Birds of Prey actress Jurnee Smollett admits she used the racist backlash against her casting to fuel her character. Released in February of this year, Birds of Prey is the most recent installment of the DCEU and marked the first time the titular team has been brought to the big screen. In the film, the Birds of Prey come together to protect young Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) from sadistic crime boss Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor), or Black Mask. Of course, the story isn't just centered on the Birds of Prey; it also spends a significant amount of time on the emancipation of Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) following her breakup from the Joker (Jared Leto).

Smollett played Dinah Lance, aka Black Canary, in Birds of Prey. A nightclub singer with a lethal voice, Dinah starts off under Black Mask's thumb until she's able to free herself and join the Birds of Prey. In the comics, Dinah is traditionally depicted as a white blonde woman, making Smollett's casting something of a surprise. While most fans welcomed her with open arms, there was some backlash to her casting from racists who took issue with a Black woman taking over the role.

Related: Does The Birds of Prey Movie Do Justice To The DC Heroines?

In a new profile with THR, timed for the upcoming release of her new HBO series Lovecraft Country, Smollett admitted she knew of the backlash and used it to her advantage. Smollett has never previously spoken about the ridiculous controversy, making this the first (and potentially last) statement she's given about it. "It brought a rage out inside of me, which was great for Canary," Smollett said.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary in Birds of Prey poster

Anyone who's seen Birds of Prey can tell this really came through in Smollett's performance. While the film was billed as Harley's emancipation, Birds of Prey is just as much about that of the other women. For much of the film, Black Canary is stuck in an impossible situation, and it's clear to see she's bursting with frustration. By the end of Birds of Prey, Black Canary finally liberates herself from Sionis' hold and finds a new family for herself among fellow Birds Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) and Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

Smollett recently shared she would love to play Black Canary again in a Birds of Prey sequel, but so far nothing has been announced. Despite a very positive reception from critics and audiences, the film under-performed at the box office, thus putting its sequel plans into question. There are many who would love to see Smollett take on the Black Canary mantle once more, but only time will tell if she'll actually get the opportunity to do so.

More: Birds of Prey: Who Was Black Canary’s Mother?

Source: THR

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