Tessa Thompson recently delved into her extensive career and her profound collaborative relationship with director Nia DaCosta during a Collider Ladies Night interview. Their partnership, which began at the Sundance Institute, has evolved into a unique dynamic where they act as each other's "shadow managers," offering constant communication and support across their respective film careers.

Thompson and DaCosta's connection solidified at the Sundance Institute, where DaCosta, then 25, was developing her feature debut, Little Woods. Thompson recalls DaCosta's unwavering determination, stating, "Day three, she said, ‘When I make this movie, will you make it with me?’ She didn't say ‘if,’ she said ‘when.’" Witnessing DaCosta's steadfast vision under the mentorship of industry giants like Robert Redford deeply impressed Thompson, leading her to commit to working with DaCosta regardless of her own involvement in specific projects.

Their collaboration extends beyond the set. Thompson revealed, "We are in constant communication around our careers. We call each other as our shadow managers, in a way." This close-knit professional friendship sees them reviewing scripts for each other and offering advice on career decisions, such as Thompson encouraging DaCosta to pitch for her Marvel movie, confident in her success.

The latest fruit of their partnership is Hedda, DaCosta's bold reimagining of Henrik Ibsen's iconic play, Hedda Gabler, with Thompson in the titular role. Thompson initially didn't realize DaCosta intended for her to star, but the director's vision for the adaptation quickly solidified her decision. Taking on a classic text like Hedda Gabler, a role famously tackled by esteemed actresses such as Cate Blanchett and Maggie Smith, presented a significant challenge. However, Thompson's "instant yes" came when she understood DaCosta's intention "to really, really put your spin on it to make it imperative for it, particularly on film." DaCosta's approach was to "take it apart and rebuild it, kind of in her image and in the way that made sense for her, and to accentuate the things inside of the text that really sung for her."

While producing Hedda, Thompson observed DaCosta's directorial prowess firsthand. She noted DaCosta's remarkable ability to communicate complex cinematic ideas to department heads, even inspiring a legendary cinematographer like Sean Bobbitt. Thompson explained, "To see him so lit up and excited by her ideas, her ability to communicate to him what it is that she wants, and even to stretch him... he feels safe and comfortable and interested in doing that with and for her."

DaCosta's unique vision for Hedda infused the film with a "buoyancy," "pizzazz," and a "wink and a bit of mischief" not typically associated with the classic tragedy. This allowed Thompson to tap into a distinct portrayal of Hedda, resulting in what is lauded as one of her most fearless and dazzling performances. Hedda is currently available for streaming on Prime Video, offering audiences a chance to witness this exceptional collaboration and innovative adaptation.