'It's the coolest thing': Janelle Monae defends 'nerdy' perception of astronauts as she looks out of this world on new American Way cover
She has one of the starring roles in Hidden Figures, which has earned multiple nominations at this month's Academy Awards.
And Janelle Monae takes her piqued interest in astrophysics from the big screen to cover January's edition of American Way magazine for American Airlines.
'Science, math, technology and engineering is seen as nerdy. In fact, it’s the coolest thing to be able to send an astronaut into space for the first time,' The 31-year-old actress said.
The sky's the limit! Janelle Monae takes her piqued interest in astrophysics from the big screen to cover January's edition of American Way magazine for American Airlines
Hidden Figures is the inspirational true story of three black female mathematicians - Janelle calls 'superheroes' - who helped NASA put the first men in space.
The biographical comedy-drama, based on a book of the same name, stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle whose characters deal with segregation in the 1950s and 60s while they work on the complicated calculations that get astronaut John Glenn into orbit and back again.
'Science, math, technology and engineering is seen as nerdy. In fact, it’s the coolest thing to be able to send an astronaut into space for the first time,' The 31-year-old actress said
In her cover story, the singer told the magazine she had been working on a new album for four years when she was invited to audition for the role of Mary Jackson.
She had no intention of interrupting her work until she read the script.
'I was a bit puzzled and upset that, as a young woman of color, I had no clue who these women were,' she said.
Ready for take off: Hidden Figures is the inspirational true story of three black female mathematicians - Janelle calls 'superheroes' - who helped NASA put the first men in space
She continued, 'I knew that I needed to drop what I was doing and make sure that no other young girl or boy would go on without knowing about these brilliant women who helped get America into space.'
Furthermore, Janelle told American Way that she personally identified with her character.
'I know what it’s like for people to tell you that you are not good enough because you are a woman or a minority,' she said.
'I knew that I needed to drop what I was doing and make sure that no other young girl or boy would go on without knowing about these brilliant women who helped get America into space'
Janelle added: 'I tapped into what it feels like to be looked at as the outcast, the other, the marginalized.'
For her cover shot, Janelle exhibited otherworldly beauty as she displayed a look of shock with her hands up toward her face showing off some serious bling on her fingers.
She was styled in a black and white long-sleeved frock which matched her fresh manicure.
Funky fake eyeball embellishments adorned her hair which was intricately styled into two top knots on either side of her head.
'Eye' see you! For her cover shot, Janelle exhibited otherworldly beauty as she displayed a look of shock with her hands up toward her face showing off some serious bling on her fingers
Janelle identified with her character, Mary Jackson: 'I tapped into what it feels like to be looked at as the outcast, the other, the marginalized'
Janelle's almond shaped eyes were highlighted with purple liner underneath her bottom lid, and she added another pop of color to her look with a bright pink lip.
In another inside shot, Janelle showed off her toned legs in a tiered mini-skirt as she held an astronaut helmet under her arm.
In another image, the beauty flashed her trim tummy as she posed in elegant black and white separates.
Although Janelle is featured in two Oscar-nominated films this year - she also stars in Moonlight - she told the magazine she is planning on getting back to her unfinished album, and 'will be releasing music in 2017.'
Busy! Janelle is featured in two Oscar-nominated films this year - she also stars in Moonlight - and she told the magazine she is planning on 'releasing new music in 2017'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-4169456/Janelle-Monae-looks-otherworldly-American-Way-cover.html#ixzz4XGbowEem
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