0:00

I could right charge you in a minute. Because if I

0:02

see you in the next Denzel Washington movie, I'd be like,

0:04

see, he took all them notes. She

0:07

wanted to charge because she gave me a

0:10

master class in acting. You

0:13

believe that? A master class from one

0:15

of the great actors of today, a

0:18

woman of intensity and imagination who

0:20

burns through the screen on TV

0:22

and in the movies. Well,

0:25

she didn't charge me, so I'm not charging you.

0:27

Today, a free master

0:29

class in acting from

0:31

the unforgettable Taraji P.

0:33

Henson on Touret

0:35

Show. Touret

0:48

Show is all about giving you fuel

0:50

to help you use your dreams like

0:52

a rocket ship to zoom off to

0:54

another life. It's all

0:56

about talking to amazing people about

0:59

their core talent and exploring the

1:01

reasons why they're successful. Taraji

1:04

P. Henson is the star

1:06

of Empire and Hidden

1:08

Figures and the new Tyler

1:10

Perry movie, Acrimony, where she burns with

1:13

rage as a long suffering wife who

1:15

gets the short end of her marriage

1:17

as her seemingly no good husband

1:19

screws up again and again, until

1:22

he doesn't. It's one

1:24

of Tyler Perry's best movies

1:26

yet. It's anchored by a

1:28

searing performance from Taraji as

1:30

she descends through anger into

1:33

fury and madness. It's

1:36

also a film that was shot in

1:38

eight days, which is

1:40

crazy. Tyler, slow down. But

1:43

because Taraji is a really unique,

1:45

powerful actor, I wanna hear her talk

1:47

about acting and how to

1:49

approach character and how to

1:52

use your instrument. Taraji always

1:54

gives us memorable performances and you believe

1:56

her to the core and you know

1:59

she's a... thoughtful, imaginative

2:01

artist. I

2:03

wanted to know how she does it.

2:06

We met in a room up

2:08

on the 12th floor of the

2:10

Ritz Carlton overlooking Central Park in

2:12

a gilded room, befitting a true

2:14

diva. She arrived full of

2:17

energy and charisma and

2:20

sunlight. What

2:22

do you love about acting? Oh

2:25

my God, I guess for me what

2:27

I love is all the different characters

2:29

and lives I get to look

2:32

into and the characters I get to portray. It's

2:38

hard because sometimes you get material

2:40

where you

2:43

want to judge so bad, but if

2:45

I judge the character, then

2:47

I'm not being

2:50

true to the craft of acting. You

2:53

can't judge these characters. Your job

2:55

is to bring them to life.

2:58

No judgment. You

3:01

leave that up to the audience. You have

3:03

to do your job. You can't judge the

3:05

characters. You have to embrace them if anything.

3:07

You have to understand them. You have to understand

3:09

them. You have to embrace them. You

3:13

have to love them. But

3:17

understand the parts you don't like. Maybe

3:19

it'll tap into some of your ugliness.

3:22

If you use the art properly, it

3:26

can help you. Is that

3:28

sometimes harder than others to understand

3:30

and empathize with the character? Yeah,

3:34

I find that a lot of actors

3:36

are like, oh, I couldn't do that. I ain't

3:38

kissing no man or I would never

3:40

kiss a girl. I don't

3:43

want women to play me at all. It's

3:45

a trumpet. It's an instrument. It's job is

3:47

to play the notes. That's how I look

3:49

at myself as an actor. This

4:00

is my instrument. It just happens to be my

4:02

body But I am that

4:04

instrument and when you give me a script,

4:06

those are the notes though These are the

4:08

notes of the act of this of this

4:11

character of this song that I have to

4:13

sing or play You know and so I

4:15

can't judge it. I just have

4:17

to do it I have to do

4:19

research to find out why this person

4:21

is this this way. Why would

4:23

I want to judge this person? Oh, I see why people

4:25

would judge it So now I have to bring some humanity

4:28

because I don't want to play a character that people hate

4:31

You know even the most ugly character

4:33

I portray I want people to empathize

4:35

at least to see a human. I

4:39

mean in acrimony the character Melinda

4:41

is Difficult

4:43

right because she's marked by like

4:46

she's this torrent of anger, right

4:48

when she gets angry Anything

4:50

that right you said you say I could be

4:52

the motherfucking devil Right and by

4:55

that point you already know Melinda can

4:57

be that yeah So is

4:59

that part of it of like see her on

5:01

the page and be like I have to love

5:03

her I have to find the way to you

5:06

know, just feel with her to to to

5:09

sort of agree with her Yeah, I

5:11

don't even have to agree with her. Okay,

5:13

you know I just have

5:15

to understand where that anger and that

5:17

rage is coming from And

5:20

once I understand that then then I can play

5:22

it honestly You know to

5:25

to to understand is to know you got

5:27

to know it you gotta gotta understand it

5:30

to know it, you know what I mean,

5:32

so Yeah,

5:34

I mean it was some dark stuff I had to do

5:37

I mean we've all been

5:39

on I think we've all We

5:42

all have a capacity of snapping Humans

5:44

can do that. We battle those

5:47

notions every day, you know Road

5:49

rage How many times did you have an urge to

5:51

jump out of the car and slap the shit out

5:53

of somebody? Because they slammed on brakes in front of

5:56

you for no reason, You know, But

5:58

then there are those of us who? Can.

6:00

Rack and with ourselves as a you know I

6:02

don't like jail. My

6:05

as a new car it it's a federal laws

6:07

my. Shoulders is now and then there

6:10

are those who don't have that would

6:12

ages smack. You know that's why we

6:14

as soon. As

6:16

you know so you know for

6:19

me I definitely have been in

6:21

them in a relationship where so

6:23

wrong or someone hurt me to

6:25

the poor and what's the saying

6:27

hurt people hurt people But the

6:29

first the your knee jerk reaction

6:31

is I'm a get you back

6:33

you know So I kit. I

6:35

mean I've had. Enough. The

6:37

urge to. Throw. A

6:39

breakthrough a guy's window but then he could

6:41

send ran a press charges and I don't

6:44

wanna go to jail could happen as a

6:46

over zero metal that of you know about

6:48

his latest are like cable tv activities are

6:50

like to eat when i won't go to

6:52

sleep with are like space. Like freedom

6:54

so. Like

6:56

know, proud of the lawyers, You know? To

6:58

take me to your process right? Like yeah,

7:01

You get the scripts and Tyler. And

7:03

what is the first thing you do? Ah,

7:07

I. Get a script from Tyler and the first

7:10

thing I do as I read it and

7:12

I'm like oh my god this is amazing

7:14

and then I call him back and I'm

7:16

like this is incredible and I said okay

7:18

so we can do this or my hiatus

7:20

you know cause I'm often a police and

7:22

none are we gonna do this now as

7:24

a male. Saddle. We do that.

