You know what they say about people not meeting their idols. And that is true in some cases. But in others, the people you look up to can be just as charming and wonderful as you would imagine. And that is the case with actress Loretta Devine. We’ve seen her countless movies. She keeps finding ways to pop on our television screens. She stays working. We’ve become so attached to her characters, that you might get the sense that you know her. And while we don’t, I can tell you from both of the times I’ve spoken with her, she is just as lovely over the phone as you would imagine her to be. During our conversation, we spoke about her role in the new film Chapter & Verse, the golden age for Black actresses and the secret to longevity in a very fickle industry. See what she had to say.
Tell us what attracted you to Chapter and Verse?
Daniel Beatty. I’ve seen his work here in L.A. He’s done 2-3 one man shows that I have seen. He’s an incredible writer and actor and I was really excited to work with him. He was what attracted me to the project. Also the writing in the project, the fact that it was such an unusual script about something that I think people really hadn’t really been dealing with in films. Also the fact that it was shot in New York that was exciting to me.
Tell us about your character in the film because she’s like a grandmother but I also saw— a little bit of drug use…
Drug use?! What are you talking about?
I saw the trailer and wasn’t she smoking from a pipe in the trailer?
Oh! You haven’t seen the whole film. Well, let me tell you. The film is really about a young man who’s just been released from incarceration. And he’s learned in his time while he was in prison how to work computers and everything. And he’s in the probation stage where he’s living at a half-way house. And he’s delivering meals to women or needy families and she’s one of the families that he’s delivering the meals to. And by accident, they actually become friends after she’s terrified from her first meeting with him. He becomes like a son to her. She’s raising a grandson who is being tempted by a gang to become a member. And he has been a member. It seems like he needs her but it turns out, he saves her grandson which means she needed him more. He introduces her to the weed because she’s in constant pain because throughout the course of the movie something happens to her. It’s for the pain, it isn’t like she’s a drug person. It’s none of that. She’s a religious nice, Black woman! …With a good heart.
She could use a little something.
So, during these times people are saying that art is going to come forward to push social justice issues. And so I wanted to speak to you about whether or not you believe art can really change people and their perceptions and opinions about certain things?
I think it’s true. Art is a replica of life. I think film and television is such a huge part of everything we do in this country. It becomes more important than our families. I think we spend more time talking about what we saw on the tv, what we saw in a film. I think families are able to talk because they have that as a theme for their conversation. Our music is what has sort of kept us viable here in so many ways because it crosses over into other cultures, which makes us more acceptable, which allows us to do all the other things, athletics and all that.
I think we’re just now getting into, as far as film and television, how we will be important to the culture, what you’re talking about in the art form in that way. They say we’re in the golden age now because there’s so many Black faces on television and I hope we migrate even more to all films and not just Black films.
Speaking about there being more opportunities for Black actresses, you said last year that you feel like you like kind of missed out in Hollywood. What type of lead role do you think you would have wanted to play maybe earlier on in your career?
When I was here a Black woman carrying movie or a Black woman carrying a television show—was almost unheard of. And now we have all of that. And we have even more of it in the last couple of years. We have even more of it in the last couple of years. We have more than ten leading ladies now. I would have to be in my twenties or thirties to jump in the pool, you know. So it’s a great opportunity for the women that are coming.
Are there any roles that are currently on tv and you say I would have loved to play that character?
I haven’t had that kind of envy yet because when I look at stuff and go ‘been there, done that.’ I got a chance to do so many different type of things, things that I really enjoy doing. And I’ve had so many opportunities. Because I’m a character actress and I consider myself a working actress, I’ve gotten a chance to do things like CeCe on “Being Mary Jane.” I played for seven years on “Grey’s Anatomy” which was a very upscale doctor’s wife. I’ve played sitcom comedy where you just knock down laughing, acting stupid. When I think of all the different types of movies that I’ve done, I feel like I’ve gotten a chance to do a lot of the things I dreamed of doing. And I’m just happy for people that they’re getting a chance to show how beautiful we are. And it’s such a wide range of women. All types. From Sidibe to Kerry Washington, to Viola, you can’t say well nothing is being represented. I think everybody is there and represented. I could play all of those girls moms or grandmas.
Speaking about families talking about different issues, “The Carmichael Show” was one of those shows that was able to talk about everything. We heard that it’s renewed for a third season so do you have any idea when it’s coming back?
