Natasha Rothwellhas no fear of flying.
She gets to the airport well ahead of takeoff (being early is on time, she says).
On board, she loves a window seat and daydreams while gazing at the clouds.
Rothwell as Mel in ‘How to Die Alone’Ian Watson/Hulu
So, wherever she lands, she goes out of her way to make fellow Black travelers feel welcome.
She did it again earlier this year, while filmingThe White LotusSeason Three in Thailand.
A Black couple walked into the hotel lobby, and Rothwell draped her arms around them.
We both looked at each other, and I was like, Oh my god, hey!
I gave [the woman] a hug, Rothwell, 43, tellsRolling Stone.
Shes like, Do I know you?
I was like, No!
Theres such a joy I get when I do see Black travel.
Its a joy to be able to have the full range of emotion when Im performing.
At her second high school, she established an interest in comedy, joining the improv troupe.
She went on to study theater at the University of Maryland with aspirations to make it to Broadway.
She clocked the room and recognized where I fell in the circle with the writers, Rothwell says.
It was a great environment in terms of that.
After a single season, she opted to leave.
In 2016, she was tapped by showrunner Issa Rae to play Issas fiercely loyal bestie Kelli onInsecure.
The part earned her an Emmy nomination her first and a return to the series in the upcoming season.
It also showed casting directors shes capable of more than just cracking jokes.
How to Die Aloneis proof positive of that concept.
Rothwells own experiences inform the texture of the show, including microaggressions from white travelers.
Thats how folks have been living?
Rothwell intentionally made Mel afraid to fly, leaning into that cultural fear of international travel.
Were allowed to travel.
Were allowed to have a passport with stamps in it.
Throughout the earlier part of her life, Rothwell worked service jobs from McDonalds to Blockbuster Video to JCPenney.
Shes like, I got you.
Rothwell snapped a selfie with the woman before they left.
