Based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures is a space movie with a difference: telling the true story of African-American mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, whose calculations were instrumental in sending the first American astronaut, John Glenn, to orbit the Earth in 1962. A brand new international trailer has now landed.
Taraji P. Henson plays Johnson, and speaking to Empire, the actor praised the now 97-year-old scientist. “Today’s society would call Katherine a nerd or a geek,” Henson told Empire. “But she’s a genius. Sometimes when you know a lot, you don’t say a lot.”
Working at a time of institutionalised racism in America, the three mathematicians struggled to be recognised for their extraordinary achievements. “It shocked me that there is never any mention of all these women who were part of the space programme,” says Octavia Spencer, who plays Vaughan. “One could be bitter about it. But I think bringing this story to life is much more powerful.”
Henson and Spencer lead up a cast that includes, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst and Jim Parsons. Hidden Figures blasts into US cinemas on January 13, ahead of a UK release date of February 24.