Meagan Tandy – Batwoman

By starrymag | January 31, 2021

By: Kemberlie Spivey

 

 

 

Q) During the premiere of Season 2, we learn that Kate had a letter for Sophie saying she was Batwoman. Will we see Sophie struggle with processing this information during the season?

 

A) Yes, this is obviously such a big blow to Sophie because she had no idea and in the next episode the audience is definitely going to see that she is going to be pretty upset. It also reveals some things about Julia (Christina Wolfe) as well, which is the current relationship that Sophie is in. It’s definitely a big blow and she’s going to have to work through the information that she just received.

 

 

Q) Julia pointed out that Sophie may still be in love with Kate. How does this affect their relationship going forward?

 

A) Ultimately, this puts the biggest bump in their relationship, and it is terrible because they just got together. This is only a few days after the season finale and with Julia already suspecting right off the top that Sophie is still in love with Kat it definitely is making Julia question things and now, she’s trying to figure out well is this is a relationship that I should be in. But also, for Sophie, because she just got that letter, so she is also questioning things as well. This is a huge monkey wrench in their relationship.

 

Q) With Kate missing, how does Sophie feel about someone new taking over the new mantle as Batwoman? 

 

A) People will be interested to see how that comes out because keep in mind up until that letter, she really had no idea. So, when Sophie had that very random relationship with Batwoman, she had no idea that was Kate. So, now that we got a whole new Caped Crusader coming in here who could be Ryan Wilder (Javicia Leslie), Sophie is still trying to figure out, “Wait a minute, the letter just said that Kate was Batwoman.” So, now she is not even realizing a whole new person is coming in. When she finally gets to meet face-to-face with the brand new Batwoman, I think the fans will be very intrigued and responsive.

 

Q) What can we expect to see from Sophie and Ryan’s relationship this season? 

 

A) The very interesting thing with those two is they have a little bit of a past in that Sophie used to arrest Ryan all the time because Ryan was always in the wrong place, wrong time, always getting busted and Sophie was always having to do all the books for her. So, now that Ryan has kind of popped back into Gotham, their first introduction is right there in an interrogation room. So, they definitely have a past, definitely some heat between them, but it’s going to be really cool.

 

Q) Last season Sophie came out to her mom and finally accepted herself. Can we expect to see more about how Sophie navigates this new chapter in her life?

 

A) Oh absolutely! That was definitely such a big, huge thing for Sophie in Season 1. Now that she is out to her mom, she is trying to be way more comfortable with her sexuality and now that she is in this new relationship with Julia she is trying her best to stand in her truth. But remember she just got this letter talking about Kate admitting she’s Batwoman and that she loves her. She wants to stand true to who she is, but now she has to deal with all this ex drama. She is definitely going to be struggling, for sure, but it definitely going to be an emotional rollercoaster.

 

Q) Some of the most deliciously and intensely dramatic scenes are between Sophie and Alice (played by Rachel Skarsten). The way you both deliver the drama through your expressions at times say a lot more than the dialogue your characters share. Talk about the way you and Rachel work off one another in order to showcase the palpable energy we see portrayed on screen.

 

A) I love Rachel so much! We have such a wonderful friendship that is behind the screen, which has been so lovely to have. I think that natural dynamic that we already have does get to flow into the screen, especially when we have scenes together because it’s so easy to play off of each other. We both try our best to add whatever we can to any of the dialogue to make it even more cringeworthy. If she’s like interrogating me in a room or I’m supposed to be interrogating her, like we can kind of just play off that dynamic really, really well. She is so much fun to work with. We always have such a great time.

 

Q) What are some episodes fans should look out for this season?

 

A) Oh yeah! Oh my gosh! Honestly, I can’t pin out any particular episode because now that we got Ryan Wilder on the show that obviously is a huge addition to the show. Literally every single episode is going to be something brand new, something really, really shocking and emotionally gets crazy. Even for Sophie because now she is trying to figure out her relationship with Julia, but also – wait a minute – Kate is gone and now Jacob (Dougray Scott) is trying to find her. But then he just finds out that she is also Batwoman. It’s some drama every episode.