7:26

I'm working on Empire. An old niece I

7:28

can get off to do an entire film.

7:30

Are you crazy signal that is? We're gonna

7:33

do when a film within ten days. It

7:35

ended up just being a. T

7:37

shirt acrimony and eight Eight days. And

7:40

the original plan was for

7:42

me to play Melinda throughout

7:44

from Beginnings, in and. There.

7:46

Was no way even with eight days.

7:49

We will see that's why he said when

7:51

he says he wrote a for me he

7:54

wrote it for me because i you know

7:56

the care of the world trade a chance

7:58

to but he wrote it with that in

8:00

mind. I have to do this home and

8:02

then least amount of time if I'm gonna

8:05

get hurt now and see Made it happen

8:07

as only salivary. Could you had eight

8:09

shoot days? I. Had five

8:11

so film had a

8:13

successful. Oh My. God. Oh My God.

8:16

Oda Again you know I think this is

8:18

one of Tyler's better films rights and I

8:20

only ask you this because I have asked

8:22

him. To. Himself right to his

8:24

face on phone. But to they do you

8:27

think that he goes too fast? Does he

8:29

suit too quickly? Smith isn't eight days quite

8:31

sort for a movie when he could have

8:33

waited three. You're like, okay, now I have

8:36

thirty days and with do it no more

8:38

slowly. And they got to

8:40

the plane Will and any better. I mean

8:42

he's a deal with. Liz Taylor

8:45

and myself with our goals so

8:47

I know. Personally, as a

8:49

verbal I do my best work under pressure.

8:52

Test. Is how I operate. I don't

8:54

know what that is, but that's no history

8:57

you know arm? That's why. Don't like to

8:59

go over what a has to do that

9:01

next day like once I get the script.

9:04

Specially. Like even with cookies arm

9:06

when I get when I know her

9:08

now. So adults have to go over

9:10

my season night before I literally go

9:13

on the set. See lives in me.

9:15

You know I go on set the

9:17

day off right before the scene. And.

9:20

I go. What are we doing today? And

9:23

I look at the scene and ago

9:25

always year okay cause already read a

9:27

script or know we are I know

9:29

we are her life so I I

9:32

I don't want to steal the spontaneity

9:34

of the scenes the the. Ah,

9:38

The. The I'm. Organic.

9:41

You know I needed to. Be organic as I'm

9:43

frying. loss. Us because if you were

9:45

hurt that just saw announcers house people have

9:47

their different ways of working with. This is

9:49

how I works but as acts as have

9:52

a peak ma'am he knows you gotta rehearses

9:54

eat every her Say that put the marked

9:56

down the block is a camera the new

9:58

comey that a do different sizes. The nizeyimana

10:00

thirty and the actual needs to be

10:02

concerned about this shot when that came

10:04

out of address you don't want to

10:06

p before that see I'm a vet

10:08

now. been done it for a while.

10:10

The always know about sizes and for

10:13

me. I can get

10:15

there fast you know? So I mean

10:17

Affairs Director? you can't because your blog

10:19

your blow by in all but at

10:21

points as pets that Atlantic salmon good

10:24

see or I'm like I'm sick of

10:26

Santa words you know thought the type

10:28

of actor I am, I worked well

10:30

with Tyler Ma'am He created a monster

10:33

almost every second. Of

10:35

all you need to establish where you are.

10:39

So. On Empire we talking about

10:41

was more amenable to get to that

10:44

peak. The zebra like one or two

10:46

takes and I'm there. I live

10:48

only ten. Get. It am

10:50

Abs is been doing it for so

10:52

long I know my instrument. This is

10:54

my trumpet and I've carried is everywhere.

10:57

Goes with nothing. You can tell me

10:59

about my instruments and know I can

11:01

turn it on. Agatha it off. I'm

11:03

not. Bragging. As

11:05

his know how to play my instrument. The Genesis.

11:08

Yeah, Take me back to.

11:11

How no such such a side note. Studios

11:13

I'll save you lots and lots of money

11:15

and lots of we'll we'll have film anymore

11:17

I guess. Computer. Chips to suffer such

11:19

as a time and money. So

11:21

I mean like if you're an

11:24

artist, go faster. Like take my

11:26

first takers, my second say going

11:28

wrong. If you're football you say somebody hasn't

11:30

you want the fast as I write this

11:33

the same and mean. And

11:35

everybody doesn't work like that. I get

11:37

it. but that's is how our work

11:39

like acting. Really good good so it

11:41

is. In the once I get that

11:43

character undone and Mom Bell I don't

11:45

need of a thousand. Tapered. On Empire,

11:47

you improvise a lot. Yeah. Like.

11:49

A lot. you know why a

11:51

lot because i don't go over that

11:54

you know matt and on at those

11:56

lies and song so whatever as sales

11:58

some time that do and sometimes don't

12:00

it just depends on what my same partner

12:02

is giving cookies never gonna lose a battle

12:05

someone said that to me the other day they

12:07

was like you just not gonna you all cookie

12:09

gonna always have the last one I said damn

12:11

Mike just my empire somebody go come up

12:13

in here and get the last word are

12:15

you crazy how is it different that the

12:17

first season when you were learning cookies when

12:19

you said okay now she lives in me

12:22

and I know her better than Lee Daniels

12:24

does I think I didn't say that

12:26

you say no you didn't

12:28

say I just think

12:31

it was more exciting in the beginning because

12:34

she was so brand new now I

12:36

think the writers are really challenged with

12:38

how do they keep us challenged you

12:41

know what I mean because we do know

12:43

now we know these characters been four seasons

12:45

they're going off season five you know so

12:47

that the challenge now is how do they

12:49

challenge us you know in the

12:51

writing because we've covered so much material

12:54

we've covered a lot in a lot

12:56

of their lives you know and I

12:58

think for me this season what

13:00

was really what really tickled me

13:02

was going back in when you

13:05

know back in time to when cookie was in prison you

13:08

know meeting her mother you

13:10

know and you know miss Alfrey would have placed my

13:13

mother so those things are really

13:15

really powerful all your

13:17

scenes are powerful and I would just

13:19

say that I mean you you you

13:21

explode off the screen and you choose scenery

13:23

and all that sort of stuff and

13:26

part of what you bring to it

13:28

is a great physicality you

13:31

know cookie will you know smack somebody

13:33

or just make a face that is

13:35

like oh I know exactly what you're

13:37

talking about and I'm laughing but I'm

13:39

scared at the same time and yeah

13:41

I mean like how do you do

13:43

you practice those things or is it just

13:46

like this is my instrument it's

13:48

definitely my instrument but I you know I'm

13:50

theatrically trained so when you come from theater

13:52

you have to use physicalities because you don't

13:54

have the luxury of a camera getting in

13:56

yeah so if you're in a big house

13:58

and that person all way in the back

14:01

row. They pay their money too. So they

14:03

need to feel what you're saying. So you

14:05

have to fill the space. So I'm very

14:07

physical because I come from theater. I'm not

14:09

afraid to use my body. And

14:11

then just training. I mean we had a class where

14:14

we had to take on

14:16

the formation of the animal.

