Actress Regina King is no stranger to playing strong-minded and confident women on the big screen, having impressed everyone with her performance in the 2018 film If Beale Street Could Talk. Despite a plethora of strong female characters in her filmography, King had extremely positive things to say about a role she played almost 28 years ago.

While reflecting on her work in the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire, King revealed why she wished to be as confident as her character. The actress has recently kept busy and is also starring in a new Netflix film, where she plays an equally confident real-life woman who left a lasting impact on US history. Here is everything King said about her role in Jerry Maguire.

Regina King Aspires to Be as Confident as Her Jerry Maguire Character

Actress Regina King played the role of Marcee Tidwell in the 1996 comedy-drama film Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise in the lead role. The film was a major financial success and earned five nominations at the 69th Academy Awards.

Almost twenty-five years later, King is an Academy Award-winning actress who has received critical acclaim for most of her work. In 2022, King did a joint interview with actress Aunjanue Ellis for Variety. During the interview, she was asked about her role as Marcee Tidwell in Jerry Maguire.

“I felt like, I wish I had her confidence. I wish I had her assuredness. You hear that saying: The woman behind the man, the woman is the backbone. When I read that script, I felt like that [woman] is the force behind it all.”

King made the above statement regarding her character’s confident personality in the film. The Watchmen actress added that she felt Marcee was the most ‘sorted’ character in the film. King also revealed how she related to the character through motherhood, having recently gone through a pregnancy while shooting the movie. Unfortunately, King’s only son passed away in 2022.

Regina King Plays Another Confident Woman in New Movie Based on Shirley Chisholm’s Life

Regina King and strong female characters go hand-in-hand and the same is evident in her most recent project. King stars in the Netflix biographical drama film Shirley. The film is based on the life of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black congresswoman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The film explores Chisholm’s family background, her early years in New York, and her eventual historic presidential run. The film also shines a light on the prejudice against a black woman entering politics. As a result, Chisholm had to face racism and misogyny, which are also explored in the film.

“We chose Shirley because we realized there were far too many people who didn’t even know her name. We felt it was important that people not only know her name, but why she was important, relevant, and inspiring.”

King made the above statement in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, regarding Chisholm’s influential career and inspirational life. Chisholm served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983. She was also the first Black woman presidential candidate, running for the presidency during the 1972 elections.

Shirley is streaming on Netflix.