www.urbangrandstand.com
Urban Grandstand: I greatly appreciate your time today. It’s been a long time, not only for you, but us as well. We were here for a number of years, and stepped away for the last 2 years. So we’re back and rebranded, and things are moving along very well. Thank you for this.
Denisha Hardeman: You’re welcome. Thank you.
Urban Grandstand Now you see I’m a talker, so this conversation could go on forever (laughing)
Denisha Hardeman: I’m an Aquarius, and we talk (laughing)
Urban Grandstand: In looking at your background story, you went to a school for the arts. I’m assuming that was for high school?
Denisha Hardeman: Yes. I went to the High School for Performing & Visual Arts, which was where Beyonce Knowles went. From there, I had a choice to make. I either could have stayed there and continued with theater, or gone to Pearland High School and pursued track and field. I had been into track and field since the age of six. From the age of 4, running away from my momma’s belt, they knew I was fast. You know, my mom was fast. I switched and went to Pearland, but I still did theater. In high school, you can’t do both so I became a sports phenom with volleyball, basketball and track. When I went to southern Methodist on a full athletic scholarship, I was taking theater. There were kids in there who were just there for credit. Some weren’t really serious. They didn’t think so at first because I ran track. My teacher was the head of the program, and when we did this particular play, she pulled me aside and said this has to happen. I was a little skeptical. The odds are like you’ll get struck by lightening before you become famous. I felt like I would end up becoming a teacher. I actually left school for about 4 months for health reasons, and during that time, I spoke to my mom about returning to acting. I went to an open call for Page Parkes. They only have like 2 African Americans on their roster. I said to my mom, I don’t think they like black people. They called me the next day and signed me on. My family is extremely supportive. If I said I wanted to be a clown, they would be said how much is circus school?
Urban Grandstand: It’s good to have that support system. It’s really the only way to be really successful.
Denisha Hardeman: It’s amazing. Everybody knew me for track and they just knew I was going to the Olympics. That’s what my mom did. My brother did it. My sister has records and I have records. So they just knew I was going to do that. I have 4 friends who ran the last Olympics. So that’s where I was headed. But in middle school, I won best actress. That was my thing. I’ve been acting since I was 4 also. I started in church. Everybody starts in church for some reason (laughing). That was my home ground. I was bouncing between school and acting. I felt like I couldn’t do it all at the same time. I had other things going on in my life. Then I got the call from my agent. I had already missed 2 auditions, but she was giving me a last chance. I had to go to New Orleans. It was so sneaky, and secluded. They take your phone. It was weird. I went upstairs to wardrobe. It’s a big warehouse with just clothes. I see a rack that says Jamie Foxx. I was like, hold on. I asked the lady what we were doing, and she said you’re going to be slaves. 2 weeks later, I got the call that it was a Quentin Tarantino film. I love him. I was extremely excited. Me and one of the other girls I was working with, we were talking. I said though, I’m going to get on that set with him. We get to the first day of set and it’s his birthday. I’m the only one who knew, so I told him happy birthday. From there, everything he needed, I raised my hand. He asked me to sing and I knew I couldn’t sing a note, but I was singing. Finally, 2 days later, he called me in personally. I felt like a star, like Quentin Tarantino knows my name. I was able to meet everyone, including Samuel L. Jackson. He was the one who encouraged me to move to Los Angeles. It’s really the highlight of my life. I called my mom and said Samuel L Jackson says I need to move to LA, and of course she said “How much is it”? I left Southern Methodist, signed up for the New York Film Academy, and I’ve been here ever since.
Urban Grandstand: That actually ties to my next question, which you pretty much answered already. But what type of wisdom were they able to impart on you?
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