Janelle Monáe Talks About Filming On A Plantation

Janelle Monáe did not have an easy time filming the upcoming movie “Antebellum.”

The horror film follows author Veronica Henley (Monáe), who speaks out against systemic racism, but then finds herself living as a slave on a plantation in the South.

“I brought all of my ancestors home with me,” the 34-year-old performer told the Hollywood Reporter during a roundtable discussion with Rose Byrne, Reese Witherspoon, Zendaya, Jennifer Aniston and Helena Bonham Carter.

“And we were filming most of the stuff at night on a plantation, and I felt everything,” she explained. “There were just certain conversations even at craft services that if I heard would be triggering for me,” she said referring to chatter on the set.

“I couldn’t even talk to my family sometimes,” she added. “It was kind of unhealthy when I think back.”

Compounding the trauma were some very serious health issues.

The “Hidden Figures” star, who is set to appear in this year’s virtual Pride event, contracted mercury poisoning from eating too much fish.

Monáe listed a host of side effects that she suffered including memory loss, loss of hair and coordination, high anxiety and shyness.

“I didn’t want to talk to people,” the “Tightrope” singer revealed. “People would reach out, and I apologize now if you were one of those people last year who reached out to me and wanted to talk or engage in business or whatever. I just didn’t have it in me. I became kind of a recluse.”

SOURCE