How She Landed Her Role
You see, Mrs. Steele turned 95 years young in the third week of February (2021), however, she landed the role in Black Panther at the age of 91. In an interview with WSB2-TV-Atlanta, the Atlanta, Ga. native explained how she landed her Black Panther role at such. beautiful age:
“It was just amazing, it truly was,” Steel told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez. “If anyone would have told me I would be an actor, I would’ve said you got to be out of your mind,” Steel said. Steel said she sent her audition tape when Marvel called her last year. “We sent it in and an hour later they said, “Who is that old lady? We want her,'” she recalled.
She shared further details of how her grandson played a role in getting her the part:
And just like that, Steel was now starring alongside some of the biggest names in the game, including Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, and Michael B. Jordan.
It’s Never Too Late, She Started At 88
Equally inspiring, is the fact that Mrs. Steel is living proof that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. Another interesting fun fact about her, is that it wasn’t until she made her 88th birthday, that she even decided to pursue acting.
What Actor Chadwick Boseman Did For Her On Set
On the set of Black Panther, Dorothy Steel described how much of a melting pot and familial environment it was among all the actors and crew. She also revealed that she was not just the ‘Merchant Tribal Elder’ in the film, she was also the “grandmother” of the set:
Via WSB2-TV- Steel said she became the “grandmother” on the set of ‘Black Panther,’ which she said is not just a movie but a movement. “We were one big melting pot of black people and we knew we were doing something that had never been done before. Ya know?” she said.
Steel said that late actor, Chadwick Boseman – the lead character – would do the coolest thing for her everyday, which made it feel even moreso like a family environment:
“Chadwick the King. Every day, he would make sure if I was on the set, he would come by and make sure he gave me a big old hug and kiss,” Steel said.
She Says The Women In The Film Deserve Their Props
As we all know, Black Panther is an all-around powerful statement within Hollywood for several reasons, including the predominantly Black cast, which was a first for Marvel Studios. However, Steele also attributes much of that power to the fact that there were so many strong women in the movie:
She said the women of Wakanda rule ‘Black Panther.’ ”We have power and it’s time for us to step up and take over. That’s what we have to do and take over,” she said.
Well said Mrs. Steel.
