DTH Mag Vol 5 - Flipbook - Page 27
You have a new movie coming out, Single Black
Female 2. What made you want to take the role,
and were there always plans for a sequel?
There aren't a lot of Black women in horror and
thrillers, so that was always really fun. I've
always talked to Whoopi Goldberg about it
because we connected over our love for horror
films and thrillers. So when [the movie] came
across my table to be a part of it, I was excited.
Raven Goodwin is like a sister to me. I9ve known
K. Michelle for a while, but this was my first
time working with her, and we became close in
the first film. And that film did exceptionally well
— 8.1 million views over all platforms. Lifetime
is not known to do sequels, so the fact that they
even are doing a sequel was just like, hell yeah, I
want to be a part of that. That's a monumental
and historical thing to do: Two plus-sized Black
women leading the film in horror. Like, name me
another film doing that.
I love the second script and where they went with
it. And it will give you all the Lifetime feels you
need and the things you expect in Lifetime
movies. I think it's even better the second time
around, and I'm excited for people to see it.
While we enjoy the current moment, I9m always
curious to know what9s next. All these great
things, it9s giving you in your 8healed girl9 era.
I'm excited about a secret project I will be getting
into that will soon be announced. It's something
that people have been expecting me to do. I have
music coming out this summer. Finally. I'm so
excited because the music is so fucking good.
And you said the right words, which is so funny.
That feels like how God shows you that you're in
alignment. It's healed girl music. That's really
what it is. Every time people ask me to describe
it, I'm like, it's healed girl music, but I'm talking
shit.
But it's coming from a healed place, though.
Music, singing, more dancing, more acting are
next; just, you know, trying to be a Renaissance
woman and working.
I know that9s right! When you9re doing all this,
how do you prioritize your self-care?
I'm going to keep it so real. I am really working
on it. I'm trying to be better. My New Year's
resolution was to make my mental health and
self-care paramount this year. Because I don't
think that I took care of my mental health in
the way that I needed. I didn't make it as much
of a priority as I should have last year. As a
recovering people pleaser, it can be very hard to
put yourself first. That's hard for me. So it's
prioritizing myself in every situation, which
sounds crazy to me even saying it and saying
8no9 more. That's how I'm prioritizing and
taking care of my mental health better.
What advice would you give to other creatives out
there?
I would say have a firm foundation. Create a
great village around you and have people that
encourage you. Iron sharpens iron, so find
people that you can encourage and people that
encourage you. If you're pursuing more selflove for yourself, create a language and monitor
how you speak to yourself. I will also say
therapy. There are a lot of programs out there if
you can't afford them; there are also books, selfhelp books, and things you can do to support
your mental health. Put yourself first, and take
care of yourself first. Especially Black women,
we9re so expected to take care of everyone all of
the time. You must take care of yourself and be
okay with people being disappointed, upset, and
mad at you. But put yourself first.
Anything else you want to add?
Free Palestine.
DEEPER THAN HAIR | 27