Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s casting in The Sandman was a huge surprise for most people who imagined Death will look exactly as she does in the Neil Gaiman graphic novels. However, true fans embraced the casting and Gaiman himself spoke up to defend the actress by saying she perfectly embodied the character.
Not surprisingly, Kirby Howell-Baptiste took the role very seriously. While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Howell-Baptiste stated that her portrayal of Death in The Sandman will be very different from what people have expected to see when it comes to the entity.
“Most of the time when we see a representation of Death, it’s so focused on the end,” she said “But this character says, ‘I was there in the beginning, and I’ll be there in the end.’ Death is born of life.”
“I think there’s something very beautiful and cyclical about her position in the world, because it’s so much about the full journey that she is there for,” Howell-Baptiste continued. “That lends itself to a more feminine energy — there is this much more nurturing, caring side to Death than we’ve ever seen before.”
She added, “When we think of power, our idea of it is being dominating and forceful. But I think Death’s power is quiet, humble, and self-assured. She is aware of what she can do.”
It’s a beautiful way to speak about Death and it certainly sounds like Howell-Baptiste did her homework. Needless to say, we can’t wait to meet Death next month.
The Sandman will premiere on Netflix on August 5, 2022.
