Why Actress Amber Iman Calls ‘Goddess’ A Love Letter To Black Women In Theater [Exclusive] - Page 3

How Goddess is art imitating life for Amber Iman

The production is art imitating life for Iman, who recalls being taken aback when she was hand-selected for the role and having to shed thoughts of unworthiness and imposter syndrome to step into a position she was destined for, much like the character she portrays.

“Our initial playwright, Jocelyn Bioh, when she came onto this project, she brought me with her, so I didn’t audition for the role,” Iman recalled. “I think I feel like, ‘Oh, maybe I didn’t deserve it because I didn’t audition against, you know, 200 other girls, and they chose me, but Jocelyn chose me, and then, in a way, this role chose me. I had to go through my own journey of trust and security and feeling like I am enough, which is still a journey. Seven years later, I’m still having to remind myself that this is mine and I’ve earned it.

“Marimba has a similar journey of looking for safety because that’s really what she came to Earth looking for. She did not want to live amongst war and pain and anguish. She wanted beauty and love, and didn’t even know that she was really searching for love. Then, seeing that love isn’t always easy, and sometimes it comes at a cost, and figure out how to navigate that as a God who was blessed to know life as a human. There are a lot of emotions. I am tapping into almost every emotion possible to bring this woman to life, but what a joy that is to be exhausted from doing what you love.”