On a brilliant sunny morning in Los Angeles through a Zoom video name, Dominique Fishback was sporting a Romeo and Juliet-inspired sweatshirt (“I’m a romanticist at coronary heart,” she says) and a 100-watt smile to match the sunshine coming into her room.

Fishback’s heat demeanor matches many of the characters she’s performed beforehand; extra just lately she had a BAFTA-nominated function in Judas and the Black Messiah and scene-stealing elements in HBO’s The Deuce and Present Me a Hero. However Swarm is her large departure. Within the Amazon restricted sequence from co-creators Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, Fishback delivers a daunting efficiency as an unassuming and introverted bloody serial killer.

Fishback giggles and nods her head on the point out of the dichotomy. She’s nothing just like the character she portrays in Swarm, however it’s simply one of many roles she’s most pleased with in her profession. With a powerful religious base and nice information of self, Fishback says she determined to tackle the problem of taking part in Dre, a personality that originally gave her pause. “We live in a world of duality. You may’t have gentle if there isn’t a darkish,” she says.

Under, the star chats with The Hollywood Reporter about why she felt this was the precise time to indicate a never-before-seen aspect of her appearing chops, what it took to climb into (and out of) the darkness, and she or he additionally shares her interpretation of the ending.

How have been you initially launched to the character of Dre? And, did something on these script pages provide you with pause?

[Donald Glover and Janine Nabers] advised me concerning the function and so they needed me to play Marissa [who is played by Chloe Bailey]. However once I learn the script, I knew that I needed to play Dre. After which I advised Donald and he mentioned, “Nicely, if that’s the function you need, that’s the function you get!”  After which I mentioned to myself, “Now, why did I select to do that?” Something that gave me concern or made me anxious, I then needed to journal about it. And, I prayed. I requested God, if this isn’t in alignment for what you see for me, please take away it simply; in any other case, I’m going to go full pressure and be the actor that I believe you created me to be.

So, I used to be struggling and I used to be toying with the thought of, what does it imply to be gentle on the planet? I used to be used to taking part in characters who have been deemed “gentle,” and, what does that imply to go “darkish”? I needed to remind myself, in addition to different artists who I do know and have as associates, that as a way to be gentle you additionally must go the darkish aspect, or to the darkness. I imply, If I’m going to know to the fullest extent of what it means to be that, then I have to take it to the place it’s vital. I additionally imagine we live in a world of duality. You may’t have gentle if there isn’t a darkish, or good with out evil. I’m an artist and I at all times need the chance to indicate simply what I do know I can do.

So, I journaled and regarded to see if there was something that gave me pause. If it was one thing I felt strongly about, then I may deal with it to see the place it was coming from. If was from the concern of notion — how I used to be going to look, what folks have been going to suppose or how they have been going to interpret the undertaking, that was past my management. And I couldn’t be restricted by a concern of what folks have been going to suppose.

There’s a comical aspect of Dre amongst all that dreariness and demise. Was {that a} new discovery of a expertise inside your self, or have you ever at all times had comedic timing, and this was simply your first undertaking bringing that out to an viewers?

I at all times needed to do the comedy factor. I like comedy! , I like Jim Carey. So once I’m on the premiere watching [Swarm and] I’m listening to folks say, “Oh, the stroll! The stroll!” or “Dominique makes her face identical to putty!” I like that. Additionally, I cherished the performances of somebody like Charlize Theron in Monster, Boys Don’t Cry [starring Hilary Swank] and Heath Ledger because the Joker [in The Dark Knight].

Did you examine the constructs of fandom or parasocial relationships? Did you have a look at social media interactions and exchanges, and give it some thought being the truth for some folks in society in the present day?

Folks have requested me if I studied fandom and went down that rabbit gap. I actually didn’t, as a result of it wasn’t vital. Dre, she stems from love! She loves Ni’Jah, as she loves Marissa. And her love simply will get convoluted in a darkish means. However, it’s love. And I don’t want to review something to know what it looks like to like any person.

However I did ask for a therapist to be on set. Not only for me, however for the opposite actors who may probably be triggered, in addition to for the crew.

You talked about your religious beliefs earlier and the way that helped floor you in taking part in such a troubled character (who loves). Is that one thing you carry with you in all of your appearing roles?

