Till may be a hard movie to watch, but it's an even tougher one to act in. Premiering in theaters this week, the biopic tells the story of young Emmett Till's murder in 1955 and his mother Mamie's unflagging dedication to getting justice. Her fight is one that continues to this day, and that must be renewed with each unjust act of violence committed against Black Americans, but many are not aware of the full story.

In Till, director and co-writer Chinonye Chukwu weaves that true story into a cinematic masterpiece, aided by a powerhouse performance from Danielle Deadwyler (Station Eleven) as Mamie. Opposite the heavy burden she carries onscreen, Jalyn Hall (All American) portrays Emmett with an innocent lightness befitting the love with which he was raised. Whoopi Goldberg and Sean Patrick Thomas play Mamie's mother and husband-to-be respectively, fleshing out her character and giving context to her quest for truth.

Related: All American: Homecoming Cast & Character Guide

Screen Rant spoke to Deadwyler and Hall about how they approached their roles in Till, which are diametrically opposed in tone despite being so closely bonded, and what it means to keep carrying on Mamie's legacy today.

Till Stars On The Responsibility Of Engaging With The Past

Mamie Till puts her son on a train in Till

I loved Till. It was such a heartbreaking experience, but it's such an important film, so thank you both for being a part of it. Danielle, you did an incredible job. How did you step into this role, knowing the weight that Mamie carries in history and the fact that her work is still a part of the conversation today?

Danielle Deadwyler: You do you carry. You carry it; you walk into this experience knowing that there is a certain gravity, and a certain respect and honor. You do the utmost diligent work, which is what Chinonye and I did together, independently, and with Jalen as well. And you don't go into it wholly willingly. [Laughs] There is a trepidation that you feel. I was nervous; it is a scary thing to know what this will do to you. You don't know how you're going to come out on the other side, but you're not going to come out the same.

With the auditions. I had the inkling of what this is. One of my auditions included the scene where Mamie witnesses the body for the first time. And in that experience, I'm auditioning in the closet, and I told my [13-year-old] son, "I'm gonna be doing this audition, honey. Don't worry if you hear some sounds." I've been delving into it since before I knew I had it, and it takes a lot out of you. It is something that you don't get to walk away from easily, because you don't get to walk away from it at all.

I am a black mother. I am a black woman; I have a black son, and this is a thing that is perpetual to today. [From] '55 to '22, there is no true dash or stoppage of what is happening to black people in America. I carry that with me, knowing that this is supposed to [be] a conversation about legacy, about continuum, and about ongoing resistance. And where that kind of resistance in this form of media, and [how] her brilliance has tacked on from then to now. So, you go with that kind of weight on your shoulders, and you share it with the community that is working to make this piece with you.

Jalyn, of course, that weight is still present for Emmett and what he represents. But you, as an actor, are diving into this role that is full of light. Even when faced with imminent danger, he's full of joy and love. How do you interpret this role, as a character and as a person?

Jalyn Hall: You just have to really stop and think about it. He's just a 14-year-old kid in the grand scheme of it. It's like, what other emotion could you feel? This is an everyday kind of thing for him; he's naturally charismatic, and he's naturally caring and kind and loving of his mother and those around him. It was very easy to show that, and that was him in his entirety—just purely innocent and a pure-hearted person.

Being able to do that was something that was not hard at all, on top of researching, and then on top of being educated [by] Danielle, Chinonye, and everyone around me on set. Whether it be on set, or just me researching myself and digging into myself, a lot of the aspects that Emmett shows or has shown reflect me as well. I can see that, and I just dig into that and bring it out in its fullest form, so that everyone can know what a great little boy Emmett was.

About Till

Emmett Till Mamie Till Crying

The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.

Check out our other Till interviews here:

Next: Station Eleven Ending, Real Meaning & Book Changes Explained

Till arrives in theaters on October 14.