 

Q) The series showcases multiple queer characters and really makes a point to lift as well as interweave their stories and not hold back. What is it about the writing behind the series that keeps setting a high bar in making this type of representation an essential priority?

 

A) I think honestly just the fact that they in the writer’s room are really wanting to champion this huge thing. We have a wonderful brand-new superhero who is black, who is LGBTQ+, who’s now literally the leader in Gotham when it comes to being Batwoman. The writers are all just so creative. They are all very, very experienced and so they always want to make sure that’s is truly at the forefront of every episode because it is something that has never been before. It is something that is very, very groundbreaking and even with Sophie being black, female, LGBTQ+, but she is also a part of law enforcement in a way and that got its struggles as well. People will see what’s that going to be like throughout the season as well. I know the writers definitely make a point to make sure, of course, we stay creative. Of course we stay entertaining, but it is also some groundbreaking work and we are telling some real stories.

 

Q) As a woman of color and the recent political landscape, what does seeing a woman of color on screen as the superhero signify for yourself as much as the audience?

 

A) Honestly, I think it’s awesome because one thing I have said to people is like for me personally I absolutely love Batman. Batman is the dude, right? But Batman, he is typically always a white male and you don’t really see Batman as anything else other than a white man. Although, we are Batwoman. You know, I’m pretty sure that the right off the bat assumption would always be that she would be white. So, the fact that we get to explore this new avenue where she can actually be a woman of color, she can be black and that is also what I am I can see that on screen as well. I think that is very important because of a lot of little girls that are looking up to this stuff. It all just goes a part of the influences we put out into the world and I’m glad this is going to be one of the shows with a nice diverse example of superheroes.

 

Q) You are in a show that has so many inspiring women, but you also have a non-profit that is about empowering girls. Please tell us a little about your organization Empire Girls and Girl Talk and what inspired you to start it.

 

A) Girl Talk is truly the apple of my eye. I love it so much. It’s a one-day convention that I host in the summer for girls ages twelve to nineteen years old. It’s literally just an empowerment convention. Like if you want to hear all things about inspiration, anything that motivated you come to this. It’s fun! My brother DJ’s. We also provide backpacks and school supplies for each and every attendant. Our last event we had about one hundred and fifty girls. So, for my organization to provide those backpacks for the girls was just so rewarding. With Empire Girls as well, that’s more on a every three-months type of basis. It is mostly online now because of everything with COVID, but every couple of months I wanted the girls to be able to have an opportunity where they can still be able to receive everything that they would get from the convention. All the empowerment, all that motivation and Empire Girls is the way for the girls to meet in a smaller setting. We still have speakers come in and speak to the girls. Honestly, it is so much fun. What inspired me to start this was literally being on a show called “Jane By Design.” When I was on that show, I was actually getting cyber bullied a lot. There were so many people coming for me saying all this craziest of things and I just remember sitting back being like, “Wow! This is awful.” Someone needs to tell these kids that this isn’t right and that they shouldn’t be using their own platform for something like this. Once I realized my influence, that there were people looking at me because I’m on television, I was like, “Well, I can’t be doing this just to gain followers.” I was like let me use my influence for good and it really inspired me to want to do something that really targets this demographic that is watching these shows to give them something really positive to look forward to.

 

Q) What message do you hope Batwoman sends to little boys and girls who may be tuning in?

 

A) I hope they feel represented and if they look at Batwoman and Batwoman doesn’t look like them because they are of a different race. I hope that they at least can still see, wow, being a superhero just in life can look like anybody. It can look like this person or that person. I hope that even though now that she is black and LGBTQ+, I really do hope it leads off to everybody that “wow, anybody can now be a superhero.” I can be a superhero in my own life because she doesn’t just represent black and LGBTQ+, she represents so much more than that. I hope everyone feels inspired.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the work you do?

 

A) First, I want to say thank you so much guys! You have been such wonderful supporters of me and this career. It has meant so much to me. I always do my best to keep very, very real. I would never want someone to look up to and think like “Well, Meagan got this perfect situation, perfect life and look at what she’s doing. Even when I do my Girl Talk conventions, I always just want the girls to know I am out here grinding it out just like what you can do as well. I want them to know you can achieve anything you put your mind to and not let society basically dictate what your limits are. You are limitless as long as you choose to be!