They haven’t given us an air date but we hope it gets back before summer. But we’re tackling some topics—ooo this year. We’re tackling the n-word. We’re tackling the effect of dementia and Alzheimer’s and possible suicide issues. We’re tackling the whole thing about beauty— what is beautiful and what is ugly. Jerrod Carmichael, who is the creator of this show, a lot of the things are based on his stand up in a way. His jokes—some people are going to be like ‘Ooo that ain’t funny.’ But it’s the truth. It’s the truth. So the show is rooted in truth and I think that’s why it’s so wonderful.
And I’m still doing the “Doc McStuffins.” Hallie the Hippo is the character I play, teaching these young, Black babies to be doctors. So that’s a very positive thing that I feel really good about that I’m still doing.
So you’ve been working and moving. And it feels like we always see you. There’s never a moment where we’re like ‘Man, I haven’t seen Loretta Devine in a minute. I wonder what she’s doing?’ So I’m wondering what is the role people most recognize you for.
Oh God! Funny Valentines people love. Whenever that movie has been on tv, they love that. Death at a Funeral. People come up to me and I never know what they’re going to say. Or they’re like, ‘What are you doing next?’ And I say, ‘How do you know I’m not doing something now?’ And so, I think people expect me to be working. I’ve been very blessed that I’ve been able to work. And I hope I can continue because, I feel like in Hollywood, you age out. There are other issues. It’s just a matter of, I hope I can keep going. We don’t know what’s going to happen from day to day with Trump. It seems that everybody’s up in the air about just life period. He’s a little mad with show business, I think he’s going to try to kick California off the map.
What is the secret to working so consistently as a Black actress?
You know, I trained in it, I studied it. I think you have to feel like you’re supposed to work and you go out there and you audition. I say yes a lot when I think other people would say no. I do a lot of independent films. I’ve done student films. One of the films that I’m proud I did Dirty Laundry which was written by Maurice Jamal. Jamal had never done anything and I liked the script, I said, ‘Oh yeah, why not?’ So I did it. It changed his life. And now, one of the producers, because of that film is trying to help me get some other things produced. Every job you have, leads to something else. The people that you work with will be the people that continue to work if you’re lucky. And the more things you’re in, it’s more paint thrown up against the wall. And opportunities come because people know your track record, that you’ll be on time, that you want to do it. That you’ll be prepared by knowing your lines. And all of those kinds of things make the longevity possible. You have to go in prepared. You can’t feel too high and mighty about things because it is just a job. It’s not brain surgery. I think all of that helps when it comes to whether or not you’re going to be able to continue to do it.
You said you say yes to a lot of things. Would you ever consider returning to Broadway? We see that Sheryl Lee Ralph is back on Broadway in Wicked. Would that be something you would be interested in?
Oh! I’m working on a new project with Titus Burgess.
OOOHH!
I’m hoping that within the next year or so we can finish it and it comes back. I don’t know if I have permission to call the name of it out. But yes! I would love to be back on Broadway that’s a whole different animal from television and film. It requires another kind of consistency because it’s working 8 days a week. It’s a different kind of thing. But I would love to do it again.
And Titus is awesome. You guys would be great together.
Oh, he’s incredible. Just a talent. He composed the music and everything so I’m really looking forward to working with him. Ledisi is going to be the lead in the show that he’s getting ready to do.
People are also doing a lot of reboots. And are there any roles that you would ever consider revisiting? Either television or film?
You know, when I was young I wanted to do Born Yesterday. But I think I’m too old now to do that. It’s a romantic comedy about this girl that was considered really dumb and she turned out to be the smartest one in the movie. I want them to do This Christmas again. But they did Almost Christmas which is not This Christmas. Jumping The Broom—there’s so many films that I’ve done that they could do reboots of. It’s just a matter of Will Packer deciding to do it.
You know “A Different World” was a part of that conversation too. Would you be open to returning to that?
Oh my God! “Different World.” You remember that I was on that?
Yes! And I always wondered why we didn’t get to see more of you on that show?
Oh God, they revamped the entire show. I think that was of the first things I got let go from. I was devastated. But yes! Of course. You know I like to work. They always make fun of me. They say you’re the Sam Jackson of tv. And I say, ‘Yes, that’s right.’ Because you know they say that Sam Jackson do everything.
I interviewed Angela Bassett and she said that about you. She said, ‘Loretta loves to work.’
Ha! She does too! But see Angela Bassett is a leading lady actress. And I’m like a character actress. We’ve done a lot of things together when you think about it. Waiting to Exhale and Jumping the Broom.
Is there anything else you want to add?
No, I think we covered just about everything and now I gotta go to work. Bye!
Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.
The post She Loves To Work! Loretta Devine Talks New Movie Chapter & Verse & Longevity In The Industry appeared first on MadameNoire.