Alaqua Cox is soon arriving in the MCU as Maya Lopez and by the same time next week, she will be playing the street-level vigilante, Marvel fans know as Echo. She will be making an appearance in Hawkeye before she gets her own show, which will reportedly begin its filming next year. Cox was also present at the red carpet event for the premiere of Hawkeye on Wednesday. The actress didn’t shy from expressing her gratitude towards Marvel for allowing the actress her space to flourish as a performer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a newcomer.

Here’s what Echo star Maya Lopez had to say:

Echo
Echo in Marvel Comics

While talking to Variety, she said, “It’s just so crazy that I’m getting my own show after Hawkeye. That was like my first acting role, ever,”

She also added that “I don’t know why they’re giving me this opportunity, but I’m just grateful. I’m excited about the support and being able to advocate for the Deaf community. We want to have that equality and get more people involved. I’m just so grateful for all of the opportunities I’ve been given.”

It was earlier revealed this month that she was working in a warehouse in Milwaukee when her friends came to know that Marvel is looking for a Deaf Native American character.

Here’s what Cox told People Magazine ahead of Hawkeye‘s premiere

Cox will play Echo
Cox will play Echo

“It’s crazy how much my life has already changed because I was a college dropout. I worked at a factory. I’m so excited to show people who I am and what I can do, what anybody can do,” Cox told People Magazine ahead of Hawkeye‘s premiere.

“[My friends] saw the casting call looking for a Native American actress and female deaf actress,” she added. “It just matched so perfectly, so I decided to go for it. I had never seen anybody on the screen that maybe looked like me … deaf, an amputee.”

Hawkeye will be debuting on Disney+ on November 24th.