Regina King’s son, Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide two years ago, and now she’s sharing with “Extra’s” Megan Ryte about how she’s stayed strong.
At the “Shirley” premiere in Los Angeles, Ryte spoke with King, who attended the event with her sister Reina, the film’s producer.
Megan told them, “Seeing your strong bond almost made me cry because I understand the immense loss you both experienced while working on this film. How did you support and lift each other up during this time?”
King mentioned, “We have a strong support system, and we are like family, more than just sisters.” Reina called Regina her “other half.”
After her son Ian passed away at 26, Regina courageously returned to work to portray Shirley Chisholm, the first black U.S. congresswoman.
She completed the film as a tribute to her son’s legacy.
Ryte inquired, “What strengths did you discover within yourself after finishing this film?”
Regina replied, “We understand our strength and resilience. Being resilient is like having a superpower.”
Reina added, “And having patience, too.”
Regina also looked back on completing the film, saying, “It’s been a 15-year journey. It’s a mix of feelings because we’ve reached this point and soon we’ll be onto the next project, but it’s special because Shirley’s story lives on. Hopefully, viewers will be inspired to learn more about her accomplishments by watching this film, and it might encourage them to engage in the political process.”
“Shirley” will be available on Netflix starting March 21.
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