Sure, I do. As a result of as an actor, you do go locations. I imply, it’s play fake, however relying on the kind of artist you might be, your thoughts is probably the most highly effective human software on the planet. I actually manifested my desires from East New York. I noticed it and mentioned, “I don’t understand how I’m going to get it, however I would like and I need that.” And now I see it occurring proper earlier than my eyes! So, the thoughts is extraordinarily highly effective.

Simply to be sincere, the day earlier than we needed to do the scene [in Judas and the Black Messiah] the place I’m over Daniel [Kaluuya]’s physique and the bullets are coming in, I used to be so emotional all night time. I had a lot nervousness, and I used to be like, what’s unsuitable with me? After which I believed, your physique can’t differentiate what your thoughts made you imagine. I got here into that scene feeling like, when the viewers sees me have a look at Daniel, I need them to see Deborah [Johnson, Fred Hampton’s fiancée] taking a look at Chairman Fred Hampton and see that she cherished him. And I needed the viewers to imagine that this nine-month pregnant lady would cowl his physique [after he is assassinated]. So, I’d be round taking a look at pics and say, “Hmm, Chairman Fred Hampton had a dimple.” Then I’d say to myself, “Oh wow, Daniel has a dimple.”  However when it got here time after we had to try this scene, I needed to preserve reminding myself that nothing dangerous goes to occur to Daniel.

So, I knew the ability of permitting your self to imagine the circumstances of a personality and I needed to be nicely ready. So, for instance, with the primary kill scene involving Damson Idris [in Swarm, episode one], I had my good friend Monique Coleman come and sit on set that day. She and I have been in Excessive College Musical and a bunch of various issues, and she or he’s like my large sister; we’ve been associates happening 10 to 12 years. I wanted her, somebody who knew me, to be on set and say, “You’re good, you’re okay,” and simply be there with me throughout these quiet moments.

Which episode or scene in Swarm was probably the most troublesome, or the hardest to interrupt out of character from? And, how did you get better?

Episode seven was very disturbing for me. And particularly, the scene the place Dre kills her girlfriend, Rashida [portrayed by Kiersey Clemons]. Why? Nicely, for one, Dre cherished her. Dre didn’t love these different folks she killed. And the killing was extra intimate; she actually killed her together with her naked arms. With different killings, there was an object between them, however not with Rashida. And her killing was the one one you see Dre having regret or emotion about.

And after that scene, once I went house, I used to be so emotionally and mentally drained, I couldn’t keep awake. It was so exhausting to remain awake. The therapist was on set on that day. I undoubtedly cried after that scene, and I took a while to speak to her.

Had been there any difficulties with episode 4 and capturing the deep remedy scenes with Billie Eilish?

It was Billie’s first time [acting] and she or he was simply sensible! I used to be simply watching her and it was sensible to see the moments that she took. As a result of for me, with Janine and Don [Glover], I acquired to see why Dre believes these ladies. I don’t care that she’s drained; I would like to grasp why her thoughts is that straightforward to be virtually manipulated. And never speaking to Billie about it, she simply did the scenes naturally when she mentioned, “Ni’Jah is a goddess, however so are you, and robust too.” Or when Eva [Eilish’s character] says to Dre that they’ve a reference to all these names that finish in “A,” and says Marissa’s title. Or when she and the opposite ladies inform Dre she’s so fairly, or Eva tells Dre that when she speaks to Ni’Jah, “she’s going to forgive you.” [Editor’s note: In the previous episode, Dre slips into a VIP afterparty where Ni’Jah is having fun, gets close to her idol and bites her after losing grip of reality momentarily. Dre manages to flee the party and avoid being captured by security.]

It’s like they’re leaning into Dre’s story and making her imagine that they imagine her, and are usually not judging her. Dre’s scenes with Eva have been a few of the most profound for me. That’s the place we acquired to listen to the story about Dre and her grandmother, and the difficulty about “spilling the milk” [to show how Dre’s bloodlust started when she was a child]. Up till this level, you solely see Dre being very, very quiet, or speaking about Ni’Jah. Now, she will get to speak about her personal private experiences.

But in addition, the best way Eva talked to Dre might be the explanation why Eva acquired annihilated. The viewers in all probability doesn’t bear in mind this, however in case you return to episode one, Marissa says, “You’re my Day One, Dre!” In Dre’s eyes, that’s in all probability the most effective factor anybody may ever say to her if she loves them, and it was Marissa. However now, we’re in a scene the place Dre is drained, she’s in her automotive, she desires to go away and she or he desires her telephone [stolen by Eva’s cult to keep her from leaving], and Eva says one thing about, we’ve been no matter to one another from Day One. It’s a wrap! It’s over for Eva and the remainder of them at that second. [Dre hits Eva with her car and rolls over her multiple times; she kills several other cult members with her vehicle before escaping and driving away].

