Vanity fair recently published a list of the top 15 new characters of the year, and at no. 14 was six-year-old Diane Johnson of Black-ish.The character is the only kid on the list, making it an even bigger win. Diane is portrayed by Texas native Marsai Martin who handles the delicacy of playing a young genius with absolute grace.
Diane struts around the house making clever (if not snarky) remarks that make her sound like a bitter grown up, and yet, viewers can’t help but love her. Vanity Fair writes: “Diane is exactly the kind of kid character that should annoy, but somehow this preternaturally clever, smart-mouthed kid avoids all the usual sitcom pitfalls.”
Her adorable arrogance is always placed just right, deriving humor from the fact that it is generally directed towards her twin brother, whom she is older than by one minute, and never forgets it.
Marsai began showing an interest in the spotlight before she could even talk, and her parents took notice of this immediately. She was signed to the Kim Dawson Agency at age five, and after a couple national commercial gigs, she moved to primetime TV on ABC’s newest sitcom. When asked what she wants to do when she grows up, she answered, “to be a legend.”
Photo: ABC
