Looking for someone with peak screen presence? It's Janelle Monáe. Whether it’s in a film or show, via her music, or perhaps even giving an acceptance speech when being recognized for her work, she’s utterly captivating courtesy of her inspiring energy and the palpable intention behind everything she does. You can see it in her work in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and you can feel the gratitude in her speeches and interviews while celebrating the film’s awards season run.

Given Glass Onion has been streaming on Netflix for nearly a month, this will be your one and only warning; this interview contains Glass Onion spoilers! If you’ve yet to see the film, go watch it on Netflix and this interview will be waiting for you when you’re ready.

With that taken care of, Monáe tackles not one, not two, but three roles in Glass Onion. She plays Andi, she plays Andi’s sister Helen, and she also plays Helen pretending to be Andi. It’s not an easy range to navigate, but Monáe pulls it off beautifully, managing to make both Helen and Andi feel whole, and using the connection between the two to bolster the strength and urgency of Helen’s mission.

It’s a performance feat that’s rightfully being recognized this awards season with Monáe being named Best Supporting Actress by the National Board of Review and earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Critics Choice Awards. While celebrating all of that recognition, Monáe joined me for a Collider Ladies Night conversation to revisit some of her journey from studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy to standing at podiums accepting awards for her work in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

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