Filming ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Prompted Dominique Fishback To Demand A Therapist Be On Set For ‘Swarm’

“Swarm” star Dominique Fishback recalls her time on set working on the film Judas and the Black Messiah alongside Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield. The actress says her experience working on the 2021 drama and crime film propelled her to make mental health a priority on the Prime Video series. Watch a clip from her interview inside.

Fishback portrays Dre, a deranged superfan and serial killer in Donald Glover and Janine Nabers praised series “Swarm.” The season is quite chaotic and asks that the actress pull from a very dark place. Fishback recently shared in an interview that portraying Deborah Johnson in Judas and the Black Messiah showed her how important it is for her to maintain her mental health in these tough roles.

The film follows FBI informant William O’Neal (Stanfield) as he infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton (Kaluuya).

“The day we shot the assassination scene it was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Jim and Fred,” Fishback recalls of filming. “So energetically it was very heavy.”

This comes as no surprise as that wasn’t an easy film to watch.

“I remember the night before the scene I felt so anxious,” Fishback continues remembering her experience. “My body couldn’t differentiate from what I made my mind believe.”

Fishback details how the actors discussed their regret while filming the movie. She said they agreed they should have requested a therapist be on set with them throughout the filming. The actress wouldn’t dare make that mistake twice.

 “Once I knew I was doing ‘Swarm,’” Fishback declared. “We need therapist on set and not just for me but for the other actors and crew members.”

Dominique wasn’t just concerned for her own mental sanity, but for the other working actors and crew members on set. Her explanation, “because you don’t know how people are going to be triggered.”

The interviewer asked whether or not they had sessions while filming the Prime Video series.

“We talked sometimes,” Fishback responded. “She’d come in my trailer.”

She also shared that she had her personal therapist she would communicate with throughout filming as well.

“We all know the schedule for shooting is not consistent,” Fishback continues on the importance of creating space for her mental health. “So how do you make room for your mental health while you’re shooting?”

Dominique made another point about the impact these roles have on the lives of actors.

“Everyone’s going to move on. The director’s going to go on and do something else,” she states. “But the actor is going to be left with whatever they took from a character.”

Fishback didn’t leave it at that, but she stressed once more about making time for our mental health while working, “We have to make time and space for actors to be human and be taken care of while they’re doing the work.”

Well said, Dominique.

Watch the clip below: