Marsai Martin Wants Her Film 'G20' to Serve as a Cautionary Internet Tale

PHOTOGRAPHY Jacob Webster

STYLING Wayman + Micah

When Marsai Martin found out that she was going to play Viola Davis’s tech-savvy teen daughter in the new action thriller G20, she was, understandably, elated. Not only was she going to star in a buzzy movie alongside an Oscar-winning actor and her former TV dad, Anthony Anderson, but it also presented a chance for the 20-year-old Texas-born actor—who politely prefaces the names of those her senior with “Miss” and “Mister”—to take on a more serious dramatic role.

“I'm used to doing family classics and being the witty, sassy kind of character,” Martin tells L’OFFICIEL. Having made her onscreen debut with Black-ish at just 10 years old, she certainly knows her way around a sitcom. She’s also starred in comedies like Little and Fantasy Football, both of which she also executive produced (at 14, she became the youngest person to ever produce a studio film with Little). So, Martin didn’t hesitate when faced with the opportunity to play a more layered character like Serena Sutton in G20, an Amazon MGM Studios vehicle in which U.S. President Danielle Sutton (Davis) must save the world from terrorists during the titular global summit.

“What really attracted me to this role was that she’s very emotionally challenged, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Martin says of Serena, whose hacker skills—typically reserved for evading Secret Service agents to sneak out of the White House—come in handy to protect world leaders from a deadly fate (and the dissemination of AI deep-fakes). “Working with Miss Viola Davis and having the heart of the film be a mother-daughter relationship was also really exciting. So many teenage girls go through similar emotional ups and downs—I know I have. So to see that core story from beginning to end was really special.” 

Still, with international terrorism and the dangers of AI at its core, G20 isn’t exactly a warm and fuzzy tale. Its subject matter is the stuff of nightmares, but Martin wasn’t fazed during filming. “Honestly, what’s crazy about being a Gen Z-er during this chaotic time in America is that we're numb to it,” she says. “It sucks to say that, but everything is so insane that it all just feels like another day. It’s scary to realize this is actually in tune with what's going on right now.” Martin hasn’t given up hope that things will change. “We have to snap back to reality and make sure people know it’s not normal to use AI and deep-fakes to twist the mind, and I think that’s what we're showing in this film,” she says. “The main message is: Don't believe everything you see on the internet. We’re in a really crucial time where we don’t know what's real, and we have to do our own research to understand the people who are in spaces of power.”

Keep reading for our full interview with Martin about everything from growing up in Hollywood and maintaining a sense of privacy to worshipping Doechii’s style and being a role model in her own right.

L’OFFICIEL: First off, what was it like to not only share the screen with a legend like Viola Davis, but to play her daughter?

MARSAI MARTIN: It was amazing, and surreal. She was not what I expected. It can be a little nerve-wracking to work with somebody who has such amazing accolades, but she is truly the chillest person on the planet. It was so insane for me to see her in action, perfecting her craft, and then as soon as somebody says “cut,” she's just back to being chill. Seeing that was so special for me, because it just reminded me that you can go after your dreams and still be a grounded, warm-hearted person—and still be you at the end of it. That’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my career.

L’O: It sounds like you absorbed a lot by just watching her, but did she give you any career or life advice in particular?

MM: I'm not the type of person that would ask somebody for straight up advice—I'm very much an observer. I think you learn so much just from being quiet, listening, and being aware of your surroundings, and that's what I did a lot during this film—especially being in new terrain in Cape Town and working with a lot of locals and new faces. There was a lot of sitting back, understanding the spaces I'm in, and thinking about what I can learn and take with me to the next set I’m on.

L’O: One familiar face for you on set was Anthony Anderson, since you played his daughter on Black-ish. What was it like to have him play your on-screen dad again in G20? 

MM: It was the same old, same old. Lots of fun. He's known me for a long time—since I came out of the womb, basically. So working with him gave me a sense of familiarity and comfort. It's scary jumping into a project that you can only prepare so much for, because it's new. You are preparing for the unexpected. Knowing that he was around, and that he would never let me fall or embarrass myself in any way, I knew I’d be okay.

L’O: The film presents a strong message about women in power, from having a female president onscreen to Patricia Riggen directing behind-the-scenes. Was that a draw for you?

