In a culture that often places romantic love on a pedestal, Natasha Rothwell is on a mission to reshape the narrative.
With her series How to Die Alone, Rothwell explores the transformative power of self-love and the value of embracing all forms of connection. By redefining what it means to truly be happy, she challenges the notion that fulfillment comes solely from finding “the one.” Instead, she advocates for a broader, more inclusive view of love—one that starts with self-acceptance and extends to friendships, family, and the community around us.
Natasha Rothwell’s series, How to Die Alone, delves into one of humanity’s greatest fears: the prospect of being alone. Her answer? Learn to love yourself fully.
Rothwell argues that when people stop prioritizing romantic love over other forms of love—like self-love, friendships, and family connections— they begin to see the love around them that is being neglected.
“Your life becomes inherently richer when you start acknowledging the love that’s already present,” she shares, a powerful insight gained from her work on the show.
In the series, Rothwell portrays Mel, a “broke, fat, Black JFK airport employee” who narrowly escapes disaster when a newly built bookshelf collapses on her, leaving her with a concussion. This life-altering event becomes the catalyst for her to take charge of her life and seek fulfilment at any cost.
Rothwell finds joy in exploring the quest for happiness through the lens of a real-sized woman on screen. “Being seen is crucial to our sense of belonging, and belonging is what makes us feel like we matter,” she says in an interview with EBONY. She hopes that those who see themselves in her character will feel affirmed, understood, and worthy of having their stories told. Reflecting on Mel’s character, Rothwell describes her as the unhealed version of herself in her early twenties, and considers the show a love letter to her younger self: “I see you, and I thank you.”
When Rothwell was given the chance to helm her own show, she decided to face her deepest fear head-on: the fear of dying alone. “I didn’t want to hold back—I wanted to tackle the thing that terrified me the most,” she confides. A startling real-life experience while pitching the show only solidified her commitment to this courageous narrative.
