How Natasha Rothwell Wrote Herself Into the Leading Role

As a writer and storyteller, I find myself deeply inspired by the journey of Suzanne Rothwell, a woman who has fearlessly chosen to take control of her life and share her experiences with the world. Her resilience in the face of obstacles and her unwavering commitment to authenticity is truly commendable.

Natasha Rothwell‘s life took a different turn due to an allergy to common over-the-counter pain relievers. Not long after relocating to Los Angeles in 2015 for Issa Rae’s groundbreaking HBO series, Insecure, she underwent dental work that left her in considerable discomfort. In a bid to alleviate the pain with an Advil, she hoped for the best but unfortunately, it didn’t help. As she recognized the labored, gasping sounds coming from her own body, she rushed to Cedars-Sinai in distress.

The solo hospital trip forced the epiphany that, though rarely alone, she was profoundly lonely. “For the better part of my 20s, I was running around like a heat-seeking missile, trying to find the one, to find that piece to make sense of myself,” Rothwell recalls. “Because being alone was the thing I thought I was afraid of.” In search of love, she’d neglected friendships, family bonds, her relationship with herself. “But in that moment, in Cedars, I was like: ‘Oh no, I’m lonely. It’s not that I don’t have someone here that I know—it’s that I didn’t reach out to someone.’”

Approximately a decade has passed since that harrowing event, followed by numerous fruitful years of therapy. Rothwell, who is now recognized for his captivating performances in shows like “Insecure” and “The White Lotus,” finds himself relaxing with a vibrant iced tea drink in the tranquil lounge of a Manhattan hotel. He reflects on how this chilling experience led not only to a personal awakening, but also sparked a creative revolution. On September 13th, Hulu will debut the series that Rothwell both wrote and starred in. Titled “How to Die Alone,” it tells the story of Melissa, a self-conscious and self-destructive airport worker who encounters death during her solitary 35th birthday celebration. In the hospital, she meets an older, wise woman who encourages her to stop worrying about others’ opinions and start doing things that scare her instead. This advice, combined with the realization that she might have died before truly living, sets in motion Mel’s turbulent metamorphosis from a shy individual into a woman determined to embrace self-love, friendships, financial stability, career success, and adventure.

“Would I be satisfied with how I’ve lived if this were the final chapter of my life?” Essentially, Rothwell is emphasizing the value of time, a message delivered humorously, thoughtfully, and authentically rather than in a superficial or overly sweet manner. The show Alone, born from Rothwell’s introspective journey, reflects these sentiments.

In the world of Hollywood stars, some have never known anything but fame: they are the offspring of famous parents, child actors who found success early on, or those who got their big break right after graduating from prestigious drama schools like Juilliard. On the other hand, there are those who led regular lives before finding fame. This is clearly true of Rothwell, who at 43 years old, carries herself with a sense of dignity and brings authenticity to characters living ordinary lives. Additionally, her ability to maintain perspective is evident. She possesses a versatile talent that can sustain her career, and has the discipline to work hard, which has contributed significantly to her steady ascent in the industry.

As a child with an Air Force father, I found myself constantly on the move and starting over in new schools every few years. Yet, amidst this transience, I always felt a deep-seated passion for art. Each relocation offered me a chance to reinvent myself, and so, I’d often ponder, “Who am I today?” One time, while living in a new town, I decided to sport a rattail hairstyle – quite the transformation! My journey towards self-expression continued at Ithaca College, where I initially majored in journalism, partly influenced by Oprah. However, my true love was theater, and so, I eventually made the move to New York City.

She playfully remarked, “I was more like an unusual superhero,” referring to her double life. During the day, she was a theater instructor, and at night, she performed comedy with Upright Citizens Brigade. This juggling act instilled in her an unrelenting work ethic, which she describes as “hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle, hustle.” She found it challenging to relax and enjoy the results of her hard work. At that time, Rothwell struggled to apply her onstage successes to her personal life. As she put it, “Leaving the stage made me feel like Clark Kent.” The question she grappled with was, “How can I become Superman in real life?

Gradually, she found triumph as she tackled each challenge, eventually landing a writer position on SNL in 2014. This workplace wasn’t always welcoming; she expressed concerns about being perceived as a diversity hire and frequently raised her hand to be heard. In contrast, Insecure, a series focusing on the friendships and romantic lives of young professional Black women in L.A., provided a nurturing space for Black talent to thrive. Rothwell particularly flourished under the guidance of Rae and showrunner Prentice Penny. When her spontaneous readings of Kelli Prenny’s lines brought laughter to the writers’ room, they offered her the role. Kelli was more than just a source of humor; she was complex, portraying a character that was funny, sexually confident, body-positive, loyal, emotional, and relatable. Her quick wit was entertaining, but it was Rothwell’s emotional depth, particularly when her character experienced heartbreak or betrayal, that made Kelli feel authentic.

Come summer of 2021, audiences might find themselves appreciating Rothwell’s dual roles – as an unusual yet endearing character in the main group of “Insecure” and as a relatable figure in Mike White’s popular HBO series, “The White Lotus.” This darkly comedic, satirical murder mystery set in a luxury resort follows affluent individuals acting poorly. Belinda Lindsey, played by Rothwell, works as a spa manager who tries to cater to ungrateful guests. In the series, she develops a connection with Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Tanya McQuoid, a troubled heiress. Despite her reservations, Belinda eventually trusts Tanya enough to fund her wellness business idea. As per White’s class-conscious narrative, their partnership unfortunately fails. The audience couldn’t help but empathize with Belinda, who gives so much more than she receives in return. However, Rothwell was surprised by the warm reception. “I didn’t think she would be noticed,” she explains, since service workers are often overlooked in stories about the wealthy, both on-screen and off. “It was heartwarming to see viewers recognize her and understand that she had a quiet battle.

