Kat Graham Describes ‘Surreal’ Moment Getting Cast in Michael Jackson Biopic: ‘I Never Imagined Myself Like Diana Ross’ (Exclusive)
“It’s such an honor to play her,” Graham adds of the Grammy nominated songstress
Kat Graham still finds it “surreal” to be playing Diana Ross in the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic.
PEOPLE spoke to the Heatwave actress, 35, at the 2024 TIME100 Next event at Pier59 Studios in New York City on Wednesday, Oct. 9, about stepping into the role of the Supremes singer, 80.
“Hair’s a little bigger,” Graham jokes of the transformation. Switching tones, she tells PEOPLE that finding out she was cast “was very, very surreal.”
According to Graham, it was a full circle moment because around the time she got the news, she’d also been working with her “good friend” Kendrick Sampson, who was cast as Quincy Jones in Michael.
“I’ve been close with Quincy for a long time. I think almost 20 years now, so to see him playing someone who’s like a father figure to me, there were a lot of surreal moments for me that were kind of happening in real-time,” she says of Sampson, 36, playing the legendary music producer, 91.
However, when it comes to portraying the “Endless Love” singer on the big screen, that’s something the Love in the Villa actress admits she didn’t see coming.
“I had never imagined myself as — who imagines themselves as Diana Ross?” Graham tells PEOPLE. “Maybe in the shower, or in your car. I didn’t think that I would get it. I don’t think like that. I just have a good time and I try to come from a good place.”
Graham adds that she’s “excited” for fans to see the biopic, which she promises has “a lot of good music.”
“I do hope that I honor her with that film, and I hope that I honor other Black women by the work that I do. Whether I’m a humanitarian or an actress,” Graham tells PEOPLE.
“Especially for Diana, she was somebody who in the 1950s, 1960s, was part of a revolutionary time in music that I think impacted what happened in the Civil Rights movement, and I don’t think that’s a coincidence, and it’s such an honor to play her,” Graham adds of the Grammy nominated songstress.
“All of this feels like an honor.”
Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson will play the late King of Pop in the biopic. Colman Domingo stars as family patriarch Joe Jackson, with Nia Long as matriarch Katherine Jackson.
Graham says being included gave her “a bit of imposter syndrome.”
The Vampire Diaries star also reflected on the recent 15th anniversary of the supernatural series.
