Javicia Leslie just became the first Black actress to play Batwoman
In the past, Batwoman has been played by some pretty big names like Alicia Silverstone and Ruby Rose. Now, there’s a new Batwoman in the mix: Javicia Leslie.
Javicia was just announced as the new star of the CW’s Batwoman series, making her the first Black actress to play the role on TV or in movies. Javicia shared her excitement about her new role on Instagram. "For all of the little black girls dreaming to be a superhero one day... it’s possible!" she wrote.
Javicia is stepping in after Ruby Rose announced on Instagram in May that she was leaving her role as Katy Kane in the series. But Javicia isn’t going to play Katy—instead, she’ll be a new character introduced to the show named Ryan Wilder, according to Variety.
Apparently, Ryan is likeable, messy, a little goofy, and untamed. "With no one in her life to keep her on track, Ryan spent years as a drug-runner, dodging the GCPD and masking her pain with bad habits. Today Ryan lives in her van with her plant," Variety reports. "A girl who would steal milk for an alley cat and could also kill you with her bare hands, Ryan is the most dangerous type of fighter: highly skilled and wildly undisciplined. She is an out lesbian, athletic, raw, passionate, fallible, and very much not your stereotypical All-American hero."
This is hardly Javicia’s first big role, but it’s just might make her a household name. Here’s what you need to know about the new Batwoman.
Javicia was born in Germany.
According to the actress' IMDb profile, she was born in Augsburg, Germany. She moved to Maryland when she was little and was raised in Upper Marlboro, near Washington, D.C.
She’s been acting professionally for a decade.
Javicia has been in a number of TV series, like MacGyver and The Family Business. In 2018, she landed her first series regular role as Ali Finer in God Friended Me on CBS. She's also been in a bunch of plays, including August Wilson's Seven Guitars, Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls, and Bob Fosse's Chicago, per IMDb.
Javicia is serious about fitness.
FWIW: Javicia is trained in "muay thai, boxing, and weapons," according to her IMDb. Basically, you don’t want to mess with her—whether she's wearing her Batwoman costume or not. She’s also big into dancing, track, swimming, and bootcamp training.
She’s vegan, and handy in the kitchen
Javicia doesn’t just play a badass on TV—she can also mix it up in the kitchen. Proof: This delicious-looking vegan, gluten-free granola recipe that she recently shared on Instagram.
Javicia is big into sharing inspirational quotes.
Her Instagram is filled with them. There’s this one:
And this one:
And this one:
Here. For. It.
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