14:18

What do you think, what animal do

14:20

you see your character as? And you

14:22

know if it's a snake, let's see

14:24

you be a snake. You know what

14:26

I mean? To get you, to make

14:28

you uninhibited. So you know, it's a

14:30

training and a lot of hard

14:32

work. You know, people think now

14:35

because personalities and people

14:40

with great personalities and people,

14:42

musicians and rappers and singing

14:45

artists, they

14:49

get acting roles so easy. You know

14:51

what I mean? Because of their fame.

14:53

I mean a lot of times it

14:55

doesn't translate to real moviegoers. You

14:57

know what I mean? Because it's nice.

15:00

It's a nice tactic to try to get

15:02

that and sell the seats and the tickets

15:04

and have their fans see them in a

15:06

different light. But you know when you're talking

15:08

about that being actors, like people who have

15:10

done this, you can see the difference. I

15:12

mean yeah, you could totally see the

15:14

difference. And that's not a disrespect.

15:16

No disrespect. But I mean like

15:19

sometimes you see folks who are superstars

15:21

in the real world and they're just

15:23

standing there delivering lines next to you

15:25

on Empire. You're not even talking and

15:28

you're still like burning and emanating larger

15:30

than them. It's because you're acting and

15:32

they're just standing there. Yeah.

15:36

Because that's when you miss the beat about acting

15:38

being a craft. It's a craft. It's a

15:41

craft that should be studied. It's not something

15:43

that you just do. You can't just pick

15:45

up a trumpet and play it. Have

15:48

you ever tried that shit? Yeah. I almost pulled

15:50

my neck out. Very hard. So you can't make

15:52

any sound if you don't really know how to

15:54

use it. You have to train. So teach me

15:56

if you were going to teach me a few

15:58

things about being an actor. about being

16:00

a great actor, what would you teach me? I

16:03

would just, first of all, I would see

16:05

what you were working with. I would give

16:07

you seconds. Some people have, now there are

16:09

those who they're just

16:12

naturally talented. You call it

16:14

raw, right? And then,

16:16

but guess what they need? They still got

16:18

to be home and trained, you know, still

16:20

training there because you just can't,

16:23

you know, they're very

16:25

rare. They're just born to just

16:27

sit down and be able to play the piano. But

16:30

then you have somebody who can play the piano because

16:32

they know notes really well and then you have classically

16:34

trained. There's a difference. And you can tell when you

16:36

put them in a room and close your ears, you

16:38

can see who's classically trained and who's not. And I

16:40

don't even play the piano. You know, it's

16:42

the same thing with acting. So I would have to see what

16:44

I'm working with first. Do you have a raw talent? Can

16:48

it be taught to you? You know, a lot of

16:50

it can't be taught. A lot of it is just

16:52

built off your instinct, you know. Actors

16:56

who aren't afraid to listen to that instinct

16:58

inside. A lot of great

17:00

actors is knowing who you are, you

17:02

know, because I

17:04

have this saying, if you're missing it

17:07

in life, in your own life, you're

17:09

missing it on the page. You

17:12

know, if you are scared to deal with yourself,

17:14

that man in the mirror, then how can you

17:16

take on this whole other character with

17:18

their issues and problems? And

17:20

if you're, because if you're afraid of your

17:22

own, that means you're not vulnerable, even with

17:24

yourself. So how can you go to these

17:26

vulnerable places with this character? See, I'm real

17:29

with me. I know what is wrong. I'm

17:31

cool and I'm cool with all my ticks

17:35

and quirks and differences.

17:37

Like I'm okay with me, you know,

17:40

I'm okay. So and I

17:42

know what my flaws are and I'm okay

17:44

with them. I'm okay with that because

17:47

I don't want to be perfect because I don't know

17:49

what that means. Tell

17:51

me more about the craft. What else do I need to

17:53

know? You need to, like

17:55

I said, know yourself, The

17:58

Craft of acting. You Have to do

18:00

a lot of. reading. I did a

18:02

lot of reading Shakespeare. Ah, I'm. Acting

18:04

said you should be able to

18:06

act it as saw a beautiful

18:08

play. I can't think of the

18:10

name of the play but it

18:12

was all death actors arm and.

18:16

I'm acting sometimes you can invoke allies

18:18

was as saying, but I still be

18:20

able to feel you. The Civil

18:22

War. I mean, so powerful we can

18:24

go on and off entirely. the whole

18:27

movie and scenario with real that one

18:29

speaking moment, right? And

18:31

are move as a other fabulous on.

18:35

Sale. On on. it was a non speaking.

18:37

The hardest. Come.

18:39

On now you see what I mean. So

18:41

there's so many layers the acting so we

18:43

have to build those layers up at know

18:45

for me is thought it was you know

18:47

acting one or one. I forgot what we

18:50

studied in acting on a one moments before

18:52

and where are you coming from and what

18:54

is your inner monologue? His fists If a

18:56

lot. Did that happen at

18:58

Howard That all have an an hour?

19:00

It seems. it sounds to me from

19:02

reading about you, but you're one of

19:04

those people who. We

19:06

see the H B C you was

19:09

important for you that you needed that

19:11

to get to where you were going.

19:13

Some people don't need that but some

19:15

people really really valuables that the ways

19:17

you look back at it's. Ah I'm

19:19

I just felt like that a Cbc

19:21

You Arm experience gave me a sense

19:23

of self. You know even know Alice

19:25

from the hurts. He know we were

19:27

still read in both. That's how it

19:29

as the know Columbus said that. discovered

19:31

America. You know what I mean. I'm

19:33

we spent like one week on slavery.

19:35

You know we didn't really understand the

19:37

meaning of blood is thicker than water.

19:39

Know we didn't get into all of

19:41

that, you know? So I didn't really

19:43

have a sense of self. Orlando was

19:45

the hook. You know him as ignorance.

19:48

you know? So. I. Going.

19:50

To school was very important for me

19:53

and and particularly in a Pc you

19:55

because by this point in my life

19:57

my mother had already sold me more

19:59

than know that even bottles from the

20:02

that I would legislative on a weekday.

