weird, crazy, very exciting way to my inner child.”
Gabrielle would also likely agree that the past decade of her life has been a “trippy, crazy” whirlwind, having captivated audiences with her breakout role in Chilling Adventures of Sabrinabefore cementing her position in Hollywood with her roles on Netflix You The film is directed by Ruben Fleischer unknown.
Now she’s breathing new life into Princess Kitana’s loyal childhood friend (Adeline Rudolph) in the 2021 follow-up. Mortal Kombat Replay the movie. The sequel sees fan-favorite heroes, including Johnny Cage, battle against each other in a battle to defeat Shao Kahn (Martin Ford), who threatens the existence of Earthrealm and its defenders.
Below, Gabrielle talks about the pressure of stepping into Jade’s shoes, how her martial arts background helped with many of the film’s stunts, whether she’d be open to reprising her role again and the importance of diversity in front of and behind the camera.
How much do you know about Mortal Kombat Video game before joining the movie? How did this help you prepare for your role as Jade?
I was a fan of the video game. I played it when I was a kid. I grew up in an older household. My mother was almost 40 when she had me. …We just grew up with the sensibilities of a different generation and popular culture. So Mortal Kombat It was definitely big in my house. My sister was happy when she booked Mortal Kombat! Jade was my favorite character because she was the only character, before Tanya came later, that I saw that looked like me. I practiced martial arts when I was a child. I thought to myself, “This is so cool! I can really do things.”
Did you feel any pressure when casting this beloved character for the big screen adaptation?
I did and I didn’t, because there were a lot of edits of a lot of things, and among the fans who are already around that IP, they’re going to want to see what they know they’ve seen. But I also realized, especially after doing it unknown Years ago, people didn’t know if they wanted something different until they saw it. Things translate differently from a video game to real life. So I definitely felt some pressure, “Oh, for the Mortal Kombat fans out there, I hope I do Jade justice.” I wanted to do Jade Justice, but I also tried to get rid of that feeling of wanting to fit tightly into a box and said, “No, I’ll give myself freedom.” Fortunately, our director, Simon McQuaid, had the same idea.
With so many fight scenes in the film, can you talk about how you used your martial arts background as an advantage? Did you do all your stunts?
Unfortunately, I didn’t do all my stunts. I was pretty upset about that too. … i paid. So I said to myself, “Come on, coach, let me in. I can do this.” Because it is unknownI have to do all my stunts. I used to compete with the crew when I was practicing karate. And he [Kyle Gardiner, supervising stunt coordinator] He was like, “You know, Tati, it’s not often that I have an actress that wants to do all that.” I was like, “Okay, get used to it, man. I’m here and I’m ready to do it.” But I still had a fair amount of stuff to do and the training process was great.
I also strained my shoulder at one point because…there’s a particular flared bow during the movie that’s very heavy and not the normal weight that anyone who works or competes with a bow is used to using. So my shoulder muscles were not accustomed to making these movements with a very heavy arc; My shoulders tensed. I’m fine now. But I was like ‘I’ve got battle scars.’
You worked closely with Adeline Rudolph, who plays Kitana, what was it like building that friendship between your characters on screen?
Probably my favorite part of my experience on this film was working with Adi. We played sisters once before on Chilling Adventures of SabrinaAnd so we were very excited to do it again. I was so excited that I spoiled her choice. She found out from me instead of her agents because I was so excited, I called her immediately.
But Addie and I spent every day together, whether we were just hanging out as girls or just talking through these scenes. We worked with a dramaturge. That was really cool, and we went through these sessions, and I think Addie and I found the deepest form of connection with Jade and Kitana because of their relationship, their sisterhood of loyalty, and growing up together and trying to figure out exactly what that meant. The idea that loyalty is thicker than blood and how different beliefs or different mindsets can still create such a rich friendship. Then what happens when external forces try to infringe on that?
If there is another film in the series, would you be open to reprising your role as Jade?
Oh, sure. Because there’s so much to discover with Jade. This might be one of the most difficult roles I’ve ever done in terms of just characterization. It’s been such a challenge. I was very resistant to a lot of Jade’s parts because I think Tati was saying, “What are you doing? Why are you making these choices?” This is like what you have to do. I think one of the key things, especially as an actor playing an anti-hero villain or a character with questionable choices, is that you have to accept it completely. I’ve always said that you have to make them your best friends in order to blend in with them. And when I went through that process for Jade and understood and accepted it, it was a climb and a challenge, and that’s what makes me want to delve into it in this way.
You have already established yourself for high-intensity roles in your other projects, e.g unknown, 100 and The last of us. Do you usually look for these types of roles? Do you have a different type of dream that you hope to achieve in the future?
No, I didn’t plan this. About a year ago my friends started calling me “You Action Star.” “I wasn’t going to do that,” I said. Yes, I have a martial arts background, but I always wanted to be an independent heartthrob. I grew up in theater, so I’ve always loved honest stories, nuanced, layered characters, and really grounded worlds. So being in these very high stakes, outside the realms of this world, is a little crazy to me. So I hope to move my career very soon to a more established space. … It’s hard for me to even say what my dream role is, but I think it’s my dream project [is] I would like to make a film by Yorgos Lanthimos. That’s my biggest dream now, or just working with Ryan Coogler for Bay [Area] love.
There have been recent reports showing a decline in diversity in Hollywood. As a biracial woman working in this industry, how important is it for you to have your Korean and Black culture represented on screen?
It’s very important to me because, especially as I’ve gotten older and lived my own experience of being mixed race, and lived my own experience of being a person of color, there are things that are very specific to that experience that people need to understand that I don’t think they’ll be able to understand just through a conversation with someone. You have to see it to understand it. So it’s not just for the purposes of little boys and girls who look like me, to be able to see themselves and feel represented, but also for all those who don’t understand people who look like me, to be able to have a tangible reference.
Not having a more diverse cast isn’t stupid Not only that, but it actually harms society. With everything going on in our country and world right now – the high levels of hate and division – the lack of diversity in our midst – arguably the most consumed artistic medium at this time – is not only neglectful, but potentially a major threat to our humanity and our species as a whole. This may sound dramatic but it is true. By using stereotypes of certain cultures/people or symbolism, you are fueling hate narratives for those people, widening the rift in a difficult time of needed solidarity. By casting a majority white cast, you give people permission to continue to exist in a bubble and deny them the opportunity to wake up and accept the reality around them – which stunts their growth and development as human beings.
Additionally, the lack of diversity also feels like a slap in the face to the minority community. Minorities are the largest group of consumers, and this is what we must adapt to; This is who actors deserve to thank for being the main people bringing in Hollywood money and free marketing. To do otherwise is negligent and selfish.
If you had to describe what makes Tati Gabrielle, Tati Gabrielle, what would you say?
A little crazy, a little odd. A lot of people call me sunshine, and I’ll own that. I’m very optimistic, always curious, and always want to be fascinated by the world. …I’m very eclectic, very eccentric, very goofy and silly, but I can also be very difficult (He laughs). There are a lot of things that make up a Tati. It’s a full spectrum, okay? But I have a lot of energy and a lot of energy to give. I used to say this all the time, old hippie gangster sailor. That’s how to describe Tati.
