When asked why representation is so important, award-winning actress Viola Davis said, “Because you need to see a physical representation of your dreams.”
This is also true for Savannah Basley, the lead actor who plays Angela on SYFY’s fantasy series “Reginald the Vampire.”
Growing up a goth Black girl in a predominately white town in Canada, Basley saw few people who looked like her in her daily life or on television. She always enjoyed exploring otherworldly adventures and things that go bump in the night through shows and films. It was not until Basley saw Aaliyah dominate her role as Queen Akasha in the 2002 film “Queen of the Damned” that a career in the fantasy, horror, and sci-fi space seemed possible.
“I remember the first time I saw Aaliyah in ‘Queen of the Damned,’ and I was blown away. There was something about the way she moved, and she stole every scene that she was in,” Basley tells Word In Black.
Now, Basley wants other Black women and girls to know that their dreams are possible, too. Watch the interview below to find out how Basley made it in the fantasy, sci-fi, and horror television and film space. She also tells us about the characters and idols who inspired her along the way, her hopes to see more Black women represented, and tips on how they can break into the field.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
