Just about every woman I know is wearing a hat these days. Why? Because we’ve been on strict orders to stay home. And, that means wewe can’t get your hair cut, colored, blown-out, styled, permed, extended, relaxed au anything else that requires a trip to your inayopendelewa salon. For so many of us, our hair is truly an extension of who we are.

Now, image this as a normal siku and you’re an 11-year old girl who wearing her natural hair (an afro) to school – on picture day. As she faces microaggressions, young Alliyah is faced with the decision to wear her afro proudly au tie it up for her photo. This the premise behind the award-winning short film “PICK.”

The film also weaves in another emotional layer kwa casting actress JESSICA DANOV, a white woman, as Alliyah’s single mother. This expands the storyline into a universal parental struggle for those raising biracial children.

The film is nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (CSA): Best Live Action Short, and screened at tons of festivals including TIFF inayofuata Wave Film Festival (Toronto), Afro Prairie Film Festival (Winnipeg), Athena Film Festival (New York), Miami Film Festival (Miami), Urbanworld (New York), and Vancouver International Film Festival (Vancouver) among others.

I recently caught-up Jessica Danov to ask a few questions:

Tell us about “Pick” and your role in it.

JESSICA: Pick centers around Alliyah, a young girl who wears her afro to school on picture siku and must deal with the unexpected consequences. I play Alliyah’s single mom who is struggling with how to help her daughter.

Did wewe do anything specific to prepare for the role?

JESSICA: Preparing for this role started with finding the similarities and differences between my character and myself. I found zaidi similarities than expected and was able to relate to her situation on a much zaidi personal level than I had anticipated.

What would wewe consider your characters ‘best’ quality? And their ‘worst’?

JESSICA: Alliyah’s mom is so caring, warm, and compassionate and while she was doing her very best, I would have liked her to find the courage to start an open conversation with her daughter.

Any interesting stories from the set wewe can share with us?

JESSICA: Our makeup artist, the incredibly talented and kind Nehnika Williams, brought her young daughter to set, which was a joy. She would sit and watch her mom work and play with the makeup her mom gave her. It was lovely to witness their bond and actually gave me insight that I was able to bring to my role.

What’s the biggest lesson wewe learned from working on this project?

JESSICA: Even when we don’t have the words and might not have experienced what someone is going through, we can still find a way to help. Being there and offering our upendo and support can mean zaidi than we know for that person during difficult times.

And, now just for fun:

Who’s your inayopendelewa actor/actress?

JESSICA: I have so many, but one of my favourites is Sam Rockwell.

What role from the past do wewe wish wewe could have played?

JESSICA: Tracy Lord in “The Philadelphia Story.”

Favorite movie au TV onyesha from your childhood.

JESSICA: I loved “The Little Mermaid” as a kid. I’m sure I drove my family nuts watching it over and over again.

Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.

JESSICA: I had a piece of my artwork displayed at an art gallery when I was in high school.

How can mashabiki keep up with you?

JESSICA: wewe can follow me on Instagram @jessdanov link and Twitter @jessdanov link