‘The Residence’ Star Uzo Aduba Says Detective Cordelia Cupp’s “Superpower” Is “She Doesn’t Mind Standing Out”

[This story contains spoilers for Netflix’s The Residence.]

Shondaland has already introduced its fair share of iconic female protagonists to TV audiences, but now, a new addition is part of the lineup with Uzo Aduba‘s Detective Cordelia Cupp from Netflix’s The Residence.

Throughout the series’ eight episodes — from Shondaland and former Scandal writer-producer Paul William Davies — Aduba stars as a consulting detective enlisted to help solve the murder of White House chief usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) during a White House state dinner.

Cupp’s ability to stay true to herself and stand on her own amid the chaos  — even if that means making time for her beloved birding — was what stood out to Aduba when taking on the role.

“I felt inspired by her voice,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “In addition to her standing out in any room, what I think her superpower really is, is she doesn’t mind standing out.”

Aduba chatted with THR about Cordelia’s iconic detective look, working with Kylie Minogue and the late Andre Braugher on the series and what she thought about that killer reveal (and how she guessed wrong).

What were your initial thoughts when this project first came to you?

When it came to this script, I was really interested in the pace. It just had a wonderful crispness and cadence to it. I think the very first thing as it relates to Cordelia that I was interested in was I could just very quickly hear her voice more than anything. I could hear how she processes information [and] thinks. I felt inspired by her voice, which to me felt very deliberate, very intentional.

This series pays homage to the classic detective mystery. Were you a fan of classic mysteries and were there any that you wanted to embody with Cordelia?

I remember loving Clue and Knives Out. I remember my mom would watch Murder, She Wrote [with] Jessica Fletcher. I liked watching it with her when she would be on. I was curious about it. As far as borrowing from any of that, no, I didn’t because I felt like her [Cordelia’s] voice to me felt very distinct. I sort of leaned more so less into the detective aspect of her and leaned more into the pace and the language. That was something that really inspired me to know who she is, as far as how she works. I realized she processes information very quickly. She can take a lot out of nothing, and she is outpacing the dudes beside her. And why is she able to do that? Oh, because she’s really smart.

Cordelia’s look really showcases who she is. You have described her jacket as feeling like a superhero cape. What made it perfect for Cordelia’s detective look?

It felt so right because she would stand out in any room. She does not look or appear to be of this world. In the White House, she’s not a guest who happens to be a detective on the night of the state dinner. She doesn’t work formally in law enforcement or with any of these agencies. No matter what day of the week we would have found her, she would have never fit in. It was symbolic in so many ways in terms of her process and the way in which she can engage and investigate — symbolic as far as who she is in the room, just existing, and her intelligence. Her superpower really is, she doesn’t mind standing out.

One of the guests at the state dinner is Kylie Minogue. What was it like having her join the show?

Kylie is amazing. She is incredible, a true talent and a true professional. I can’t even tell you how many times she had to sing that song, and she delivered every time, full choreography, full singing and with the same level of impact and intention with the scenes themselves. I was very impressed with that, and [she] was funny, too! It was so amazing to watch how gracious a woman she is, truly generous, open to try [and] creating room for all in the space. Just lovely.

The late Andre Braugher was originally cast to portray A.B. Wynter. What was it like working with him in what was likely one of his final projects?

My filming with him was very different from my castmates filming with him because obviously I’m coming in to solve his murder. So my filming with him is Andre so elegantly laying on the floor, being so funny. We had two and a half weeks of rehearsal before we started filming. My existence with Andre was in the trailer, as his chair was right next to mine in hair and makeup. He’s one of our greatest, if you ask me. Such a remarkable actor, a distinguished gentleman who could just give so many different colors in performance. He’d call me queen. He had such a knowledge of music. He just had range and [was] an incredibly loving, generous man, full stop. I’m lucky to have met and worked with him.

In episode eight, we learn who the murderer is. What was your reaction and were you satisfied?

Definitely thought it was somebody else.

Who did you think it was?

I thought it was going to be Jasmine [an assistant usher]. I could not believe it. But then when you start to look back on Lily and her role in the whole administration [as White House social secretary], and how she just really turned her nose up at the People’s House, this person of extreme privilege, of so much wealth and access, who’s tired of the idea of what it means to work hard, of love of country and wanting to do away with all of that? I enjoyed [that], personally. I thought it was a smart direction and choice by Paul William Davies.

Can you talk about Cordelia’s monologue in episode eight and how it reflected who she was?

We don’t see a lot of Cordelia’s thoughts and opinions and how she is processing this loss and what’s happened in this great house. She’s there to put the dignity and integrity of the life lost first. At the end, she has an opportunity to speak to all of the people in that room and remind them why they are there and why being there is important: Because you actually represent the people. The voice of America is heard through you, exists in this house through you, not just because of the people we elect and appoint in the West Wing. They exist because you’re here. You as a cook, a chef, a butler, a maid, the engineer. You all are representatives of the people of this country. And I don’t think she takes that lightly to know that one of those representatives was so disregarded [and] that they were killed.

The very end we see Cordelia make a pit stop to the White House again to speak with Nan Cox who tells Cordelia she knew who the killer was all along and that she could’ve just asked her. Can you talk about their exchange and what that meant?

It felt like a great bookend because here was this more mature, really wise, smart woman who could put it together. And she says, “Oh, you’re good. You really are great detective.” Cordelia says, “Yes, the best.” It’s the first time we hear her [Cordelia] acknowledge what people say about her. A lot of times, we hear particularly female characters not given the space to acknowledge that truth about themselves. That is powerful and strong. I liked that she was able to say, “Yeah, you know what, I’m pretty great at my job.”

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The Residence is streaming on Netflix now. Read THR‘s interviews with Paul William Davies about making The Residence and the finale and with a joint interview with Uzo Aduba and Randall Park.