IMANI HAKIM TALKS ABOUT CHILDHOOD SUCCESS AND PLAYING A STRONG FEMALE ROLE IN A PREDOMINATELY MAN’S WORLD OF GAMING

If you are a child of the 90s, and perhaps 2000s, you’ll remember watching Everybody Hates Chris. A show centered around the troubled experiences of well, you guessed it, Chris. Chris Rock to be exact. He documented his troubled teenage experiences and wrote it into a storyline for all of the world to see. Not streaming it, but physically watching it on cable when that was still, in fact, a popular thing. Imani Hakim was a staple in the favored sitcom depicting Tonya; a nine-year-old cheeky younger sister to brothers Chris and Drew.

Raen Badua

Before her debut, Hakim spent the first eleven years of her life in Cleveland, Ohio before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Upon arrival, she auditioned for a Febreeze commercial and a recurring role on Malcom in the Middle; to which she says she completely bombed. Then came Everybody Hates Chris. On life after booking Tonya, “Everybody Hates Chris was my first audition for a pilot. Got the callback, screen test, network test, then I got the role! Yes, so many things changed in a short span of time.. from financial stability for my family, the culture of LA, and strangers randomly stopping you on the street telling you how much they adore or hate your character. It was jarring for an 11-year-old to navigate. It’s fascinating how humans are able to adapt.”

Hakim has since moved on to more blossomed roles playing Dana in Mythic Quest, produced by Chris Smirnoff and Jeff Luini, alongside co-stars Ashly Burch and F. Murray Abraham. Apple TV’s American comedy series depicts a video game studio that produces a popular MMORPG titled Mythic Quest created by Iann Grimm. Hakim plays Dana, someone who is responsible for testing out the games. She must play all the games with the intent to break them, testing for all potential bugs. 

Raen Badua

On the development of Dana, “Dana has gone through a major “facelift” when it comes to character development. She was written very differently on the page initially and the writers and I sort of built her together as the episodes progressed. We had this character that started off a bit one-dimensional and we’ve been able to strip things away and add as we’ve gone along. It’s a joy the creators trust our input as actors, you don’t find that often and I’m happy to contribute to building this puzzle. We had to discover Dana’s desire outside of just QA testing or being Rachel's love interest… Who is she as a person? We get to see this young woman with huge dreams and aspirations and she’s a bit unapologetic about it. 

Mythic Quest is prominent in showing a Black woman working in a predominately man’s world of technology and showing just how well the job can be done by a Black woman. Hakim wants it known that girls CAN become involved with STEM and be successful at it.

Raen Badua

“I wish I knew how cool STEM was when I was in school. I just didn’t know a career in STEM was an option. I think as women, we are programmed that we wouldn’t benefit in a field that requires more of a logical brain approach. I think women could truly thrive if we had the support and confidence of knowing we can and we are capable of blending nurture with logic. We need more female brainpower in the fields that can change the WORLD.”

Hakim plays a very diverse video game lover, but when it comes to playing games herself, a game of Tekken or Sims will do the job. When unwinding for the day, she partakes in a delightful skin and hair care routine, with a cup of hot tea, a YouTube video, and an hour of bliss taking care of the outer layer of my vessel. 

Season Two of Mythic Quest Is Now Available on Apple TV+

Meet the Author

Brianna Vacca is a Philadelphia-based writer. She has an unhealthy addiction to true crime documentaries, celebrity gossip, and writes overly dramatic sad songs.