Ariana DeBose has become a “healthier being” after facing criticism

Ariana DeBose She always carries herself with the utmost grace – but the ups and downs of her past have allowed her to become the best version of herself for the future.

“I've been going through a journey with criticism over the last few years,” DeBose, 33, shared exclusively with Us Weekly While promoting her new movie Kraven the Hunter. “Or at least for me, it's been my personal journey. And I think you have to get really good at taking things with a grain of salt. And when I have those moments where I feel very critical or critical, I stop for a minute and think about the source or sources. I made my own decision This has helped me create a healthier way of being.

Following her hosting gig during the 2023 BAFTA Awards, DeBose faced backlash from social media trolls after she opened the awards show with a musical number that praised nominees such as Angela Bassett and Jamie Lee Curtis For doing “the thing”, which resulted in her X account being deactivated. The previous year, she addressed haters who criticized her Saturday Night Live Hosting the party after she accidentally cited the wrong year during her monologue.

Given those experiences, DeBose has learned to ignore anyone who can't relate to her experience — an experience that includes an Oscar, a Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations. The multi-hyphenate has now also returned to X – making her page private, due to the border – and has figured out how to protect her peace.

“There's a great saying like: Don't take advice from people who aren't in the arena, and don't listen to criticism from people who aren't in the arena,” DeBose said. we. “That's been very helpful for me. I don't necessarily think all criticism is bad criticism, but I think in the society we live in today, the first thing we do is criticize. It's like we've lost the ability to see the light in something or the intention.” behind something.

“The first thing we do is find something wrong or why there is less than that. And that is not at all interesting to me,” she continued. “I don’t take advice or listen to criticism from people who are not in the arena anymore.”

However, if DeBose is able to channel any magical power – like her “slippery” voodoo priestess character, Calypso, in… Kraven the Hunter -She will upgrade her natural “White Witch” abilities to be able to “focus” and get a reading on who is worth her time and energy from the beginning.

“The clarity of reading auras and a person's personality, if that's my superpower for every person I meet, so I know what to say, 'Cool, cool.' I'll go, 'Oh, cool.' 'Cool, let's have a conversation, that'll be great,'” she said, laughing. “You know, just brush up a little bit sharper and get a really clear read, like in a sci-fi movie where there's something written in your head and (it alerts you), 'This person is a psychopath!'”

This trick would certainly come in handy for someone as busy as DeBose, who has a slew of projects dropping next year including films like Love hurtswith Ke Huiquanand Lear rex reverse Al Pacino. She is also celebrating the release of requirements, Which arrives in theaters on Friday, December 13th.

DeBose is particularly proud of her entry into the Sony Marvel universe, which features her in a role much more than just a typical love interest. DeBose said we That Calypso's “genius” and “intelligence” shine brighter than in her relationship with Craven, whom she portrays Aaron Taylor Johnson.

“I loved the idea of ​​playing a character like that,” she explained. “I love that it's part of the origin story. You know, this is Kraven's origin story, and how he became, and I think, given the context, what would become a partnership between him and Calypso and a partnership between men and women on screen, and that's not always meant to be romantic, I think That can be rare in this industry and I was very intrigued by that.

Kraven the Hunter Now playing in theaters.