Tragic Details About The She Hulk Cast
The following article includes descriptions of suicide and sexual assault.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe brings another well-loved character from the Marvel Comics roster to the small screen with "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law." The nine-episode series, created by Emmy-winning writer Jessica Gao ("Rick and Morty"), follows lawyer Jennifer Walters as she contends with her new position at the Superhuman Law Division as well as the fact that she turns big, strong, and very green when under stress. The Disney+ series also features Mark Ruffalo, who reprises his MCU role as Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk, and who helps Walters (his cousin) adjust to her new gamma-irradiated state.
Like "Ms. Marvel" and "Hawkeye," "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" is equal amounts action, drama, and humor. The cast, which also includes the likes of Tim Roth and Jameela Jamil, has extensive credits in all three genres. Many of them have dealt with drama in their off-screen lives as well, and, in some cases, powerful and life-changing events. We've detailed many of the tragic details about the "She-Hulk" cast here. Spoilers ahead.
Tatiana Maslany has fought sexism in the entertainment industry
Canadian actor Tatiana Maslany is no stranger to playing extraordinary characters. She won an Emmy for playing Sarah Manning and her various clones on the hit sci-fi series "Orphan Black," and she played the evangelical preacher Sister Alice on "Perry Mason," among many other projects. She added another formidable figure when she was tapped to star in Marvel's "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law."
Maslany projects an air of suffering no fools, and that's because she's had to deal with plenty of them over the years — she told People magazine that she's experienced so many instances of sexism over the course of her career that she can't even remember the number of times it's happened. "I don't think any woman in this industry hasn't [experienced sexism]," she said. "Sometimes you can't even tell that it's happening because it's so ingrained in the way things are structured. "
Maslany cited several instances of appalling behavior on various sets in her People interview. "Like being told, 'Let's not talk about that, sweetheart,' if I have an issue with being hit on by a 50-year-old when I was 17," she recalled. She also mentioned a project that required her to wear a midriff-baring outfit during an emotional scene. "It's so pathetic," she said. But Maslany also noted that social awareness of sexism in Hollywood may be shifting the tide. "I can't imagine that it's going to stay stuck like this," she explained. "People are too upset, people are too p***** off, and too many strong voices are now being heard."
Mark Ruffalo has overcome many personal losses
MCU fans were pleased to learn that Mark Ruffalo was set to reprise his role as Bruce Banner/The Hulk in "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law." Ruffalo's Hulk — in post-"Endgame" form as Smart Hulk — aids Tatiana Maslany's Jennifer Walters when she inherits his transformative abilities after receiving a blood transfusion from him. The "She-Hulk" turn marks Ruffalo's second MCU appearance after "Endgame" following his post-credits cameo in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings."
Ruffalo's Banner/Hulk has endured incredible challenges in the MCU. The actor himself has faced a slew of physical, mental, and emotional trials throughout his life. He told Observer that he suffers from dysthymia, which he described as "a low-grade depression that just is running all the time in the background." At one point, he was "just about ready to jump off a bridge," he told New York magazine. It took the death of his best friend by suicide to snap him out of it. "The moment he left, I realized that death wasn't an escape, that suicide wasn't an answer," he told Parade. "I understood the value of life. Acting became my way of addressing it."
Ruffalo also experienced hearing loss and facial paralysis after the removal of a brain tumor. He only regained movement and balance after months of hard work and therapy. However, the torrent of tragic news refused to let up: Ruffalo lost his brother, Scott, in an incident that was ruled a homicide in 2008. With the help of meditation, Ruffalo gradually found a sense of inner comfort. "My work started to change, my luck started to change," he told Rolling Stone. "The way the world looked to me changed."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Tim Roth turned tragedy into art
One of the biggest surprises in the "She-Hulk" trailer was the appearance of Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky, a captain in the British Royal Marines who became the Abomination in 2008's "Incredible Hulk." Roth also voiced a version of Abomination that more closely resembled its comic book incarnation in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" before signing on to the Marvel series.
An Oscar nominee for 1995's "Rob Roy," Roth has enjoyed a long and celebrated career in America and his native England. Among his best-known credits are multiple collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, including "Reservoir Dogs" and "The Hateful Eight," as well as Tim Burton's "Planet of the Apes" and Michael Haneke's English-language remake of "Funny Games." He earned numerous awards for his directorial debut, "The War Zone," which took an unflinching look at abuse within an English family. The harrowing film was inspired by real-life experiences.