20:04

That same was said. Nicholas applaud the

20:06

back com bubble when the Miami and

20:08

a new and in a weekends I

20:11

was with hours with a merry bass

20:13

and Becky and Zoc and box in

20:15

here and their moms and and Mary

20:17

Sue and Saw was a very well

20:20

Wales ha you know but the education

20:22

is When I got to Howard and

20:24

I learned about all of these incredible

20:27

i'm black people who contributed to the

20:29

country into the world. And I mean

20:31

obviously came alive. I mean I just

20:33

felt and nurtured. They are the you

20:35

understand ourselves safe. I feel safe to

20:38

be me. I felt safe to on

20:40

to be militant. You love hurts their

20:42

would think that what pisses me off

20:44

at once upon a time I was

20:47

afraid to have a voice and say

20:49

and speak out even though I'm no

20:51

was law. You know how we gave

20:53

me a voice as a black woman

20:55

and you need that voice in Hollywood

20:58

And another thing on training as. An

21:00

artist at our you know they didn't

21:02

give him. And. He

21:04

didn't care about how pretty

21:06

you are. lighter skin. love

21:08

how pretty I was. Can

21:11

you shit this marked? Hippies

21:13

know. Say. These

21:16

lies and make these five hundred people in

21:18

his room feeling. Adults it

21:20

would look like and you would be

21:22

replaced on a dime. Honey oh ouch

21:24

Have you were in? The poor is

21:27

Mike Malone? me recipes. He.

21:29

Was ahead of the musical theater departments.

21:31

He will walk by each singer and

21:33

if you were missing, announced civil Next.

21:37

So. That program

21:39

developed such a tough skin for me.

21:41

Not only that, are my another professor

21:44

very important to me? Him we admin

21:46

who's gone on that may she rest

21:48

in peace and we can a look

21:50

the language of. Gonna. Od but it

21:52

is a c. C.

21:56

I remember going into acting one on

21:58

one. in the first thing she

22:00

said to us is get show business out

22:02

of your mind. It's called

22:04

business show. Stick with

22:06

me to this day. And what does that mean?

22:09

That means that it's more than just

22:11

show business. It's a business. It's

22:13

a business. And you

22:15

sit back and wonder whatever happened to

22:18

such as she was so talented, she

22:20

was so talented. Talent is not enough.

22:23

Well, especially for black actors. For

22:25

any actress. It's not enough. But

22:28

especially anything you say for one actor

22:30

for black especially. Of course. That's a

22:32

gift. That's a gift. That's a gift.

22:34

Throughout society. Absolutely.

22:37

Absolutely. Yes. Yes.

22:39

But you know, it's business and

22:41

I always knew that. So I

22:43

never looked at it as

22:45

just this, oh, getting high off of this

22:48

show because I got a show. No, I'm

22:50

always thinking ahead. I'm always thinking future. I'm

22:52

always thinking about an empire I'm trying to

22:54

build. It's more than acting because you know,

22:57

you're not going to be young, sexy and

22:59

fine forever. Although I am. But you

23:01

know what I mean. You know,

23:10

at some point I'm going to get tired. I'm

23:12

going to get tired of throwing the lashes on.

23:14

You know, I'm going to figure out another way

23:16

to be. You know, it's after a while, you

23:18

know, I'm just going to be a long wild

23:20

honey. I'm thinking maybe a hundred. But no, but

23:24

you know what I'm saying. You always have to

23:26

be forward thinking because at any minute I just

23:28

don't want to be. I don't like

23:30

to be at the mercy of someone else. Influencer.

23:35

It's a word that gets tossed around a

23:37

lot these days. There is

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who broke ground as the first

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After Jim and Jim Bob

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25:33

take me back to when you

25:35

were first figuring out cookie and What

25:39

you did to figure out what she was

25:41

going to be because it gives you part of it on the page

25:43

But then part of it you have to

25:45

fill in right? Yeah backstory and how to

25:47

embody this and so talk about how you

25:50

did that okay, so

25:52

I read the script and

25:55

You know everything wasn't there Certain

25:57

Pieces were there like she went to jail. you.

26:00

Knew that her and loose

26:02

is sold drugs to I'm.

26:04

So. Their family to eat and said

26:06

make their dreams come true rights and

26:09

so you I didn't know that he

26:11

was the talent you know Cookie was

26:13

like the mastermind behind it all on

26:15

and so and Lucy had three sons

26:17

and and she gets out of jail

26:20

and she's trying to fix this relationship

26:22

with or stein said okay all of

26:24

that is in scripts as good a

26:26

gay science says of Johnson was just

26:28

stupid and they see as you know

26:30

her oldest son who have mental issues

26:33

so. This. Is what

26:35

the audience? Now this is what is

26:37

in the script Then. Now

26:39

I go when illegal. Well, Okay

26:43

we have to find a reason why she

26:45

goes to jail as he doesn't tail noire

26:47

see Smiths like okay I know she loves

26:49

her mayor gotta be deeper than that he

26:51

not. I mean because then people will think

26:53

she's do that cause I know. My main

26:56

I went is it. That. I made

26:58

a runaway as it is something

27:00

stronger. The reason why she went

27:02

Zeal. And. We.

27:04

Have to make him likable to So

27:06

they let you know stuff like that.

27:08

It's a start you start questioning and

27:10

thinking and why just keep asking why

27:13

it's ally run out a wise and

27:15

arm so them am of by. Wow

27:17

here's a thought. As mile thing as

27:19

cookie could have been, Hate it. And

27:22

Mrs quite stereotypical loud black woman

27:24

sassy I didn't want that and

27:26

so are. You Have to play

27:28

the why see his the way

27:30

she's right. Take this woman. had

27:32

three sons with the love of

27:34

her life and they lived in

27:36

the hood. Okay, What's.

27:38

The biggest fear. When. You

27:40

have black boys and you com and

27:42

from Nasa was the biggest say. Which

27:45

is this the first thing you try

27:47

to do. Save them from the streets.

27:49

Say them from the law. Keep them

27:51

from repeating things that you've done. Seoul

27:53

Okay now another selling. Just how do

27:55

I have people like her for this?

27:58

See some as as. As the

28:00

mammoth. Cave. He has

28:02

to be do or die. You.

28:04

Can't really see. I grew up during a

28:06

crack phase I grew up in as a

28:08

that I remember when she was dropped off

28:11

and know that I saw families get destroyed.

28:15

There was a time where it's hard

28:17

and still today you can't survive. You

28:19

can see the family off a minimum

28:22

wage. We know that that's why I

28:24

don't ever fought to agit drug dealers.

