It's been a busy week for Iman Vellani, the 19 year-old star of Ms. Marvel, who visited The Tonight Show earlier this week to chat with Jimmy Fallon about landing the role of a lifetime. All smiles, Iman gushed about growing up a Marvel fan, her love of Robert Downey Jr, and about her aunt sending her a "Super Sketchy" casting call through WhatsApp that changed her life forever.
The young actress proved that she's a geek at heart, as she tells Jimmy about growing up obsessed with comics, doing special nail art for each new MCU release, dressing as Kamala Kahn for Halloween in high school, and even putting on elaborate presentations for her parents to get them up to speed for any new Marvel films.
After commenting that starring in Ms. Marvel was Iman's very first acting gig right out of high school, she responds with sly "Hell yeah!" and a sheepish grin. Pressing to know exactly how the process went down, Jimmy asked her to explain to the audience how she landed the role.
"My Aunt forwarded me a WhatsApp of the casting call. Super sketchy!", Iman explained. "I don't know what casting calls look like, but I'm like, obsessed with Marvel. Obsessed with Ms. Marvel. Read all of the comics in High School." Vellani would also add, "I sent in a very academic resume, and the only headshot I had... and I sent in my self-tape at like 3am... and the next day, I get a call."
Iman would further elaborate on the process and amazing feeling of video chatting with Kevin Feige when they confirmed that she'd landed the part. Jimmy pressed Iman about being in the MCU and what secrets she may know. "I know secrets! I know secrets! Well, I'd like to think that I know secrets. I don't know how much they're like, humoring me? But I think I know secrets." the fangirl turned lead actress would go on to say, "It's like power, you know? For some people it's like money and fame. For me, it's like MCU secrets."
When asked by Fallon if she knew any secrets beforehand that have since been spilled, Vellani recounted her first meeting with Tom Holland in which the Spider-Man: No Way Home star showed her a picture of himself with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield.
It looks like Kamala is having a ball living the hero life she's always dreamed of, but it may be safe to assume the lighthearted fun will not last long as the mysterious organization from the end of episode 1 closes in on the fledgling superhero.