Episode 4 was troublesome from the standpoint that there have been fully new actors coming in. And we’re capturing like 17 hours days with this emotional content material. I needed to guarantee that my new solid members felt the power of us being excited that they have been there, and feeling cherished, and never really feel my power then of being exhausted. Don [Glover] undoubtedly needed to guarantee that everybody on the set at all times felt needed, cared about and cherished. There are numerous units the place you don’t essentially really feel that.

What do you bear in mind most concerning the comical, extremely sexual and intimate meals dependancy scene in episode three with the George Clemons [played by Byron Bowers]?

Oh, it was so disgusting! I used to be like, I’m going to be sick! I don’t even eat that a lot junk meals, however to try this blended with the intimacy they have been sharing, it was lots for me. However I believed that Byron was so humorous and his dry humorousness is unimaginable. So, it was enjoyable!

I at all times needed to do comedy. Regardless that this isn’t comedy, or extra like a darkish comedy, I did get the prospect to work with some comedic freaking geniuses. I imply, I believe [Bowers] is so humorous. And X Mayo, who performs one of many strippers named Cheeks, she is hilarious. And lot of these scenes have been ad-libs. So, I acquired to play off of them and add comedy as part of my repertoire now.

Dre is a cold-blooded assassin, there’s no mistaking that a part of her persona. However what do you consider Dre as an individual? Do you see any humanity in her?

As an actor, you study that you simply can not choose the character. That’s like 101 in appearing and finding out the craft. As a result of if you do this, you don’t permit the viewers to see the humanity. Somebody advised me that they have been frightened of Dre, however that additionally they felt numerous empathy for her. That was actually vital for me as an actor to listen to. As a result of in case you don’t really feel these issues concerning the character, then it’s like, who cares! Somebody even advised me that episode one was like a villain origin story for Dre. I get that.

, the world form of occurred to Dre. She wasn’t asking to harm anybody. She needed to be with Marissa and hearken to Ni’Jah. However Khalid [Damson Idris] was at all times selecting at her, on a regular basis. That’s no excuse for what she did, however as an actress, it gave me a means in. I imply, calling her bizarre and all of that. Dre wasn’t making an attempt to trouble anybody.

What was it like working with Paris Jackson?

With the Paris Jackson character [in episode two], let me say first that I actually love Paris! And I form of wished that Dre and Hailey [Jackson’s character] may have taken a street journey collectively, however that isn’t who Dre is. It’s simply her and Marissa, however now that Marissa is gone, it’s simply her attending to Ni’Jah. If there’s any disruption, they must go. However Dre didn’t must do Hailey that means. [Dre shoots and kills Hailey because she wouldn’t stop talking about how much the two of them are alike.]

The ending could be very ambiguous and we don’t know if Dre meets Ni’Jah at finish of the ultimate episode, or if she’s misplaced in a surreal fantasy in her head. Which is it?

I imagine it was meant to finish that means, and it’s as much as you, the viewers to resolve. I favored the ending that means. However bear in mind, when Dre lastly jumps on stage and meets Ni’Jah, it’s Marissa whose face she sees, not Ni’Jah’s.

Will we see Dre pop up in one other season or in one other sequence by Donald and Janine?

No, this was a restricted sequence. That is it for that character.

Any extra ideas about what you’ll take with you after giving what some are saying is a brilliantly scary efficiency?

There are at all times tasks that I do this someway hook up with my very own private life and what I’ve realized in my very own private religious journey. And one of many issues that I got here into contact with proper earlier than filming this present was the thought of repressive reminiscences. And how one can have experiences which might be so traumatic, that you simply don’t keep in mind that they ever occurred in any respect. I can imagine that Dre doesn’t bear in mind the trauma that she had. I imagine that she was so abused in her life that I wouldn’t be stunned if numerous her reminiscences are repressed. And that she solely has the reminiscences of when Marissa got here round, and the way Marissa gave her a lot love. I’m so glad that I didn’t attempt to map out every little thing about who Dre is, or who she was, however as a substitute I trusted my instincts as an actor. And I trusted God to let my instrument be no matter it wanted to be to service the story.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

Swarm is now streaming on Prime Video.