Podtalk & Portraits: Actor Christina Jackson on Netflix’s ‘Shirley’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 19, 2024 - 1:15pm

CHICAGO – One of the great lesser known pioneers of social and civil rights history is Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. As a black woman in the 1960s/70s, she not only was elected to the House of Representatives but also ran for president in 1972 against all odds. Actor Christina Jackson was in Chicago on behalf of the new biopic, “Shirley.”

Shirley Chisholm (Regina King, in a stellar performance) was the first black woman elected to Congress in 1968, and within the political atmosphere in 1972 decided to run for the Democratic presidential nomination. Behind Ms. Chisholm was her husband Conrad (Michael Cherrie), her advisors Arthur Hardwick (Terrence Howard) and Mac Holder (Lance Reddick), as well as colleagues Congressman Walter Fauntroy (André Holland) and future politico Barbara Lee (Christina Jackson).

Actor Christina Jackson at Chicago Humanities Fest Night, March 18, 2024
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Christina Jackson has been a veteran character actress since her TV series debut in “Unforgettable” and “Blue Bloods” in 2012. Her breakthrough, as she describes in the Podtalk, was shortly thereafter in “Boardwalk Empire” as Maybelle White. Her other notable role was as Daisy Brown, wife of Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), in the recent film “Devotion” (2022).

Ms. Jackson appeared on Chicago Humanities Festival Night … kicking off their Spring season … at the historic Davis Theatre on the north side with a preview of “Shirley” on March 18th, 2024. Photographer Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com captured these Exclusive Portraits at the event.

Christina Jackson is Barbara Lee in ‘Shirley’
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

In Part One of a Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Christina Jackson talks of her journey with “Shirley” …

In Part Two, on-set inspirations and her career …

Trailer, “Shirley” …

“Shirley” will stream on Netflix beginning March 22nd. Featuring Christina Jackson, Regina King, Terrence Howard, André Holland, Lance Reddick and Michael Cherrie. Written and directed by John Ridley. Rated “PG-13.” The Spring Season information for the Chicago Humanities Festival is available by clicking ChicagoHumanities.org.