Yes - I got to talk to some experts about the
investigation process, the criminal justice system, and
the juvenile detention system, as well as the personal
consequences of the job. As for mindset, I watched some
documentaries and read a few personal essays to get inside
the head of a police officer and a detective - since Heather
is transitioning from one to the other. The biggest thing I've
learned is that as a woman you have to be twice as tough,
you really can show no weakness. There waiting of you to
fail or get emotional, so you've got to be impervious.
As for me, I just had to get really used to being totally
contained. I'm a pretty joyful person, I love dancing and
singing and sharing a big hearty laugh with my co-stars, so
it was always about knowing a police officer might be the
same way and they would have to contain all of that as well.
Wearing a uniform everyday can be a little pampering on
your personality but it's been interesting to really embody
that strength and power. So it's a bit of a trade off.
Who is your dream character to play? Why?
I would just love to continue to plays strong, complex
women - full characters that go through a transformation.
But if I had to choose a person, .I'd absolutely love to play
Pam Grier, she is an absolute inspiration to me. She was
always so kick ass and strong and intelligent and sexy.
To me she was the full package! Not only that, she also
overcame so much adversity. She's definitely a huge
inspiration to me as an actress.
What are some of your greatest challenges that you
would like to overcome?
I have to acknowledge that I'm still pretty lucky to be able
to do what I love to do. Being an actress was a dream ever
since I was a kid making faces in the mirror with a
turtleneck hanging off my head and trying to make myself
cry (haha). So I feel really happy to be on the journey I'm
on. But I do feel that there's a long way for the industry to
go in as far as seeing actresses who happen to have a
different skin color or ethnicity for who they are, and how
hard they work. We project possibility on to some people
and limitation on to others and it needs to stop. I feel like
I'm often misunderstood because people might assume
that I'm certain way just because of my skin, or that people
might not relate to me because of it. It really goes beyond
roles. We have go start seeing each other for who we truly
are, past appearances.
I just hope to continue
telling good stories that
move people, that get
people to think and that
remind people that we're
all connected.
What made you want to work with the Epic Theater Ensemble?
Throughout my life there were people there that took me under their wing
and mentored me. If it wasn't for them I have no idea where'd I'd be today. It
helped me feel like I had a future and that I could make a difference. So, it's
natural for me to pay that forward, you have to "lift as you climb." And you
can do that at whatever stage you’re at on your journey. Epic is an amazing
organization that really changes lives, and it's really more of a gift to me to
be a part of it than it is for the kids. Seeing their faces after they've written
their own play or performed is priceless.
You have written and directed a few short films (“Everything
Absolutely” and “Sweet Tea”), do you want to continue writing and
directing in your career? What are some of your top goals?
Yeah! I'd love to keep writing and possibly direct one day. Right now I'm
pretty in love with acting so it's about trying to find time around shooting to
really delve into some of my independent projects. I am writing a few things
that I want to wrap up soon. We'll see! Just want to continue honing my craft
as I work always.
As far as the future, I just hope to continue telling good stories that
move people, that get people to think and that remind people that we're all
connected. I'd love to play a variety of characters, I don't want to be in a
box. And hopefully I’ll help change the real world too.