If you grew up with X-Men: The Animated Series, then the lovely Lenore Zann has been part of your life for over 30 years. At once, an amazing actress, superhero, politician, and all around human being, Zann has demonstrated that great performances in television can break barriers and transcend mediums in ways so many underestimate.
Showcasing her brilliance playing Rogue, not only in the original series, but elevating that performance masterfully for X-Men ’97, Zann (and the revival series as a whole) seem to be destined for Emmy glory. And given just how incredible X-Men ’97 is, I think an astonishing majority will agree with that assessment.
From its first episode X-Men ’97 quickly ascended to the title of, not only being the best animated series on television, but also one of the best overall shows of any medium on TV right now (if not the best, as it is in my opinion). And the joy of watching every epic episode unfold proved to be its own timeless reward, condensed into 30 minutes of gorgeous animation and brilliant storytelling. But no episode of the series, or of any show on television this year, hit as hard as this season’s fifth episode.
Entitled “Remember It,” the episode centered on the powerful tragedy that was the destruction of Genosha at the hands of humankind, ending with a devastating sacrifice that left fans and non-fans alike sobbing in their seats. But in such a powerful episode, of such a powerful season of television, perhaps the most impactful moment was the subtle crack in Zann’s vocal performance, uttering the now infamous line “Sugah — I can’t feel you.”
The amount of emotion and heart Zann has poured into the performance rivals that of any other on television. And as such, many are predicting her to be a shoe-in for the Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for her role as Rogue in the episode. And I am delighted, and frankly still shaken by the surreal experience, of having the highest honor of speaking with her about her performance as Rogue, the X-Men ’97 series overall, and the evergreen legacy and impact she made on all of us fans bringing the iconic character to life.
And now we’d like to share this privilege with you all in our below interview. Experience it right here:
X-Men ’97 proved to be more than just a comeback. It was a direct extension of a series that has remained as timeless and relevant today as it ever was 32 years ago. And that rich history and the impact that series and its characters left on our generation would never have been possible without Zann. This Emmy season, we wish her and the series overall, the best of luck in showing the entire industry what the power of good storytelling – animated, superhero, or otherwise — can actually do when placed in the hands of the most unassuming and truly talented individuals.
All episodes of X-Men ’97 are now available to stream on Disney+
