Tatiana Maslany Thinks The 'Strong Female Lead' Label Is 'Frustrating'

Daniel Mitchell-Benoit
 Tatiana Maslany speaks on stage at the "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" panel during the Marvel Cinematic Universe Mega-Panel during 2022 Comic-Con International Day 3 at San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2022 in San Diego, California.
Getty | Daniel Knighton

The latest of Disney's Marvel superheroes, actress Tatiana Maslany has taken on the role of She-Hulk, staring in a series about the green-skinned heroine that will be hitting streaming services very soon.

It's another entry in Marvel's movies and shows with badass female leads, but Maslani doesn't think we should think of it as that alone, and instead remember there are other positive qualities that don't reduce women to a trope.

Tatiana Maslany is one of the latest actresses to join the Marvel crew.

She stars in the upcoming Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, and though she's playing a literal strong female lead, she's never been a fan of that label.

In fact, she finds the term 'frustrating.'

Tatiana Maslany in 'She Hulk: Attorney At Law'.
IMDb | Disney

In a recent interview with The Guardian, she explained that the reason she thinks so poorly of it is because it lacks nuance. It's still a trope, whether or not its more 'respected' than other tropes for female characters.

"It's a box that nobody fits into."

Tatiana Maslany in 'She Hulk: Attorney At Law'.
IMDb | Disney

"It's reductive. It's just as much a shaving off of all the nuances, and just as much of a trope," she said. "[...] Even the phrase is frustrating. It's as if we're supposed to be grateful that we get to be that."

She's waiting for audiences to stop focusing on identity alone.

Tatiana Maslany in 'She Hulk: Attorney At Law'.
IMDb | Disney

"I'm really interested in when these [marginalized] voices get to speak without it being like: 'Oh my God, it's all women,' or, 'Oh my God, this is a story about a queer couple,' and those stories become as innately expected as they are now special."

That doesn't mean it should be completely discounted, though.

 Tatiana Maslany speaks on stage at the "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" panel during the Marvel Cinematic Universe Mega-Panel during 2022 Comic-Con International Day 3 at San Diego Convention Center on July 23, 2022 in San Diego, California.
Getty | Daniel Knighton

In fact, it was the "celebration of female friendship" that got Maslani interested in the role of She-Hulk.

"What made me go: 'Oh OK, this feels fresh and surprising,' is that it feels deeply – if I can use a binary term – feminine. There's a girliness to it. That word is often used as a derisive term, but to me, there's a celebration of female friendship in 'She-Hulk' that's really fun."

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law will be available to stream this week on Disney+.

h/t: Insider