28:26

I'd get it honestly good at don't

28:29

condone it and all this but that

28:31

the urgency in and cookie and looses

28:33

his ordeal was a at Three Boys

28:36

they have a dream. How do they

28:38

get to it's. Adult all

28:40

I know as I will sacrifice whatever

28:42

I have to to spare Maxis. I

28:45

do know that as a mother would

28:47

they day was horrible selling drugs in

28:49

their community was bad but look what

28:51

they did see soldiers he did the

28:54

time seventeen years flat read y C

28:56

cells ago as because his see if

28:58

the father went to jail who will

29:00

raise those boys See didn't have the

29:03

voice or the town Cd seems just

29:05

the math or my soul. remember when

29:07

he went to jail he is album

29:09

was. About the blow that was though

29:11

her way out. that was though her

29:13

son's way out of the ghetto. They

29:16

were not gonna be statistics statistics, they

29:18

were not gonna sell drugs, They were

29:20

not gonna be in jail or imprisoned

29:22

or dead and that was a sacrifice

29:24

all your mother could make you and

29:26

assess the when you make it that

29:28

deep Now you that the audience now

29:30

the audience as I could take such

29:32

what's have. Who doesn't understand that. A

29:34

buzz echoed depths you go beyond Missouri or

29:36

have. You don't make a do or die

29:38

you move, you lose the audience. If you're

29:41

vague with it, the audience will miss it.

29:43

but it everything C d from that mom

29:45

or with a bow her son's. Okay,

29:47

so Melinda in acrimony, you

29:50

have again the risk of

29:52

stereotypical Friedman because he spends

29:54

a lot of the films

29:57

and greed plotting revenge, right?

30:00

Try to do that thing as get

30:02

back to remain right. A lot of

30:04

women who been wronged by a man

30:06

will feel like. Wow. This is

30:08

my girl and I've been, but. You.

30:10

You don't want to fall into that stereotype. As

30:12

you to said so so how do you build

30:15

that character to make her likeable and not fall

30:17

into the stereotypes? Well I'll admire

30:19

her human his arm. He

30:22

now. See.

30:26

I. Think I honestly believe they miss something

30:28

once he was little because remember you saw

30:30

to sell my hands in the when the

30:33

sister started to get it they were like.

30:36

You saw the guilt. Because.

30:38

It's almost like staff hate the goal He

30:40

it's But if you know Uncle Run it

30:43

sets in the low keys. You Nine United

30:45

knew you'd that you mean that it can't

30:47

say for sore but you didn't say anything

30:49

and then it comes out by Tyson I

30:52

thought you were You feel guilt much as

30:54

you know that there was a point where

30:56

you know you could have said someone says

30:58

that this but he didn't know that. That's

31:01

the sisters are mad. I was a bit

31:03

extreme but the sisters felt that way when

31:05

I like oh my god memory how angry.

31:07

She used to get and same thing that

31:10

miss something was seen as a kid and

31:12

that would have prevented all of this is

31:14

he would have that nail see need it

31:16

You know that they would a spot that

31:18

then we wouldn't be in this mess what

31:20

we says they do. They

31:23

do say the sisters awful oh my god

31:25

and the friend. You know how angry you

31:27

get that you know if someone's and my

31:30

life and I see some like that we

31:32

are we have see someone bank. But

31:34

if you believe us, So. Reasons

31:36

Why Reasons why angry? Then we

31:39

will ride with her and we

31:41

will emphasize rote. Would you? Started

31:43

with weeds? You have to get

31:46

emphysema lies. To understand. So

31:48

at least understand said though.

31:51

Oh wow. And that let us

31:53

go on her journey with her rollout again

31:55

sir run out again that we were looking

31:57

at her Ray Ray and. Maybe Santa?

31:59

glimpse of falconer? You know, Take.

32:02

Me to. Right before a scene

32:04

from the Say on Empire. What are

32:06

you doing I know you said you.

32:08

You look at the lines real quick

32:10

with you don't memorize the lines. Kind

32:12

of know we're going in this direction.

32:14

We gotta get to the stock opening.

32:16

fine how we get their eyes however

32:18

we get there. So what are you

32:20

doing before the scene to get ready?

32:23

I mean it just depends a lot of

32:25

seems. Like. With cookie

32:28

I have her down sell a six

32:30

month sabha the set of their pad.

32:32

I'll be bad as game that I

32:34

play. I love restaurant. I love cooking

32:36

that these restaurant game that way putting

32:38

craze I think the one on one

32:40

else I'll be playing that. And

32:42

they'll be rolling and I'll go. Oh.

32:44

My god I'm family. I'm coming

32:46

Starling soccer fan. As much as

32:48

some I uploaded, they are like

32:50

a way to got. my sister

32:52

is right there sees my assistants

32:54

seek amounts of i literally can

32:56

do that. On average the hips

32:59

is hop on the now. There's

33:01

no prepped s. S you know it

33:03

just depends like if is a is

33:05

if this is a if this a

33:07

seen that it requires a Molson ah

33:09

I'm you not may take a be

33:11

before and of get quiet I'm telling

33:13

you once I get the character is

33:15

nothing to be over the head anymore

33:18

you know or malice different like if

33:20

I'm betraying arm of character to the

33:22

life like and Atwater. Woods. Enemy

33:25

Best of Enemies comes out sometime

33:27

later this year and arm You

33:30

know? this woman was a. Heavier

33:32

than me, And see, add

33:34

an afro, a sword afro and you

33:37

know was a period piece. You know

33:39

those? A little more challenging. it has

33:41

yet to stay in the moments mouth

33:43

not even. a

33:46

clown i like the have fun so

33:48

i'll ever live in between takes that's

33:51

why i do all my research and

33:53

homework the flag it's a sad but

33:55

as i like of fun up be

33:57

sets like if i stayed in melinda

34:00

all the time, I probably slit my

34:02

wrist. That's a dark, I'm light, I'm

34:04

sunshine. I walk in the room, I'm

34:06

lighting that bitch up. So

34:08

I'm a light person, so if, especially

34:10

when I'm dealing with the heaviest of

34:12

subject matters, it's imperative that I laugh

34:14

in between tapes. When

34:17

they talk about actors need to listen and react, what

34:19

does that mean? That means you keep everything

34:21

fresh, like I have to do here with you.

34:23

Just because it's not scripted, I have to

34:26

listen. So

34:28

when it is scripted, sometimes, what

34:33

I was gonna say is that it's not scripted, so

34:35

it forces us to listen. I can't go on with

34:38

this interview until you ask me the next question, so

34:40

that forces me to listen. But what happens is when

34:42

you have a script, you

34:44

already know what the next person is gonna say. But

34:48

the craft, the art comes in when

34:50

you can say those

34:52

lines and you can actively listen. And although

34:54

you know what you're gonna say, say

34:57

it as if you didn't know what you're gonna say. And

35:00

at first, you get caught up in that, how do I

35:02

sit here and say it? Like, I don't know I'm gonna

35:04

say it. And you get caught up in

35:06

that. If you just shut the fuck up and listen,

35:10

it'll all make sense. And one day, I was

35:12

like, my brain was like, how are you doing?