MM: Yeah, there are so many layers to this project—and although some are louder than others, they’re still not in your face. Do you know what I mean? It's more about understanding the circumstances and the environment that we're in. I loved the fact that there are so many women leading men in this film, and then there's so much diversity within all of that. It's not a Black family film. It’s a film that everybody can see themselves in, and that's what I love about it. And they're all heroes, in a way, which I think is incredible. 

L’O: There are many heroes in this movie, but in the end your character is kind of the hero. What do you think is significant about the fact that it's the teenage girl who saves the world?

MM: Well, I think it's a shout-out to all the wonderful girls and Black women in STEM. I think that is a really special moment. I didn't know what an RFID chip was when I took this role, but now I do. I think, as an actor, you jump into projects because they're exciting—but I'm now at the age where I want every step that I take within my career to mean something to the young Black girls who are coming up behind me. I want them to see themselves in these roles. I think it's so special for them to not only see a president who looks just like them—and still has emotions and heart—but at the same time, to realize that her daughter can also be the president one day and tackle the same things as her own independent self. I'm really excited for young Black girls to see that.

L’O: You started on Black-ish when you were just 10 years old. Is there something you wish you had known when you were first starting out in Hollywood?

MM: I feel like every little thing that I went through or learned has given me the perspective that I have today. So it's hard to be like, Oh, I wish I knew this back then, because if I knew that back then, then I wouldn't be where I am now. I'm a true believer that everything happens for a reason. But I would tell my younger self about patience, because the industry is a roller coaster and you just never know what could happen. As a producer, it's a constant battle—especially as a Black woman—and you never really know what it’s like until you have a seat at the table. I would also say to stand your ground and do what you love. That goes for fashion, hair, and whatever else people critique online. Just be you all the way through, because the transition from childhood to adulthood is really tough, especially in the public eye. 

L’O: You were the youngest person to ever produce a film with Little in 2019, and you have your own company, Genius Productions. What type of projects do you want to put out into the world?

MM: Things that I want to achieve as a talent, like my personal dreams, are now different from the things that I want the world to see. As a producer, I really want to jump into Black rom-coms. I feel like those are so special. And I want to produce things that people think are impossible, from the cast to the storytelling. As a talent, I want to test more of my dramatic side. G20 reminded me that I can portray characters that I’m not necessarily used to.

L’O: Do you think of social media as a similarly creative tool? What’s your approach to it these days?

MM: I don’t pay attention to it. There was a time when I was so attached to the point where I felt like I lost myself a little bit, but then I got a social media manager. It’s always been a love-hate relationship, but I've learned to just not look at the comments. If I post something myself, then I don’t go back on for the rest of the day. And what I choose to keep private depends on how much I love it. There are certain elements of your life that you really, really love, and as soon as you put that out there, it can turn stale. People start having an opinion on it, and it doesn't feel as pure. That's what I've seen with people posting their relationships, especially. So I've learned that if I truly, truly love something, I'm not going to put it into somebody else's hands.

L’O: You do still post plenty of fashion content, though, which we love to see. How has your personal style evolved?

MM: It's constantly changing, but right now, I'm very much into timeless sophistication. l just do what I feel at the moment, so my style could be very Y2K, and then I'll turn around and look like I'm from the ‘80s. I constantly want to test and show my creativity through fashion. I think I'm just now getting into fashion as of probably two or three years ago. When I turned 17, I really wanted to dive deeper into the archives. But I grew up with my grandma, my great-grandmother, and a bunch of very fiery women who had a ton of fashion sense.

L’O: Who is your ultimate style icon?

MM: As of right now, it's Doechii. She has been my favorite for such a long time—since I was like, 16—and I'm so happy that she's getting her flowers. But her fashion sense has always been tea to me. She is definitely a style icon. Rihanna is always going to be one, too. And Kendrick Lamar. I think his fashion is very underrated, but it's spectacular. 

L’O: They definitely aren’t afraid to push the limits of fashion. Speaking of, your character in G20 is quite the rebel. What is the most rebellious thing you've ever done?

MM: Honestly, I don't even think I have one. [laughs] For real. I grew up an only child, so I was around adults my whole life and I was always scared to get in trouble. I'm still such a scaredy cat—all of my friends will smoke weed or drink and go out somewhere, and I’m like, Y'all do that. I’ll just be sitting here on the couch. I'm that type of friend.

HAIR: Alexander Armand 

MAKEUP: Joanna Simkin