Dirty Fighting Chick Jada Pinkett Smith Gives the Lowdown on Her Gotham Character
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DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15 2014 SWITCHEDON 27 15.10.2014 CIRCUS ACT CHASER GANG STIRS UP TROUBLE LOVE STORY KAT STEWART’S DATING RULES Dirty fighting chick Jada Pinkett Smith gives the lowdown on her Gotham character V1 - TELE01Z01MA DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15 2014 SWITCHEDON 29 ON THE iPAD. ON THE iPAD. BE THE FIRST TO BE THE FIRST TO READ COVER STORY READ SWITCHED SWITCHED ON VIA OUR APP ON VIA OUR APP Scales of justice Jada Pinkett Smith is relishing playing a strong woman on television — and handing out hidings and advice to the younger cast of Gotham, writes Tiffany Bakker COMEDY She has the seemingly Gordon (a brooding Ben unfortunate name Fish McKenzie of The O.C. fame) Mooney. She’s a “ruthless take on not only Gotham’s “She’s a ruthless COOL KAT gutter chick” who plays male mobsters, but a burgeoning gutter chick ... a gangsters at their own game. new breed of villain, including dirty fighting chick, TELLS HOW So what did Jada Pinkett a few characters who may be so she’ll throw TO GET THE Smith say when her agent slightly familiar. Indeed, much anything at you” asked if she’d be interested in of the fun of Gotham is CLAWS IN playing this character in watching a young Penguin, the JADA PINKETT SMITH Batman prequel series, future Riddler, and an ON HER CHARACTER Gotham? Where do I sign? adolescent pick-pocketing ANNA BRAIN “I am loving it,” Pinkett Catwoman evolve. TV WRITER Smith says with a laugh. “It’s Pinkett Smith says the out how to beat men at their nice to be able to dance with challenge came in creating a own game.” your shadow in a creative way character strong enough to Robin Lord Taylor, who Do Kat Stewart and Roy Billing like this. I’m having a ball.” sit alongside some of the most plays Oswald Cobblepot (the make an odd couple? Stewart In Gotham, Pinkett Smith is iconic bad guys ever seen future Penguin), says the 43- doesn’t think so. the tough, but seductive Fish on screen. year-old has been a godsend “I think we make the grade,” Mooney (a new character in “The Batman villains are for Gotham’s younger cast. she says. “Roy’s got something, the Batman universe), a gang memorable because they are “For a lot of us, this is our so charming. It’s not that crazy.” boss who is never afraid to mix very specific,” she says. “So first big show, and she has just On It’s a Date, Stewart plays it with the blokes. it was really trying to been amazing for us in terms of Jen, surprised to find herself out “She’s a ruthless gutter figure out how you could her advice and support,” he to dinner with a much older chick … a dirty fighting create a memorable says. “I mean, she looks scary man. Even before she was chick, so she’ll pretty villain, but still have and she’s usually beating the married, Stewart says blind much throw her connected and crap out of me, but she’ll always dates were never her forte. anything at you. I grounded in this mob give me a hug afterwards. “I find it excruciating,” she wanted her to be a gangster world. I “Seriously, she’s taught me says. “My strategy was to kind mashup of wanted her to have so much. I’m not ashamed in of line up friends and sort of (Colombian drug flair, but still saying that I love her.” approach them by stealth. So I lord) Griselda throw in a dose of Pinkett Smith, who was last only ever went out with guys I Blanco and reality. It was an seen on our small screens on was friends with, got to know Norma Desmond interesting the medical drama Hawthorne them first. David, my husband (Sunset balance to have (for which she also served as an — I was friends with him for Boulevard).” to find.” executive producer), says that many years before we became Asked how her Pinkett she’s relishing the chance to be an item.” decision to play Smith says she just one of the cast. Stewart’s “date” with Billing Fish went down took “One of the things I enjoy is a reunion of sorts. They at home, Pinkett inspiration most about Gotham is that I am worked together on Blue Smith says there from strictly an actor, and I feel like I Heelers, in which he played a was no need to Hollywood. haven’t done that in a long cop and she was PJ’s (Martin seek the “When time, so I think I’m going to Sacks) girlfriend. approval of you think keep it that way,” she says. “(It’s a Date) has real heart, as husband, about She also admits that she was well as being a comedy. I think movie titan Hollywood, it’s ready for another crack at TV, that’s something (writer) Pete Will Smith. male-dominated, and when given the rich roles currently Helliar’s got a real feel for. I was “He’s my you’ve been around it for a on offer for women. pleased he and Celia Pacquola best friend and while, it gives you the “Women are dominating were working on the script we’re artists so opportunity to see what it takes television right now,” she says. together because I worked with we create things at to be a strong woman and to be “TV to me is the place to be Celia on Offspring.” home, but he doesn’t able to thrive in an for women. Films just aren’t Before you ask, Stewart influence my career environment like that — it cutting it in the same way.” doesn’t know what the future per se,” she explains. takes some guts,” she says. holds for Offspring. But she will take “So that’s how I felt about GOTHAM, CHANNEL 9, SUNDAY, “I’d love to know. I could do suggestions from Fish Mooney — she’s figuring 8.30PM Billie forever,” she says. her precociously But if it has reached its talented kids, 16- conclusion, she understands. year-old son “You want to kind of do the Jaden, and 13- show justice, tell it the way you year-old daughter, want to tell it,” she says. Willow. A working mum, Stewart’s “Jaden is the version of date night has biggest Batman changed drastically since the fan, and he was just birth of son Archie. ecstatic about this, “We try and have a date telling me I had to night once a week, just seeing a do it,” says Pinkett movie or having dinner — some Smith, who has time to hang out, really.” relocated the family And when they go to work, from Los Angeles to Archie, 2, is blissfully unaware New York during his parents are juggling their shooting. “I think I’m acting schedules around him. finally cool in the eyes “I tell him we dress up and of my kids.” tell stories, and he thinks that’s The highly good,” she says anticipated series, “We’re busy and very happy. created by Bruno Heller “I’m very grateful for what (The Mentalist), sees a Ben McKenzie (left) and Jada Pinkett Smith in I have.” young pre-Commissioner Gotham and, right, with husband Will Smith. IT’S A DATE, ABC, THURSDAY, 9PM V1 - TELE01Z01MA.