Jada Pinkett Smith, an American actress, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman has added a new role on to her accomplishments playing Fish Mooney, a series regular, on FOX’s hit GOTHAM. In an interview, Smith said she doesn’t know where her character is heading, but she hopes she will make it through the season.
Fish Mooney has an awesome wardrobe. Do you have any input on that creative process at all?
Smith: I actually do. Our fantastic costume designer usually just comes to me and says, “What do you think about these fabrics? What do you think about this idea?” So, that’s pretty much it. I pretty much told Lisa to just do whatever, whatever she feels because she’s such a fantastic artist, and so we usually just talk about shape and color
What’s your favorite outfit been so far this season?
Smith: What has my favorite outfit been? I think it would probably have to be the one that I wore when I went to see Maroni about returning Penguin to me. And it’s the first time I realized that Penguin was alive, and the first time I see him after seeing him in Maroni’s restaurant, and think it was like teal.
It was this beautiful kind of antique fabric, but yet it had this kind of punk rock edge to it with the trim that she used, which was this kind of spiked teal leather and I just thought it was just a beautiful mixture of the old and the new and even with the shape of it, it was high waisted, but yet it had this kind of like warrior-esque, but quite feminine top that went to it.
It was pretty cool. It was really quite beautiful. Not that comfortable to wear, but beautiful.
At the end of the recent episode, obviously, Fish appears to be leaving. Is there anything at all you can tease about either what’s coming or maybe when she’s coming back?
Smith: Well, it’s not quite over yet, but we’ll see if Fish survives the season. It’s a little tense from here on out. That’s for sure. It’s a little rough on Fish from here on out.
Then, as a follow up, what’s been your favorite scene so far to do?
Smith: I think one of my favorite scenes would have to be that Maroni scene when I go to Maroni and I hear that Penguin’s alive, but I have yet to see him and then he comes from the back, in the kitchen, and I see him for the first time. I think that’s probably one of my favorite scenes that I’ve done so far.
What was it like preparing for this role? There are so many actors that had some much reference material in terms of comic books or previous films for their characters. You character was created for this show. What was it like preparing for the role, not really having much to reference?
Smith: Yes, I think that was one of the reasons why the role was so interesting to me was because it was something that Bruno really wanted a partner in creating this Fish Mooney character, and I love female gangsters. I just love them. I think that they’re really interesting characters and interesting people, and there’s one, Griselda Blanco, who I had studied, and I also love the character from Sunset Boulevard. I did kind of a mish-mosh of those two because Bruno had some suggestions, and it’s coming together, and I was like wow, I would really love to do a mixture of these two women, because the one thing I love about the super villains, and GOTHAM, is that they’re always so colorful. I really wanted her to be grounded, but also have quite a flair.
You are known for playing strong characters, which one would you say is your most favorite to play and is there a character that you would love to play in the future.
Smith: I would say, I love playing Fish Mooney. I think you’re going to see a lot more color from Fish in the next episodes to come. I think you’re going to see a lot more vulnerability. I think you’re going to see a lot more of a human side of Fish Mooney. I see Fish Mooney as kind of an extreme version of a woman. A woman who wears many faces. A woman who is strong, but yet afraid. I would say that the Fish Mooney character has, especially in these coming episodes, has been really fun and I love how smart and perceptive that she is. She just decided to use her skills – you know, she’s a criminal. She decided to be a criminal instead of a doctor. But, I really love her and I love what’s she becoming too. I think in the next few episodes, and definitely towards the end, you’re going to see a whole different Fish, and a woman that definitely has some heart. You’ve seen the ruthless, now you’re going to see some heart.
Catch Smith in GOTHAM on Monday’s on FOX (CTV in Canada). Photo Credit FOX