Aisha Hinds Talks About Her Solo Performance On Underground’ Sixth Episode

This should be one helluva performance!

Underground will flip traditional television on its head next Wednesday with Aisha Hinds’ Solo Performance!

In the all-new, extended episode entitled, “Minty,” written by series co-creators Misha Green and Joe Pokaski, and directed by Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Anthony Hemingway, the episode will focus solely on the character of Harriet Tubman, played by Aisha Hinds.

Harriet Tubman delivers a monumental and definitive speech about her life, her divine purpose and the perilous but necessary fight for freedom. Set in 1858 against the backdrop of a nation deeply divided by race, class and gender, Tubman makes a passionate plea to abolitionists to shift their thinking as she challenges them to take swift action against those who are determined to oppress others.

“This episode is truly one of a kind. It alone, masterfully revolutionizes TV storytelling,” said Anthony Hemingway, “Underground” Director and Executive Producer. “Aisha surrenders herself to the spirit of Harriet Tubman and gracefully reintroduces us to Harriet’s humanity by sharing her story, in a chillingly exceptional performance. I am extremely proud of the amazing artistry that every cast and crew member poured into making ‘Underground,’ it’s the most exhilarating experience I’ve had as a filmmaker.”

Kelisha Graves: There are certain characteristics that writers build into the characters by default. However, what aspect of yourself did you bring to Harriet Tubman?

Aisha Hinds: The irony of that is when the announcement was first made I was so afraid. It was such overwhelming support for this. And people were saying things like I was “so perfect for [this role|” and I didn’t necessarily feel that I was “so perfect for it” because I think I was looking at it from a point-of-view that at the time I couldn’t see parts of myself in her. It was only after studying more about her and understanding just how much her life was governed by a spiritual compass that I realized that our spirits were probably speaking the same language and have been speaking the same language.

That is the thing that I think was most pivotal and critical in taking on this project and taking on this responsibility. It was one of these projects, honestly, where I had nothing to offer it as a human being, as an actor. There was no craft in the world that could really do justice to honoring this woman’s legacy. I just had to reduce myself and put all of that aside and open my heart and open my spirit and allow myself to be empty so that she [Tubman] could fill me up and use my voice to share her story. That was something that really challenged me to dig into the depths of my faith. When I consider this woman who could not read one word, could not read the Bible…she could probably rival some of the most read and learned theologians in the world.