“I certainly wanted to sit with the material for as long as I could so I could honor the telling of her story in a way that would be fitting,” Hinds tells TheWrap
Reid Nakamura | June 9, 2017 @ 6:01 PM
Last Updated: June 10, 2017 @ 10:15 AM
WGN America may have decided not to renew the slavery drama “Underground,” but fans are still reflecting on Aisha Hinds’ astonishing episode-long monologue from earlier this season, which immediately launched her and the show into the awards conversation when it aired in April.
“The tough life that Harriet Tubman had to live, I think I sort of had a cake walk,” Hinds said in an interview with TheWrap, though calling it a “cake walk” is certainly underselling the work she’s done on the show since joining the cast.
Hinds was tasked with carrying the entirety of the sixth episode of the season, in which Tubman delivers an impassioned speech about her life and experience to a roomful of abolitionists, and her performance drew raves from critics and viewers.
“There was a lot of anxiety going into that episode, and I certainly wanted to sit with the material for as long as I could so I could honor the telling of her story in a way that would be fitting,” Hinds said.
But like the underground railroad itself, Hinds insists that “Underground” was a group effort from start to finish.
“You can’t truly single out one person,” Hinds said. “It’s a collective, and that’s the spirit of the show. When people think about the underground railroad, historically people have always thought about Harriet Tubman associated with it. But she really depended on so many people to make that journey and to execute those missions.”
“And in the same way, we rely on one another to execute this show and to tell these stories,” she said.
11 Recent Cancellations We're Still Upset About, From 'Sense8' to 'Sweet/Vicious' (Photos)
It's been a rough few weeks of cancellations for fan-favorite shows like "Sense8," "Pitch" and "Sweet/Vicious." Here's the ones we're still super bummed about.
Sense8 Messy and homey, just like a real family. It's also not great timing that Netflix canceled this fan-favorite diverse and inclusive sci-fi drama on the first day of Pride Month.
Netflix
Sweet/Vicious Jules and Ophelia were the vigilantes we needed right now, but unfortunately MTV didn't agree.
MTV
Girl Meets World Okay, sure, we've had months to come to terms with this "Boy Meets World" spinoff not finding a new home, but it's still too soon, okay?
Disney Channel
Pitch Major League Baseball is ready for its first female player, but Fox wasn't ready to give Ginny Baker more than a season to prove herself.
Fox
Underground This timely, modern take on American slavery was canceled as its network exited the scripted game, but fear not, creator and showrunner Misha Green has already promised they're looking for a new home for Harriet Tubman and the gang.
WGN America
Frequency Perhaps not a surprise cancellation as ratings were never there for the better-than-the-premise-sounds father-daughter drama, but it's still a bummer we won't get to continue spending time with Frank and Raimy in the future - and the past.
The CW
The Get Down Baz Luhrmann's visionary deep dive into the 1970s birth of hip hop was canceled after just one season, breaking a Netflix streak and millions of fans' hearts.
Netflix
Incorporated A futuristic drama about the dangers of corporations having too much power seems timely and important, but not according to Syfy, who canceled it after just one season.
Syfy
Please Like Me This Australian import garnered a passionate following, and after four seasons, despite creator and star Josh Thomas reassuring "we are really happy with what we've made and feel like it is complete," fans were still hoping for more.
Pivot
Scream Queens "American Horror Story" is still going strong six seasons in, so why couldn't its funnier, younger cousin last more than 2 seasons?
Fox
American Crime John Ridley's masterful deep-dive into uncomfortable social issues season after season was cut down too soon, when these stories need to be told more than ever.
ABC
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Please pick up “Underground,” Netflix
It's been a rough few weeks of cancellations for fan-favorite shows like "Sense8," "Pitch" and "Sweet/Vicious." Here's the ones we're still super bummed about.