'Ms. Marvel' star Iman Vellani talks playing Marvel's first Muslim superhero

Kevin Yeung:

Congrats on your new role as Ms Marvel and her obviously being such a meaningful character to so many people in so many communities. How does it feel for you to portray this character?

Iman Vellani:

I am eternally excited. Just it's so crazy, because it's been like this little secret of mine not beyond filming. I didn't know any single person in my real life who knew Ms. Marvel. And I was in love with this character when I was 15. It's so meta in so many ways. And so honestly, like, I can finally breathe, people know this character and are seeing why I fell in love with her in the first place. So it's quite a relief, and the reactions have just been phenomenal.

KY:

I feel like so far it's been really obvious that the show has had an emphasis on really portraying Kamala’s Pakistani heritage in a really authentic way. How does it feel for you to contribute to that?

IV:

Well, it feels great. I mean, we just incorporated a lot of my real life into creating this character and making her as specific as possible. And I think that's kind of the key to representation is just making these people feel like real humans, and not just generalizations of an entire culture, which has so many different subgroups. Like, if you can, you know, if studies show that they understand character and their culture to a tee, you know, that's progressive, and I think we really hit the mark with that and just making Kamala real.

KY:

What's also cool to me is that, obviously, you're from Toronto, and Toronto, of course, being so prideful of our own. I feel like there was definitely a lot of support when it was announced that you had the role. Has that been something cool for you to experience?

IV:

As soon as my name got leaked, I hid under a blanket. did not touch the internet for like, a very long time. I'm very scared of it, but I haven't been receiving it like within my own community. And, you know, going back to my comic books, stores is so freakin cool. Because they all like know me now. And then they they sold me my first Miss Marvel Marvel comic. And now I'm like, you know, actually playing her in the MCU. Everyone's very proud and so lucky that I can represent, you know, Markham, no one knows more from outside of people in Markham.

KY:

I love that. I know you're a passionate fan of Marvel and the MCU. And what was it like for you to  get that call to find out you're joining this universe?

IV:

I think I was more excited about Kevin Feige being on my phone than I was about getting the part. But I was completely numb. I didn't know how to react and I was trying not to have a reaction because my best friends were watching me get the part and they did not know I had auditioned.In their minds I was still going to be rooming with them in university, which never happened. So yeah, it was a really weird moment. It was the last day of high school and yeah, that was really surreal. I don't think I processed it until like, just recently.

KY:

Obviously it's still early in the process for you with this character but in a dream scenario, or a dream interaction for Kamala. Which of these other characters in the Marvel Universe would you want to see her cross paths with?

IV: 

Oh, literally everyone, but I guess Loki would be fun. There's there's a fun arc in the comics where he comes to Jersey City, and maybe the Guardians I think her interacting with aliens would be really cool like her and Groot fighting crime together!

KY:

Thanks so much for speaking with me. I'd really appreciate it. 

IV:

Of course. Thank you