• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · 2017 ESSENCE Festival

For Letitia Wright, Getting 'Black Panther' Role Was A 'Huge Spiritual Experience'

The actress opened up about the biggest role in her career thus far. 
For Letitia Wright, Getting ‘Black Panther’ Role Was A ‘Spiritual Experience’
Dave J Hogan
By Ni'Kesia Pannell · Updated October 26, 2020

If you were ever under the impression that faith doesn’t play a major part in seeing your dreams through, Black Panther actress Letitia Wright is here to confirm that it does. Opening up to the ESSENCE Festival 2017 press room on Sunday afternoon, the young and vibrant actress had no issues letting everyone know about the faith walk she took to receive the part of Shuri in the upcoming film.

“When this film came about, it was just on my IMDB watch list. I just wanted to support it,” she began. “Then I heard that they were auditioning. I was like God this is huge; they’re not even gonna look at me.” Though her initial doubt could have kept her from auditioning, Wright — who sites the positive role models in 2006’s Akeelah and the Bee as the reasons for her wanting to act — went through with doing so. 

“I sent one tape, and then I sent another and then some dope stuff happened in prayer. God revealed to me that He trusted me with the part before anybody told me and it was a huge spiritual experience. He gave me signs about where I was going and those signs came true,” she confessed.

While the role of Shuri may be the first one that Wright is playing in an American film, it’s definitely not the first one she’s had her eye on. According to the British actress, she wanted to play the role of Storm in X-Men. “I remember my agent was like ‘X-Men, yeah!’ and he had me like really? Then I remember John Irving came and he was in my church telling me, ‘You know, X-Men, they’re looking at you, right?’ But I didn’t get it. So, I would say Storm, but I’m happy with Shuri. Shuri goes on to do big things! I’m content, Lord.”

When asked what she hoped to accomplish by taking on her first big acting role in the United States, she surprised the crowd when she responded that she’s only hoping to provide positivity. “This is the first film that will be a great platform, but hopefully it’s a positive platform,” she stated. “I’m not trying to be famous, I’m not trying to be the next whatever. I’m just trying to be someone that contributes positivity with my talent.”

Black Panther hits theaters on February 16, 2018

COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now