Last month, action thriller Lazarus, starring Sean Riggs (“S.W.A.T., You”) and R&B superstar Mya (“Chicago”) and Aeriél Miranda (“Straight Outta Compton”), debuted exclusively on Tubi, FOX Entertainment’s free streaming service.
ShineMyCrown sat down with Aeriél Miranda, who plays the show’s feisty heroine, Amber, about her role and the importance of Black superhero flicks in mainstream media.
ShineMyCrown: What first drew you to the script of Lazarus?
Aeriél Miranda: Sean Riggs, who’s the leading actor of the film, he [plays] Lazarus and he’s the mastermind behind this whole project. Every aspect of it, so it was really his energy that pulled me into it. We met in Atlanta while shooting a Tyler Perry series “For Better or Worse,” and we instantly clicked. We intersected on an elevator ride and the hotel we were put up in. He has a funny little story about the time we met.
We were in the elevator heading to this lobby, and I guess I was meeting up with a friend that first weekend I was in town. Once we made it to the valet, my friend was waiting for me on motorcycle. But what I didn’t know was that he was bringing his whole crew. It was literally like — the people in the driveway of this fancy hotel that and loads of bikes in the driveway of this fancy hotel. And my friend was like, “Are you coming? Let’s go.” And it literally felt like “Coming to America” — Coming to Atlanta.
Anyway, we were wrapping up this conversation pertaining to “Lazarus” because he brought it up in the elevator and I just casually hopped on the bike and rode away and then kind of was yelling off to him, “Yeah. I love that idea. Let’s, let’s catch up. Let’s meet, I love this. This is really good.”
And I guess he just thought that was the coolest thing.
And he actually just reminded me this past weekend… we were talking and according to him, that was the very moment he knew I was Amber. And it was just all confirmed within 10 minutes of meeting. He thought it was like this bad-ass moment. And in my head, I was just living my life and going to grab dinner with a friend, and it just turned out to be a whole thing. So yeah, it was funny. Later, we officially met, and I was just completely on board because I got to know him, and I really absorbed the vision and it was just one of those things. You know, I’d love to be a part of whatever this is, you know?
There was something admirable about Sean. This guy having this grand idea and wanting to create this whole world from scratch. So this was some years ago. I just really vibed with his spirit in the spirit of the project first and more than anything too. I just saw myself in him being an independent filmmaker. He’s a visionary.
SMC: What has the reception of the movie been like so far?
AM: I’m hearing great things. It’s getting a buzz in the streaming world, which is great. I feel good about it and it also gives people an opportunity get familiar and explore Tubi, which I’ve become a fan of. Aside from “Lazarus,” I have some other pretty cool content available on the platform.
SMC: How would you describe your character?
AM: My character, Amber — she’s like every woman’s alter ego. She’s tough. She’s resilient. She’s quick, and she can hang, and she’s got street smarts.
She is still feminine, which is beautiful. She ultimately helped Lazarus in this fight against the establishment. And to me, she pretty much embodies that strong female leading energy that I think the world is craving more of, especially during these unique times. So I think the dynamic between her and Lazarus adds a special spark to the film, of course, it gives it a certain element of feminine masculinity.
SMC: There’s quite a lot of action in the film. Did you have to train very hard to get in shape for the role, or is fitness part of your regular routine?
AM: Oh my God, yes, I did some minor training. but it was minor. It definitely, it definitely helped that fitness is an important part of my day-to-day. So once we went into filming, it was, it was a breeze. The professionals on the set, they were really good and they were very nice to me. They supported me through whatever initial clumsiness I came with. It was minor training. I’m pretty insane and I love this is stuff. I was ready mentally and the physical, it is just all fell into place or just kind of like a jigsaw puzzle.
SMC: Have been more and more Black superheroes breaking through to the mainstream. How important is it for us to have our own superhero stories?
AM: I love this question. Number one, and it’s completely inspiring, it’s important to have variety through storytelling in the world in general. Let’s start there. Because it gives us all an opportunity to really see each other and empathize and to support one another, which makes way for a brighter world.
Number two, not to sound like Michael Jackson, but that’s just how I feel right in our and our community, specifically the Black community. I feel that we’ve absorbed the narratives regarding where we came from and what has happened to us. Our history. We currently intake a narrative that, in essence, portrays the results of our history, and we’re experiencing where we are now.
So as it pertains to your question is very important to now birth narratives that foreshadow or give vision to where we could be or go. And seeing, and giving voice to supersonic characters, generally reveal or plant seeds of what people are capable of doing or creating. So establishing these images are actually vital to our evolution. And it’s about providing vision, moving towards greatness and bettering ourselves so that we can better our communities and make way for a grander world. And that’s what these types of figures and films have the potential to do. Um, they’re transformative to say the least and they’re transformative.
SMC: There are a lot of supernatural elements in “Lazarus,” how much do you believe in, on the forces black magic and otherworldly forces?
AM: This is a fun question. I personally believe in everything. Not saying I give power to, or put my faith in everything. But I do believe much of what we can imagine exists. So I think to believe that anything beyond you or to think anything that you can’t fully comprehend with your senses, isn’t real… is a bit naive. Spielberg’s “ET”‘s to blame for that. For me, I believe some other world exists. I enjoy the entertainment of what could exist. That’s fun to think of and to explore and living in that world is really fun. And I definitely always try to find the truth and parallels and flashes of those elements introduced to me through entertainment in relation to my life.
SMC: How did you adjust with the lockdown?
AM: The lockdown and the pandemic are like two different things to me. The lockdown was a relief, you know. It was a break. An opportunity to just breathe. I personally used it as an opportunity to meditate and to get in touch with myself. The pandemic is the part, that was just really like,”Why does this have to be this way?” Because there was a lot of chaos but you I always try to find a silver lining. I used that as an opportunity to breathe.
SMC: What are your plans like the 2021?
AM: Well, I’ll be home until I get further notice. There are a few things on the horizon that I don’t think I can speak on just yet. However, I’m currently wrapping up two features that I’m so proud of that. I’m sure we’ll be reconnecting on in the near future. I’ve used this time to really hone in on my writing. And so I have been producing two features, like I said, that I am wrapping up. I’m definitely looking forward to getting those on the runway and out into the world.
