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Natasha Rothwell’s Journey to ‘How to Die Alone’

Natasha Rothwell is embracing a mix of excitement and vulnerability as she unveils a personal project she’s nurtured for nearly eight years. The actress, writer, and producer is at the forefront of How to Die Alone, where she portrays Mel, a financially struggling, heavyset Black airport employee who has never experienced love and has lost touch with her dreams. Rothwell has been invested in bringing this story to life since 2016.

Reflecting on her emotions just hours after the premiere of the first three episodes on Hulu, Rothwell stated, “I feel really vulnerable… The response already has been unbelievable, and it’s just… How do you describe being inside of a literal dream come true? It’s just surreal.”

Part of the overwhelming support she feels can be attributed to the media personality Gayle King’s endorsement. Just two weeks prior to the show’s debut, Rothwell had an interview with King, who praised a humorous exchange between Mel and her colleague Rory, played by Conrad Ricamora, that is featured in the series. Rothwell shared how King enthusiastically connected with the content, exclaiming, “I was like, ‘You’re literally Woman King!’ And she was like, ‘I know!'”

During their meeting, King brought along handwritten notes, meticulously prepared to discuss the show. Rothwell described the moment as surreal, recalling, “She started off, she’s just like, ‘Natasha, I’m upset with you. I was only supposed to watch the first episode, maybe two. I binged the whole thing last night.'” Rothwell’s astonishment at King’s enthusiasm was palpable as she reflected on the experience.

The Conceptualization of ‘How to Die Alone’

The idea for How to Die Alone began to take shape shortly after Rothwell’s involvement in the inaugural season of Issa Rae’s acclaimed series Insecure. She expressed her delight at the opportunity presented to her, knowing she wanted to channel her creativity into something authentic. “I started working on it and literally entered that space, determined to sort of follow the fear and do… I wanted to not pull any punches,” she noted. Rothwell knew the title right from the start, stating it has remained unchanged for nearly eight years.

In discussions about solitude and connection, Rothwell confronted her past fears, acknowledging, “I was so scared to die alone, and I was waiting for my life to start until I met a man.” This reflection led to a key insight: “Huh, so it’s not the partnership that I’m missing, it’s the connectedness.” The conversation with HBO’s head of comedy, Amy Gravitt, cemented her vision, further guiding the narrative that Rothwell would pursue.

The Challenges of Completion

After years of diligent effort, Rothwell faced a significant hurdle in completing the show. Gravitt allowed her to transition the project to Disney after her HBO deal, a rare privilege that made the journey to completion even more poignant. Rothwell described the final stages of the project as difficult, especially since they coincided with her arrival in Thailand for the third season of The White Lotus.

“I just sat there after I exited the Zoom, and I just genuinely didn’t know what to do next,” Rothwell recounted. “It was really scary to just put it out there.” She expressed pride in her work but recognized the challenge of managing external perceptions, saying, “I’ve done a lot of work on myself not to be a people pleaser… I’m trying my best to white-knuckle those lessons and not put too much stock in how people are receiving it.”

Despite her apprehensions, the initial positive reception of How to Die Alone has brought relief and joy to Rothwell. “It’s being received so well, and I’m exhaling,” she admitted, reflecting on her hopes for the show’s impact.

The first four episodes of How to Die Alone are currently available for streaming on Hulu, with new episodes releasing weekly until September 27.

Source
people.com