WCW: Tessa Thompson – Frock Flicks

Tessa Thompson - Photo by Stephanie Diani

Photo by Stephanie Diani.

Tessa Thompson is an absolutely magnetic actor, and I could watch her in anything. Most of the frock flicks listed here, I’ve specifically watched because of her and I do need to catch up on her non-historical roles. She’s done everything from play super hero Valkyrie in Marvel movies to perform in Janelle Monáe music videos. Let’s hope she keeps taking on historical costume roles too!

Wilhemina ‘Billie’ Doucette in “Best Friends,” Cold Case (2005)

Tessa Thompson, Cold Case (2005) — This episode investigated a girl who disappeared in 1932. Thompson plays the girl’s former ‘best friend’ (or more).

Sara Freeman in Copper (2012-13)

Tessa Thompson, Copper (2012-13), Photo by Steve Wilkie / Cineflix Productions. — I tried to watch this 1860s police procedural but even Tessa Thompson couldn’t save it for me! Photo by Steve Wilkie / Cineflix Productions.

Tessa Thompson, Copper (2012-13), Photo by Steve Wilkie / Cineflix Productions. — The series had a few moments, like when abolitionist Frederick Douglass shows up, & this scene is a turning point for Thompson’s character. Photo by Steve Wilkie / Cineflix Productions.

Diane Nash in Selma (2014)

Tessa Thompson, Selma (2014) — Thompson portrayed this real-life activist, a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) who joined Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma in 1965.

Tessa Thompson, Selma (2014), Photo by Atsushi Nishijima / Paramount Pictures. — Photo by Atsushi Nishijima / Paramount Pictures.

Eartha Kitt in “Fame,” Drunk History (2019)

Tessa Thompson, Drunk History (2019). Photo from Comedy Central. — Tessa Thompson is Eartha Kitt as Catwoman! Photo from Comedy Central.

Tessa Thompson, Drunk History (2019) — The Batman appearance leads to Kitt meeting Lady Bird Johnson & calling out the First Lady as a racist.

Tessa Thompson, Drunk History (2019) — Johnson got Eartha Kitt blacklisted for a while, but Kitt comes out on top. Watch the episode on YouTube!

Sylvie Parker in Sylvie’s Love (2020)

Tessa Thompson in Sylvie's Love (2020) — Looking adorably gamine in the 1950s.

Tessa Thompson in Sylvie's Love (2020) — The story moves through the ’50s to ’60s, with appropriate hair changes.

Tessa Thompson in Sylvie's Love (2020) — I love this flick, it’s charming & uplifting without being too sweet. Wonderful acting, fun clothes, what more could you want?

Irene in Passing (2021)

Passing (2021) — Then things get more serious, with this 1920s story about two friends, one who “passes” for white & one who doesn’t (Thompson plays the later).

Passing (2021) — This movie is more intense, with fantastic acting, & it’ll make you think.

Passing (2021) — The movie’s filmed in black & white, but color pix reveal even more of the period details on the costumes.

Passing (2021) — And the hat game is on point!

Hedda Gabler in Hedda (2025)

Hedda (2025) — Tessa Thompson is sexy AF in this one, also very arch & complicated.

Hedda (2025) — The 1950s setting is stylized & emphasizes the glam, along with the class issues in the story.

What’s your favorite Tessa Thompson role?

More Frock Flicks

Tags: 1860s 1920s 1930s 1950s 1960s adapted from books Copper (2012-13) Drunk History (2013-19) Hedda (2025) inspired by a true story Passing (2021) race issues in history Selma (2014) Sylvie's Love (2020) Tessa Thompson

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