In seven years time, Zazie Beetz has gone from relatively unknown to Hollywood A-lister. And it was all due to a show that takes place in an alternate reality where invisible cars, indoor pet alligators, and glowing lemon pepper wings are commonplace. The brainchild of comedian-rapper-actor and Atlanta-native Donald Glover, Atlanta made undeniable stars out of Beetz and her co-stars LaKeith Stanfield and Brian Tyree Henry, taking them from fresh faces on a niche sitcom to highly coveted top-billed actors, Marvel superheroes, Oscar nominees, Golden Globe-winners.
“I definitely think of my life as a pre- and post-Atlanta experience,” Beetz tells ESSENCE exclusively. “Atlanta fundamentally changed my life.”
For Beetz, the show and her character Vanessa “Van” Keefer have both been pivotal and transformative. Since the hit FX comedy’s pilot episode hit airwaves in September 2016, Atlanta has turned expectations on its ear. The afro-surrealist comedy-drama follows the lives of four somewhat nihilistic Atlanta natives as they navigate their late-20’s and the local rap scene, examining topics both big and small through an absurdist lens. Van, the ex-girlfriend of Earnest “Earn” Marks (Glover) and mother to their young daughter Lottie, is the sole female character on the show, facing her own existential crisis as the rest of the characters chase fame and purpose through hip-hop.
"I FELT VERY FREED FROM WHAT WE EXPECT TELEVISION TO BE,"