In 2016, Roth told The Guardian that he and his father, journalist Ernie Smith, had been abused as children by his grandfather. He added that the experience was the impetus to make "The War Zone," which dropped to critical acclaim in 1999. "He was abused," the actor said of his father. "And I was abused. But I was not abused by him. I was abused by his abuser... It was his father." Roth went on to say that it took the family a long time to come to terms with the abuse. "That's why I made 'The War Zone.'"
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Jameela Jamil has had to contend with several health issues
"The Good Place" star Jameela Jamil co-stars in "She-Hulk" as Titania, a character known to Marvel Comics readers as a formidable villain. The small-statured and meek Mary MacPherran transformed into the powerful, towering Titania after being exposed to alien technology by Doctor Doom, who hoped to use her against various heroes. Over the course of many years and issues, Titania has faced off (either solo or with the Absorbing Man) against the likes of Spider-Man, Thor, the X-Men, and especially She-Hulk, with whom she has a long rivalry.
Jameela Jamil's off-camera life has been fraught with adversity. She was hit by a car when she was 17 and could not walk unaided for more than 12 months. "My brother had to take me to the toilet every day," she told CNBC. "There's something about that that sort of gifts you perspective, and you realize that you shouldn't be taking yourself too seriously and you shouldn't be taking life for granted." She had a new lease on life following her recovery, but she's still had to contend with a variety of health concerns in the years since.
Jamil has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (a group of 13 related disorders which cause hyper-flexible joints and joint-related injuries) and she's had two cancer scares. She also contends with severe food allergies as well as Celiac disease, a digestive condition caused by a reaction to gluten consumption. The long list of ailments has caused some to question the validity of her claims, which spurred Jamil to respond via social media. "It has raised a really important conversation about how we gaslight people whose illnesses aren't visible," she said (via People).
Ginger Gonzaga speaks openly about her mental health
There isn't a lot of information available as of yet on Nikki, the character played by Ginger Gonzaga in "She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law." In the trailer for the series, Gonzaga's Nikki appears to be an employee at the same law firm as Jennifer Walters, with whom she seems to have a friendly relationship. Beyond that, Marvel fans will have to wait to find out how Nikki fits into the greater "She-Hulk" story.
Those interested in learning more about Gonzaga can find a wealth of information about her previous credits, which include the series "I'm Dying Up Here," "Togetherness," "Kidding," and "Mixology." She's also provided voices for numerous animated programs, including "Family Guy" and "Robot Chicken," and hosted the pop culture series "The Morning After" for Hulu. Gonzaga is also well known for speaking frankly and positively about her various health issues.
On the podcast "Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend," Gonzaga discussed her experiences with various eating disorders, including anorexia, as well as body dysmorphia disorder, which the Mayo Clinic describes as an obsession with perceived flaws in one's appearance. She later penned an essay for Medium that described episodes of manic depression and other conditions. "I'm bipolar 2," she wrote. "I also have PTSD, anxiety, OCD, and about 20 years of eating disorders that come and go." As her essay noted, Gonzaga is willing to come forward with her diagnoses in order to help other people. She is "willing to be judged so that perhaps, eventually, others will feel less judged."
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Griffin Matthews took a stand against Off-Broadway racism
Writer and actor Griffin Matthews was announced as playing a recurring and as-of-yet-undetermined role on "She-Hulk" in May 2022. Matthews, a consistent scene-stealer in shows like "The Flight Attendant" and "Dear White People," expressed his delight about joining the MCU to Entertainment Tonight. "The most exciting part of joining the MCU was being told by our director and writers, 'Do not try to fit it. Just be you.' And that gave me the freedom to run wild," he said. Not all of Matthews' experiences in the entertainment industry have been as enjoyable as his "She-Hulk" casting, however.
In 2020, Matthews posted a video on his Facebook page that detailed incidents of racism that he and his husband, Matt Gould, experienced during the production of "Invisible Thread," their 2015 Off-Broadway musical. "Here are just a few things that happened to me along the way," Matthews said in the video. "Strong-arming a Black writer after you've already purchased the rights to my work by saying, 'I will not produce your show if you do not change the title, exit your role as lead actor, and exit your role as lead writer.'" He also referenced an experience which involved a director telling an actor in a casting session that she "doesn't look Black enough."
The show's director, Diane Paulus, apologized after Matthews posted his video. "I am profoundly sorry for the pain I caused Griffin and any other person involved in our process," she said in a statement (via Playbill). "I am learning. With every new project and every new process, I re-commit myself to engaging in deeper self-reflection, to creating braver spaces for more collaborative art-making, and to listening to feedback to help me be a better artist, director, and citizen."