Teyana Taylor Shares How Her Journey with Postpartum Depression Shaped Her Role in One Battle After Another

Teyana Taylor in London in September 2025.
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Karwai Tang/WireImage

Teyana Taylor Discusses Postpartum Experience in "One Battle After Another"

Teyana Taylor has opened up about how her personal experiences with postpartum depression influenced her role in the upcoming film One Battle After Another. The actress and singer, who shares two daughters—Rue, 5, and Iman "Junie" Tayla, 10—with her ex-partner Iman Shumpert, emphasized the importance of understanding the diverse ways women experience postpartum challenges.

In her portrayal of Perfidia, a Black revolutionary and former leader of the radical group the French 75, Taylor finds herself navigating complex relationships, including a romantic involvement with Bob Ferguson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. She also explores a dynamic with Steven Lockjaw, portrayed by Sean Penn.

Reflecting on her role, Taylor acknowledged, "How I may have handled my postpartum depression is not how the next woman has handled hers." She felt compelled to delve deep into the subject, saying, "I need to go down a rabbit hole and see the different things of what happens to us when we’re dealing with this."

Taylor described Perfidia’s struggle with postpartum depression as stemming from feelings of being "unheard, unseen, not beautiful and like a piece of meat." This led to her character grappling with the need to act selfishly, even at the expense of her child. "But who are we to judge how she handles postpartum depression after being ignored?" Taylor questioned.

The narrative underscores the multifaceted nature of postpartum experiences, addressing themes of selfishness, power dynamics, and the consequences of personal choices. Taylor expressed her hope that the film fosters meaningful conversations around these topics, stating, "I definitely love that this movie was able to shake the table and create that healthy dialogue."

Teyana Taylor as Perfidia in ‘One Battle After Another’.

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Teyana Taylor and Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘One Battle After Another’.

Warner Bros.