Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Defies Categorization
October 29, 2025
44 min
Full
97 of 300
October 29, 2025
Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Defies Categorization
0:00 / 44:30
Excerpt playback isn’t available for this episode — use the full-episode link.
Search the Record
Moment search isn’t open for this episode yet
When it opens, you’ll be able to type any phrase and jump straight to the second it was said.
Fresh Air Episodes Around October 29, 2025
Episode 97 of 300 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Defies Categorization
Summary
DaCosta directed the box office hit horror movie <em>Candyman</em> and <em>The Marvels</em>. Her latest, <em>Hedda</em>, is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play, Hedda Gabler. She reimagines the main character as a queer, mixed-race Black woman, played by Tessa Thompson. DaCosta spoke with Tonya Mosley about navigating white spaces in Hollywood, why she loves horror, and her time as a production assistant. <br /><br /><br />Also, jazz critic Martin Johnson reviews bassist Linda May Han Oh’s album <em>Strange Heavens</em>.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Follow Fresh Air on instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nprfreshair/" target="_blank">@nprfreshair</a>, and subscribe to our <a href="http://whyy.org/freshair" target="_blank">weekly newsletter</a> for gems from the Fresh Air archive, staff recommendations, and a peek behind the scenes. <br /><br />See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>
Episode details and artwork are published by the show’s own feed. Sentinel plays short cited excerpts and links every episode back to its publisher.