MADETOLEAD
MADEXXX
“the Brely Show” which didn't go viral. But I always
think “the right 100” saw it, because from that
YouTube channel was Paula Patton and Queen
Latifah watching it.
ing, it was just the God in someone else speaking to
the God in me that said, “Hey, you’re an actor.”
MADE Wow. So how did you continue to
nurture your innate gifts?
And, Sanaa Hamri came in the trailer and was like,
“Who’s that?” And they were like, “That’s Queen’s
little sister.” Queen [Latifah] was like “She’s not my
real sister. I just call her little sister.” And she was like,
“Oh, I’ll give her a role in the movie. Call her up.”
And that’s how I got the role in Just Right.
No audition, no nothing -- first movie on a phone
call. And it’s just been blessing after blessing after
that.
MADE So, did you always secretly want to
become an actress? What was your original goal?
BRELY Never once. I’ve always loved movies
and television but I never once said, “Hey this is
what I want to do.” I was too busy watching Soul
Train on Saturday morning going, How am I going
to get on that stage?!” (laughs). I wanted to be a
singer, you know?
I’ve always been in singing groups from the age of
maybe 9? My first singing group was called Studio
Two with my cousin Stacy Hogan. We used to sing
at every church function, funeral, wedding -- two
little 9 year olds singing in these pink taffeta dresses.
And then my second girl group was called Pizzazz.
I might have been like 12 or 13 in that group and
we did Motown Review songs, and I just went
from group to group. And then, when I turned 17 I
was a group called Emaje and we got a record deal!
Believe it or not, walking down the streets of Oak-
land, Dres from Black Sheep saw us and they were
shooting a music video and they were like, “Hey
you pretty ladies, do you want to be in our video?”
And we were like, “No, we're on our way to college
we’re not interested in your music video, sir.” Didn't
even realize it was the video for “Engine, Engine
Number 9” - we had no idea! I didn’t even listen to
hip hop like that. And we ended up getting signed
to record deal, touring with the Backstreet Boys. It's
been an amazing ride but never did I seek out act-
BRELY : Do you want me to be honest with
you? When I got a check from the Twix commer-
cial, oh my goodness (laughs). I couldn't believe
how much I got paid in one day. I thought, “Other
people make this all year so I decided ‘I’m an actor.’”
(laughs).
But after that I took it really seriously and began to
find acting classes and seek out coaches, and got re-
ally serious about learning the language of industry
and how it works and how to get a SAG card -- all
of the things that every actor wants to know which
I cannot wait to share in upcoming book that I'm
working on now. It’s just going to be my journey
from set to set. I think it's important to know what
it felt like when I pulled up to the Twix commercial
and saw all of the trailers parked on the street and
the people employed. I was like, “This is all here for
me?” So when I realized how I could affect other
people's lives, it became real for me.
MADE You’ve always been so confident and
to see Ambitions (which we absolutely love) you
have the courage to speak up for yourself especially
in his new role as Rondell Lancaster. How can you
encourage women on how they can tap into their
inner confidence?
BRELY I think as a woman we have to remem-
ber that we give birth to men (laughs) and they
need to remember that, too! So you know, it's like
“I am woman hear me roar.” You know what I’m
saying?
I think the confidence just comes from a deep
place inside and that's why we've got to take time for
self care and self recognition and sometimes there's
no one there to pat you on your back or tell you
you're pretty or say “You did a great job” but you
look in that mirror and know these are the things
that should be said to you.
#mademaven
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