35:14

And I'm thinking it's sitting, you

35:17

got to do like this, looks like I'm not gonna.

35:19

And then one day, I was like, all

35:21

of that chatter in your head is

35:23

noise. Shut the fuck up and

35:25

listen. Really

35:27

do it. That's in so much

35:30

of your art of like one take or

35:32

two takes, do it quickly, shut up and

35:34

listen and just sort of like be in

35:36

the moment. Be in the moment, be a

35:39

vessel and just let it flow, instinct and

35:41

right. I do all the training and now it's just. I

35:43

can't even judge what I see. Here's the

35:45

deal with my process. Once

35:47

I've done my process, once

35:50

I know this character, once I've done

35:52

all the research, all the backstory, I

35:55

have this person. So

35:58

Now I Know this person. Now.

36:00

I then chief judge what this person

36:02

is Sansa me he now because I

36:04

don't have whole thing before while I'm

36:06

reading a script and doing my research

36:08

where I get the chance and uncle

36:10

talk to me melinda. The.

36:12

Know when I get to a place in the

36:15

square where I don't know what this person as

36:17

Santa Clauses script and as a toxin me. Of

36:20

has if I'm literally letting this care to use

36:22

me as a vassal. As

36:24

he some actors would force it was think

36:27

this is what see say. Oh.

36:29

I pull if it doesn't come to

36:31

me easily I put it away and

36:33

I out my Fargo past is pays

36:35

his group and so Melinda talks to

36:37

me and in my lap com their.

36:40

A. My be as I'm driving. See

36:43

me and I'll pull over now, righted? They'll. That.

36:46

Was see miss Then I'll go back to

36:48

the script and there's a new I knew

36:50

fresh eyes on it because ah I've had

36:53

another. ten are moments and seats. I read

36:55

my scripts a million times. No.

36:57

Joke: I'm still reading my was while I'm

36:59

in most filming that of you fresh eyes

37:01

every time you read it. Oh I realize

37:03

I care to say that all my guy

37:06

and paste and to the men's hairstylist to

37:08

say the same thing that more information about

37:10

the. Character know you talk

37:12

about. Empathy, Rosalie sort

37:14

of things. But. The

37:16

character and hidden figures. See

37:18

the easy to empathize with. See the

37:21

Europe right? She's a role model for

37:23

our girls or boys and all of

37:25

that stuff. So what it is that

37:27

sounds their. I'm still the

37:29

sales for Catherine His arm The period that

37:32

time I'm and I'm allow Grommet Sales was

37:34

all my mind and I'm not running know

37:36

forty five they a minister now back from

37:38

Ewing. I'm one close. Said

37:41

I wanted any feels. Like

37:44

you know, Have a much different

37:46

era you know? saw at to sit

37:49

on that and I'm here. or I'm

37:51

I'm very animated when I thought so

37:53

there's a certain pulleys those women Yeah,

37:55

so that's awesome is do as soon

37:57

as I yell classics. How

38:00

to sell me a sales sucks. Our baby

38:02

magic is a key than a lot of

38:04

in his yes still got a lot of.

38:09

You wake up in the morning like this. You

38:11

know that middleman? It saves me a minute. You

38:13

know gets about, you know, ten o'clock. On Goods

38:15

Are you a coffee morning? Person I used to

38:17

be in and it's with kill him at destroying

38:19

my stomach and I issues and aca. To do

38:21

it anymore. So what's the difference when a

38:23

good actor and a great actor? I

38:25

think a great actor listens. A

38:29

great actor doesn't judge.

38:31

A great actor is

38:33

uninhibited. You

38:36

have good actors but you can look at

38:38

him and same they still feel is callaway

38:41

about them so they didn't go all the

38:43

way they are they own. I mean will

38:45

scare maybe southern A didn't work out a

38:47

apple? know I can't I can just sell

38:49

a great pharma. we all can. We.

38:52

All can, who's agree? sister.

38:54

Ah, Great

38:57

actor, I would say the

38:59

one that studies yeah Betty

39:01

Davis. Lucille

39:03

Ball. Diana

39:06

Ross. Ah, Ah,

39:09

Meryl Streep. Ah,

39:12

I'm. Tom Hanks.

39:16

On you know as the is

39:18

the actors that. Transcend

39:21

the characters. They go. You don't

39:23

see them anymore. I

39:25

mean and I had a big character actors so

39:28

I like. I like are

39:30

arm actors who can transform

39:32

you know and play characters

39:34

cause I love to play

39:36

different characters so that's probably

39:38

why you're getting this assist.

39:40

Know year was interesting. We turbo. That.

39:44

The the intensity of Betty

39:46

Davis and the physical clownish

39:48

nice of Lucille Ball and

39:51

I. Both at a bar. Everything they've ever

39:53

done. at an end in the

39:55

d black of beauty and

39:57

elegance of diana and that

39:59

It seems to me to be, to start to

40:01

add up to you. You

40:04

catching on, got it? Got it now?

40:06

Does it not? Yeah. I

40:08

guess, well, I mean, I guess you can, you

40:10

know, like there's a singer you love and you

40:12

can tell like Childish Gambino. He was big on

40:15

Prince. You could tell he was big on Fly

40:17

in the Family Stone. I can tell, I can

40:19

listen to his music and I know exactly, I

40:21

know exactly the people that he looked up

40:23

to, right? And it's the same

40:25

thing with acting. Like I gave you

40:28

that list. Do you see it in my work? Absolutely.

40:31

Absolutely. You know who clocked it right

40:33

off? John Singleton's mother

40:36

and how she clocked it

40:38

was she said, you got Betty

40:41

Davis eyes. And

40:43

I said, she knows.

40:46

Oh my God. Her son wrote this script

40:48

and he knew what was going on in my

40:50

life at this moment. His mother knows

40:53

I studied Betty Davis. I never told that

40:55

woman that. I never told her

40:57

that. I mean, you put a

40:59

lot into your eyes. Your eyes

41:01

are a big part of how

41:03

you express the characters. Do you

41:05

think about that? No,

41:08

you know, and again, like I said, it's the

41:10

John, it's the Singleton family because John was the

41:12

one who said it's all in your eyes. See,

41:14

I was coming from theater, so I was very

41:17

physical. I didn't even got into the eyes yet

41:19

because we hadn't, I hadn't got in there yet.

41:21

I was still killing them on stage with all

41:23

this big. Yeah. And

41:27

so, you know, the first thing I

41:29

was told when I got to Hollywood was bring it

41:31

down a bit. You know, you don't have

41:33

to be so big, the camera, the camera, but I didn't know the camera yet.

