A Look Back: Gina Torres Was Storytelling Magic Personified at Dragon Con 2018

Gina Torres has had a long and storied acting career that spans decades. Theatre, TV and film – she’s done it all. After starring USA’s Suits for 8 seasons, she is currently working on a spinoff that will take her character, Jessica Pearson, to Chicago to start a new life with the same intelligence and cunning she exhibited in New York City. Torres isn’t known for making many convention appearances, so it made seeing her for her first appearance at Dragon Con even more exciting.

Torres was a guest of the Military Sci-fi Media track which encapsulates Firefly. She spoke a lot about her experience with the show, which premiered 16 years ago on Fox. Starring Nathan Fillion, the short-lived phenomenon followed a crew of outlaws on their adventures travelling on their ship Serenity throughout the universe. Torres starred as Zoë Washburne, second in command to Fillion’s Captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds.

Torres easily kept the crowd of hundreds of fans entranced with stories of her Firefly experience. Everything about the process of getting the role of Zoë was different, from interviewing – which only included Joss Whedon every time she went in the room to read for the character – to the script that resembled more of a detailed outline. No stranger to sci-fi and fantasy TV, she expressed doubt when Whedon first told her the show would contain no aliens despite being set in space. Torres called what Whedon wrote “smart” and “such a beautifully fleshed out new universe.” For her it wasn’t just that Zoë’s badass nature that drew her to the character; it was also that she was in a loving relationship with Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburne, the pilot of Serenity. On the surface Zoë and Wash seemed like an unlikely relationship but, according to Torres, it was his ability to make Zoë laugh that won her over. That and being an amazing kisser.

When asked if she thinks Firefly could be made in today’s socio-political climate, she answered that not only could it be made it would have a comfortable existence on Netflix or Hulu.

Gina Torres has guest starred on numerous shows. When asked what her favorite one was, she spoke about her time on Alias where she played Anna Espinosa, a ruthless assassin who was always at odd with the main character of Sydney Bristow. She also mentioned her role on Vampire Diaries where she played Bree, a witch and former lover of Damon Salvatore. As a witch, Torres thought her character should have seen her eventual demise coming and prevented it. One of her cameos was on HBO’s Westworld, a role she was offered because she was one of the writer’s dream choice. (By the way, if you’re wondering why there wasn’t more of her in the show, she gave an explanation. Her character was meant to have an arc; however, after she started filming the show went on hiatus. While it was on hiatus, Suits went into production so she was unable to return to Westworld.)

For the past several years, Torres has played Jessica Pearson on Suits. According to her the saving grace of Jessica Pearson, who always appears very strong and calculating, is her humor. Torres sees her as a protector who needs family and love just as much as everyone else does. She discussed the Suits spinoff. It came about after she pitched it to executives. They begin shooting in a few weeks with an aim to debut in early 2019. They plan on being as topical as possible and a little darker than the world created by Suits. Torres wants the show to be entertaining but she also wants it to make you think. She’s also part of the casting process as Executive Producer, and she told a beautiful story about hiring a young Latina actress who later told her that for the first time in her career she felt empowered, safe, and seen because Torres was in the casting room.

Over her thirty year career, Torres has noticed some positive changes – particularly in terms of inclusion. One of the them is that there are so many more black people on-screen being centered in more varied stories. She’s encouraged by the growth of diversity “because we all have such extraordinary points of view. Back in the 60s and 70s, we all had to be perfect because the world was watching. The world has changed a lot since then.”

Torres enchanted the crowd with stories and various musings. Namely, her favorite part of being at the Royal Wedding which was hanging out with her castmates or wanting to play Zoe Saldana or Tessa Thompson’s auntie who taught them a few things in a future project. She told a funny story of Nathan Fillion stealing Jewel Staite’s dog as an on set prank. Her dream is to play Mame on Broadway. Torres’ time at Dragon Con was a peek into the actress’ memories, dreams and future projects. She was incredibly open, insightful, warm and funny. If you have a chance to see her at a future convention, I highly recommend it.