Following the completion of filming the third season of Lotus, where Belinda will make a rare repeat appearance as a character, Rothwell expresses her emotions upon seeing the audience’s reactions. She writes that they remind her of their ‘Kelli’, or the heart and soul of their group, and she enthusiastically welcomes the news of Alone on social media. “I don’t possess the charisma to be a main character in life,” she admits, reflecting her humble nature. This statement resonates; despite being an engaging conversationalist, she doesn’t seek the limelight. “I’m more like a spectator with a foam finger, cheering: ‘Let’s go!'” she says. The outpouring of support she receives touches her deeply. Upon sharing the artwork for Alone and reading the messages, she was brought to tears, feeling that she had moved from the stands onto the field, where her fans were cheering for her.

A project that took a long time to develop, which Rothwell produced under her company Big Hattie, named How to Die Alone, made her take on a unique form of heroism – the kind where the superpower is being in numerous places simultaneously. This involved working with cast members, consulting with the crew, managing episode edits, making countless decisions, and delivering a humorous yet emotional leading role. As she looks back, she feels like gymnast Simone Biles, demonstrating flexibility and versatility in all aspects. She believes her energy source came from finally bringing to life the story she had envisioned for years: “I was more present than ever before on set.

Having role models like Rae and White, prominent figures in TV creation and performance, was beneficial. Notably, while White hasn’t been seen in ‘Lotus’, he previously shared screen time with his co-creator Laura Dern in the iconic HBO series ‘Enlightened’. Rothwell notes a distinctive trait they share: they are uncompromisingly authentic. They vigilantly guard their creative work, and they aren’t hesitant to tell captivating, unusual stories because they wholeheartedly believe in them.

Rothwell decided to infuse Alone with the same self-assuredness she had. In creating the series, this meant relying on the insights she had gathered throughout her career by combining her inner shy Clark Kent and powerful Superman, while acknowledging the fragility that such a transformation entailed. “I aimed for a show that addresses the essence of engaging in life,” she explains. “I didn’t want it to be a tale of before and after. Instead, let’s delve into the chaos. Let’s navigate the complexity together.

Melissa’s choice to take charge of her life doesn’t automatically solve everything; rather, it marks the start of a journey filled with hurdles. “I’m truly trying to change,” she admits halfway through the season, “but it feels like I’m hitting one roadblock after another.” One of the deepest lessons in this series is that self-improvement requires reevaluating every relationship. Melissa must face a seemingly flawless brother (co-creator of South Side and Sherman’s Showcase, Bashir Salahuddin), who criticizes her actions while making his own questionable decisions. It becomes clear to her that her friend and colleague Rory (Conrad Ricamora) is taking advantage of her. This particular storyline explores the idea of growing at a different pace than someone else, as the showrunner Rothwell explains.

The backdrop of the series carries its own hidden meanings. Instead of focusing on the elite passengers’ problems that television often highlights, she prefers to focus on the airport staff from the working class, whose journeys might be more symbolic than literal. As she puts it, “I have always been attracted to characters who are overlooked.” By emphasizing their daily struggles, romantic encounters, aspirations, and inside jokes, both individually and as a collective workforce, “we recognize them as multi-dimensional individuals in our lives that play an essential role in helping us board a plane.

Rothwell adopted a compassionate approach to creating a comfortable environment for her team members, stating, “It’s not just about talking to me, but being able to be your authentic selves without fear of triggering comments or having a tough day as a result.” To reinforce this, she implemented a policy aligning with the show’s portrayal of its self-identified plus-sized, Black, female lead character: “I declared that we would avoid using the term ‘fat’ in a negative context anywhere on set. You couldn’t say, ‘I feel so fat’ after eating a meal.” Given current Hollywood trends, such discussions might pose an occupational risk.

The central experiment in Alone centers around the question, “Let’s find out what transpires when someone embarks on a journey to learn how to love themselves enough to prevent self-harm.” For Rothwell, who is further along this path than Mel, advancement has come from embracing chances she wouldn’t have considered as a theater major yearning for any role in any play. This open-mindedness led her to a standout performance in last year’s blockbuster musical production, Wonka, and now she craves more diverse roles. “I want to try it all,” she says. For instance, “I’m serious: an action hero.” Additionally, she expresses a desire for a horror story role. “I would die for a chance to be in Misery,” she says, “give me the opportunity to portray the villain.

At the moment, she’s concentrating on the projects she currently has planned, given the potential danger to shows featuring women of color posed by the contraction in streaming and the cautious attitude of Hollywood post-strike. In early September, it was announced that she was working on and set to star in an adaptation of “Who TF Did I Marry?”, a popular series of TikTok videos by Tareasa ‘Reesa Teesa’ Johnson. After the strike, there was a genuine concern: “Will my show be affected by that unconscious bias that seems to be causing so many great shows to disappear?” she remembers. That’s why she wants to make the most of this moment because opportunities can vanish at any time.

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2024-09-10 20:07