Insomniac Games’Marvel’s Spider-Manseries has grown into one of PlayStation’s biggest and best franchises. The series has garnered a strong critical reception with each of its three entries, thanks in part due to its ability to fuse sharp, varied gameplay with meaningful storytelling. The games have also introduced numerous memorable characters, perhaps none more so thanHailey Cooper,Miles Morales' Deaf love interest.
Game Rant recently sat down with Natasha Ofili, the actress who plays Hailey, to discuss her career (via ASL Translation). An advocate for Deaf representation in the media, Natasha discussed how she came to play the role of Hailey Cooper inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2and the spin-off, Miles Morales, as well as some of the challenges she has faced in her career so far. She also touched on some of the positive changes she’s seen in the industry recently.This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Natasha Ofili Discusses Her Career
Q: What made you decide to pursue an acting career?
Natasha: Oh, I love that question. Before I became an actor, I was actually a fashion designer. That was my career for six years. I was overseeing hearing employees, and it was obviously a huge jump to becoming an actor from there. Actually, a friend of mine worked for Deaf West Theater. He’s the one who pursued me for so many years and kept telling me to do it, but I was like, no, no, that’s not me. That’s not my thing. But I did have an opportunity to perform a monologue. It was called The Hearing Boyfriend, and that monologue is about a hearing boyfriend having a deaf girlfriend, and it was a bad situation. I performed and dressed as the hearing boyfriend but looked like the deaf girlfriend.
That really resonated with me, because in my past, I had an ex-hearing boyfriend who was abusive. So, you know, I was passionate about performing it, and at that moment I was vulnerable, and I performed it on camera. That made me fall in love with acting. From there, it just built up, little by little, by word of mouth. Then I set up my website and asked for a referral to an agency. Then one director, his name was Paul. I forgot his last name, but he referred me to an agent, Gail Williamson, who was my agent at the time. She saw my work, was impressed, signed me up, and took me under her wing. She really pushed me out there and believed in me.
Landing the Role of Hailey in Marvel’s Spider-Man
Q: You’ve been involved in some high-profile projects, none more so than theMarvel’s Spider-Manfranchise. Could you talk us through how you came to play the role of Hailey?
Natasha: I was really grateful and happy to be able to get work on different high-profile projects. Working with Ryan Murphy on The Politician, and then, of course, Spider-Man: Miles Morales. When I got the audition, they didn’t say it was Marvel. That was a secret. So they were looking for an artist, a spray painter, and a woman who was Black and Deaf. So I auditioned on tape. I filmed myself on tape, and then I sent it in, and then I got it. There was no callback or anything! Then, once my agency told me I’d got it, they said, keep it secret, but it’s actuallyMarvel, and it’s aSpider-Mangame.
My mind was blown. The whole process was really cool. The body scan, and getting my face done, everything was crazy. It was so different compared to working on set. It’s two different processes. Surprisingly, when working on the game, at first I had a small role, but while working on set with Nadji Jeter, who plays Miles Morales, the director saw our chemistry together, and they were like, “hmm, wait a minute, they’ve got something good going on here.” So we did some improvised stuff that wasn’t part of the original script, and off the back of that, it grew into something bigger. When the game was released, I didn’t realize everyone would love Hailey, and she went viral. It was awesome.
Q: Now that you’ve experienced both, do you prefer working on video games or TV/movies? And would you consider working on other video games, outside of theMarvel’sSpider-Manuniverse in the future?
Natasha: Great question. Firstly, I had no idea what to expect with the video game, working on the blank canvas in the studio, so it was really challenging for me to think, feel, and imagine. I really loved that challenge, actually. It really pushed me to be inventive and to do my job and attempt to really convey as an actor. So I really love both. WithTV and movies, they have their challenges too, with a director pushing you to do things a certain way. Regarding working in another video game universe, that’s the first time I’ve ever gotten that question. I’ve never thought of that, but yeah, I would love that. I think it would be cool to do it, to try different games and a different character.
Q: It must make you proud to be the first Deaf Black woman to appear in a video game. Where would you say that ranks, in terms of your proudest achievements so far in your career?
Natasha: Every job I’ve done, like The Politician and Undone with Amazon, my short film (The Multi), then playing aDeaf character in a video game, Spider-Man, sets the bar higher and higher, and I keep climbing it. It means I can continue to show my gift as an actor and I hope my work being out there speaks and signs to Black and brown, Deaf and hard of hearing youth, and especially Black and brown youth and people in general. Hopefully, they see me and think, I can do that! I’m trying to break that stigma. It makes me proud to continue, and it gives me joy to not give up.
Natasha Ofili on Her Toughest Career Challenges to Date and Improvements in the Industry
Q: You must have encountered a fair amount of adversity in your career to date. What are some of the toughest challenges that you’ve faced so far?
Natasha: I feel like every step of the way will always be some kind of challenge, and usually they are beautiful challenges. During my career, I feel like working as an actor, I’ve faced some challenges, but it wasn’t anything too difficult that I couldn’t overcome. I feel like when it comes to challenges, I am always approachable and will happily say, hey, this doesn’t seem right, how can we find a solution? Regarding intersectionality, sometimes I feel like, with the Deaf aspect of working in Hollywood, we only have one lens, and that’s white most of the time. Buthow can we share that knowledge of intersectionalitywithin the Deaf community? We have Black and brown Deaf people too.
We have social economic classes and different backgrounds as Deaf people growing up. So I feel that’s lacking. We do face that challenge, because I feel like Hollywood still has that one lane. It’s just that one box. I have always been an advocate and always have that conversation about intersectionality. Another challenge is the fact that I’m not just an actress, but also a producer, a writer, and a filmmaker. I feel like it’s a new thing, because they’re not used to having someone like that, a Deaf person that’s writing, a Deaf person producing and making quality work. How can I fit in the box with that? So, therefore, I need to roll my sleeves up and continue pushing.
Q: You have been an advocate of Deaf representation in the media. Have you seen the industry evolve from where you started to where you are now? Are you seeing that positive change?
Natasha: Yeah, I’ve definitely seen some changes. I’ve seen some more representation and visibility, which is great. However, I feel like there’s still a way to go. I feel like we need to put more Deaf talent, qualified Deaf people behind the scenes as well, writers, producers, people making decisions, executive producers, for example. Because I feel like right now it’s still missing that texture. So how can we keep pushing ourselves to not be afraid to create more things that are notwhat we currently see in Hollywood, away from that safe area? How can we break out of that safe zone? So I’m looking forward to seeing more of that happening.
Q: Have you seen any issues become more prominent, or any backward steps in the industry?
Natasha: No, not necessarily backward steps. However, I do see forward steps. But I don’t see any Black, Deaf women like myself. I don’t see enough of us. I still feel a little lonely, and as I continue to progress, I become more lonely. It doesn’t feel good, but it’s nice to see more people that look like me on the screen.
Q: Can you tell us about any future projects?
Natasha: Currently, I’m writing a feature film. I worked on aproject with Coldplay(the feelslikeimfallinginlove music video), and I was the creative director and lead performer. The music video was inspired by a concept I pitched to Chris Martin. Coldplay is backing the concept to become a feature film, which is brilliant. I’m writing the outline, and I’m really immersed in it now. I’m still auditioning. Also, I’m looking for new representation right now. I just have to keep going.
[END]
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
