Lashana Lynch is expecting! Along with an upcoming season The Day of the Jackal—the show has been renewed for season two—the actress is pregnant with her first child, a bump she revealed at the Jackal premiere in New York City this past November.
In her latest role, Lynch got an insight into balancing a tough career and motherhood by playing Bianca Pullman, a detective determined to catch an elusive professional hitman.
“Bianca is married and has a child, and we, as Black women, are not always afforded the chance to discuss balancing work and home life and how much that can be a challenge for us as women who are successful and have a lot to say,” Lynch declared to EBONY.
“I spoke to many powerful women in different positions about starting their training or being a detective. I learned how it affected them as human beings, as well as their relationships. And that’s something we dive into.”
Lynch is balancing her career with that of star and producer on the series. The Bob Marley: One Love star shared that she wanted to take the Rastafarianism of the movie and bring it to the present day of her latest role. “We get to celebrate the versatility and malleability of locs. I think they’re absolutely beautiful, which propelled me into how I developed Bianca.”
Lynch continued, “I had conversations with our directors about having shots from the back and the sides of Bianca so that we had cuts of her hair as a celebration of Black women.”
Lynch also made sure that Bianca’s wardrobe was feminine and efficient (suits with sneakers), ensuring that everything is “as sharp and representative of the strong Black women while unraveling and dismantling any tropes that we all can’t stand. This was the perfect playground for me to play with that and deliver a different production.”
Returning to a detective role was just as much a surprise to the actress as it’s been a joy for Jackal fans. “After No Time to Die, said that I’d done it, and it was wonderful and changed my life in a lot of ways as an artist. I thought I had no reason to revisit that space. And then I read the first three episodes of this show, and my mind completely changed,” she said.
“I discovered this was such an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the Black female experience in this space. I was also determined to be a co-executive producer on the show to oversee the narrative and the importance of Black hair and brown skin on screen. I wanted to develop a timeless show that makes me proud of my legacy and make women who look like me proud to watch as they recognize parts of themselves in Bianca and other female characters on the show.”
The Day of the Jackal, season one finale, is streaming on Peacock.