41:36

So when I auditioned for baby boy, you

41:39

know, he put me on tape and everything and he was

41:41

like, you know, by this time

41:43

I had heard bring it down so much that

41:45

I just started in my auditions, I would barely

41:47

do anything and I would just let, I would

41:49

just let the words take me. I

41:51

would just trust the words. And

41:53

I started doing that. I started booking stuff and I was

41:56

like, dang, I can do nothing. I

41:58

just ain't got to finish. I

42:00

got the job. I got the job. I got the

42:02

job. So it wasn't until, you know, no one,

42:04

you know, you don't get by here guys, you

42:06

just coming and going, no one really taking and

42:08

honing your crap. So John

42:10

was the one who said, who called

42:13

it. He said, you don't have to

42:15

do anything but think it. He

42:17

said, you have these eyes. He

42:20

said, just think it, just think

42:23

it and don't do anything. And

42:26

he's the one who got me into

42:28

that. I started practicing. I was like,

42:30

just thinking and trusting the words and

42:32

listening. All that training I had started

42:34

coming back. Ah, you're thinking.

42:36

You're always thinking. See, a thinking actor can

42:38

never be cut out of a scene. I

42:41

don't care if you cut their lives. And

42:43

it actually happened to me in the film. A

42:45

thinking actor cannot be cut out of a scene. What

42:48

do you mean? Why? Okay. So

42:51

you have actors that only come alive when they have

42:53

lines. And then you have actors who, even though they

42:55

don't have lines, they are still very much involved in

42:57

the scene. You've got to remember, the

42:59

camera is moving. If this was a scene, a

43:02

camera would get you this conversation, but a

43:04

camera would also get his reactions to what

43:07

we're saying, his reactions to what we're saying.

43:10

So if he just goes to sleep, both of

43:12

them, if they just stop working their camera and

43:14

just like sit over there like that, when the

43:16

camera comes over to them and they just only

43:19

come alive then, they would be in the

43:21

scene maybe two seconds. Or they might not

43:23

because they don't add, they've not helped remove

43:25

the story along. But see how you're nodding

43:27

your head? And you would make it in

43:29

the scene because you're helping move the storyline

43:31

along because the camera is like, yeah, you're

43:33

the audience. Somebody's in the audience is feeling

43:36

like you. You see what I mean? And

43:38

I'm still in it, even though I'm not talking. Exactly.

43:41

Exactly. And that makes you alive. A

43:44

lot of actors don't think like that. Yeah,

43:46

yeah, yeah. Well give me something else because

43:48

you have a suit. I'm going to charge

43:50

you in a minute because if I see you in the

43:52

next Denzel Washington movie, I'm going to be like, see, he

43:54

took all them notes. I

43:56

get in the next Denzel movie, you get the whole check.

44:00

You kidding? Oh my god. That

44:02

would be the bomb. No, I mean like

44:04

you've been in Hollywood for a long time

44:06

When Cookie came around we already knew you.

44:08

Yeah, it just took you to another level,

44:10

but we've been knew you So what are

44:12

some of the keys to having longevity in

44:14

this? Um, I just

44:16

think you have to have a bigger picture

44:18

like that's all I Longevity

44:21

operative operative word. I

44:23

don't think a lot of actors think about that You know,

44:26

I think they're just in it a lot of time. I

44:28

can't I'm out I don't want to sit like I'm on

44:30

some pedestal saying hey these actors out here. That's not I'm

44:33

just saying I just think no

44:35

one really thinks longevity and I actually had

44:37

a talk with God Because

44:39

when things weren't popping right away and I was

44:41

saying, you know You go to this thing this

44:44

human characteristic. We all have we start comparing ourselves,

44:46

you know and You

44:49

know once I talked myself off that we can't

44:51

compare yourself your journey is gonna be different I

44:54

said, yeah, my journey is gonna be

44:56

different and I know why because I

44:58

want longevity That's why things aren't popping

45:00

so soon because God has a plan.

45:02

I'm here to stay for a very

45:04

long time My story is not overnight

45:06

success. It's the little engine that could

45:08

and that did you know? And once

45:11

I was clear on that Then

45:13

I was able to walk into my greatest because

45:15

it was happening But then, you know, we get

45:17

that hurry up and wait syndrome or that hurry

45:19

up. I can do it better God I I know better

45:22

than you I should have got that role No You didn't

45:24

get that role cuz it wasn't yours and the role that

45:26

I'm sending you your way is setting you up for what

45:28

you Asked me for in longevity so

45:31

I was very clear on that and

45:34

that's why my career is steadily doing

45:36

this because I Know what

45:38

I'm doing because I was clear on what I want and

45:41

Empire has changed your career Right, I

45:43

totally changed my like like do you

45:45

audition anymore? No, no,

45:48

they they they they send you a script. Do

45:50

you please be in this? Yes, basically.

45:53

Yeah I

46:00

mean, I know it's amazing. I know it

46:02

just in my little career, when you move

46:04

from pitching, pitching, pitching to people pitching you,

46:06

and it's like, oh, this is much nicer.

46:09

Honey, you could take it, you could breathe a little bit. It's

46:14

hard, it's a hard grind fighting and

46:16

having your people calling every day, did

46:18

I get it, did I get it?

46:20

Ugh! That's,

46:23

you know, thank God I'm over that. Bad

46:26

for my nerves, I smoke cigarettes then. Ha,

46:29

ha, ha, ha! No more? No

46:31

more. What's your

46:33

superpower? Love.

46:39

Yeah, I think it's love. I

46:41

just love, I love to love. I

46:43

do. My

46:45

daddy named me and my first

46:47

name is, my middle

46:50

name actually Penda means love and Swahili. Really?

46:52

And Tawaji means hope. Hope

46:54

and love, I'm full of hope. Only

46:57

a hopeful person could move out to LA with $700 and

47:00

they're fucking it, Tawaji. Let's talk about, I

47:02

got a dream. And a child. Yes. I

47:05

mean, in another context, that's

47:07

crazy. Like, she was an

47:10

irresponsible parent moving to Hollywood

47:13

with $700 and a small child who

47:15

relies on her. But when

47:17

it works out, it's like, oh, well, she was a visionary, she's

47:19

brilliant, but that's a tough decision.

47:22

Oh, well, once I make my mind up about

47:24

something, it's just not tough. And

47:27

my dad was my biggest champion, man. He rest in peace. He

47:29

was like, you can do it. You

47:31

can do it. You're the only one in your own way. You can do

47:34

it. And he was right. Was

47:37

he a big influence on you as

47:39

an actor? Yeah. Actually, he's

47:41

where Cookie comes from. People think it's

47:43

from a woman. How

47:46

did you get Cookie from your father? Her

47:48

no holds barred attitude. Like, he just,

47:50

he used to shoot straight from the

47:52

hip. You either liked him or you

47:54

loved him. You either loved

47:57

him or you hated him. There was no, because he was.

48:00

His name Boris. Lawrence. Hence, and.

48:03

What? Does he do? He was a medal fabricator.

48:06

And he worked for the see Ah

48:08

but he and could I mean he

48:10

could do anything with metal. He was

48:12

an artist A He always was like

48:15

i want us away His dream was

48:17

to be an artist A was like

48:19

so I use both boys Lawrence Olds

48:21

as boring as the be boys Lawrence

48:24

his. Anyway,

48:26

I miss him but he was

48:28

my biggest champion and like with

48:30

him our fearless. He didn't teach

48:32

me to see or anything so

48:34

I may. I don't ever. Remember.

48:37

Being scared moving out to L A.

48:40

That's all I heard from him. As you're gonna Make it.

48:43

Get out. They didn't get up

48:45

a gap. There you Uk guess

48:47

this story If you know that

48:49

The Colts International Energy. Agency

48:52

faith in the next year the greatest

48:54

actors walk like it. Look like

48:57

you're the greatest actors alive. You already got

48:59

that Oscar. He was telling me. this another

49:01

you will win an Oscar. At

49:03

like what is before I'm in new hours

49:05

acts. And. It was cel sadly

49:08

died two weeks before saying on as

49:10

days is. His. Stats thought

49:12

how long ago did he

49:14

per. And I'll six. February

49:16

was it. Nineteen. Sixty

49:19

of own I L L L.

49:21

Six. Did.

49:25

You taken with you on the stage. Yeah,

49:27

and a locket. I.

49:30

Was as his. Dad.

49:33

Lock and Help me prepare for is

49:35

crazy that Lock and Help me prepare

49:38

for on. Been.

49:41

Mln. Because sometimes

49:44

as an actor you have to. Use

49:48

things from your life if you're not

49:50

feeling it and I know is is

49:52

weird but ah at last that lock

49:54

it. And auckland fine. And

49:56

I was freaking out. i was

49:58

freaking out because i was about to go away to

50:01

New Orleans for like three

50:04

or four months. And I wanted, I had to

50:06

have my locket. And I was freaking out. And

50:09

there was a scene in

50:11

Benjamin Button where I was panicking because

50:13

I had to hide the baby. Because,

50:16

you know, what if they find the baby, you

50:18

know? And I

50:20

was sitting there and out of my

50:22

frustration of looking for my locket, I

50:25

sat there for a while and I just started rocking.

50:27

And I was like, I'm gonna find that locket. It's

50:31

gonna speak to me. It's gonna, and

50:33

I got up. And as

50:35

this is going on, I'm thinking about

50:38

Queenie and this baby. So I

50:40

go over and I open up

50:42

the jewelry box. I swear to God, I saw the chain

50:44

do like this. It

50:46

was very thin chain, so it fallen to the bottom.

50:49

And I heard my dad say, look down here, little

50:51

nigga. Cause he call everybody nigga. Look down here,

50:54

little nigga, I'm down here. I swear he was

50:56

talking to me. And I looked

50:58

down and there was a chain and

51:00

I pulled it out, but I pulled it out as if it

51:02

was the baby that precious. And this

51:04

is the shit I do at home. We know what I'm

51:06

laughing. My dog at the time, Willie, he

51:08

would run around looking at me like, what is she doing

51:11

now? But I found

51:13

a little container for when I cradled into

51:15

the container like it was Benjamin Button. And

51:17

then I placed him in a safe place.

51:19

So when I had to go do that

51:21

thing, I just remembered that. You

51:23

know, that feeling, that moment, you know?

51:26

Sometimes it's abstract,

51:28

it's objects. Sometimes it's a person.

51:30

Sometimes it's just a feeling. I

51:33

remember when I got brain freeze at time,

51:35

you know? How am I to

51:37

make it seem like it's cold in here? You know,

51:39

certain things like that. I

51:41

can do this all day with you if you want it. No,

51:44

and I love it. I love it. I mean, you know, I go back

51:46

to your dad. Only cause

51:48

my dad just passed like two weeks ago.

51:50

I'm so sorry. Thank you. And so it's

51:53

just So fresh for me and think about others

51:55

who are in that same club and how

51:57

you deal with it and go on as

51:59

an artist. Just when he doesn't

52:01

like. From. Leave you. It's like

52:03

this thing that sort of sits there and

52:06

you can forget about it and then it

52:08

comes back in like I want to call

52:10

him because he would love that exists or

52:12

I know his. Voice line As last

52:14

he adds his last man. That

52:17

is is years last the okay you

52:19

know how uses one things as effective

52:21

as last Abita knew that they now

52:24

I will. More of

52:26

course Css, What?

52:29

Drives you. Because

52:31

you seem to have a pretty strong battery.

52:34

Answers passing on pass and and

52:36

about those I love. I'm passionate

52:38

about. Humanity.

52:41

Humanity. I just love

52:43

people. Of people, purse,

52:46

Assess I mean you not as they

52:48

are native Bomb. In

52:52

our social media and camera follows is

52:54

harder for me to be that way

52:56

cause everything ends up on the internet

52:58

of things get misconstrued in so you

53:00

are. It's hard because I'm sets of

53:02

people for them but yet at the

53:04

protect myself you know. So.

53:07

On E I guess. Map.

53:09

Has and drives me and aca be

53:11

passionate about anything sexily pass as about

53:13

mental health in. African American community

53:16

hims pass them out in

53:18

my son pass an amount

53:20

of Rolando passenger as. I'm

53:23

up pass in his. Son. Of A Beats. You

53:27

up? This is a

53:30

saying Mom's assess assess.

53:34

To receive. Isn't national

53:36

treasure? She's. an incredible

53:38

actors and it means you must be

53:40

able to sit and talk with her

53:43

about her craft thanks it's a razzie

53:45

for her time it's thanks to you

53:47

for listening you can make your dreams

53:49

a reality and i hope this show

53:51

him helps i'm on twitter at torrey

53:53

and on instagram at for a show

53:55

and if you like the show please

53:58

subscribe rate and review would talk about

54:00

it on the socials. Spread the word. Torre

54:02

Show is written by me, Torre, and

54:04

produced by Chris Colbert and Matt Ford

54:07

with help from Shelby Royston and William

54:09

Jolly and Chuck Marcus and Cayden's 13

54:11

studios. We're beaming to you from

54:13

Brooklyn, the baddest place in the world, and

54:15

we're back next Wednesday with more knowledge from

54:18

amazing folks because the

54:20

man can't shut us down. Join

54:23

us next Wednesday when my guest will be Michael

54:25

K. Williams from The Wire. The

54:28

week after that, we got the 90's

54:30

R&B legend Tony Braxton. And

54:32

the week after that, Hollywood

54:35

star Vivica A. Fox.

54:38

That's how we do Torre

54:40

Show.