Your career in entertainment started off as a pageant contestant for Miss USA. What did you learn from that experience, that will propel you to the next level in your career?
My career in entertainment started long before I won Miss NC USA 2013. I already had an agent, but desired even more exposure, which is ultimately why I decided to compete. Pageantry is very different from the entertainment industry, but one of the biggest things it prepared me for, was how to deal with rejection. I competed four times before actually winning Miss NC USA, so it helped me to develop thick skin, but also taught me how to remain with tunnel vision, in reaching my goals.
What initially attracted you to the business of acting?
I’ve known that I wanted to be an actress since I was 3 years old. At an early age, I always found myself performing and entertaining others. Growing up, my dad had a huge movie collection that I used to call “Blockbuster at Home”. He worked a lot, so me being a young, tenacious kid, I would find ways to entertain myself which included going down the list of VHS’ and being glued to the television, watching all the movies we had in the house. That includes films I probably had no business watching at that age, LOL. But with that being said, I was very drawn not only to acting, but also the cinematography. I would imitate different actors I saw on screen while explaining the way scenes that were shot to mom, once I got done watching them.
What was your first big job as an actress and what was your reaction when you finally landed it?
I got my first “big job” I would say, when I was 9. It was an indie project being filmed on UCF’s campus called Timmy’s Dilemma. It was big to me, because I had such a strong desire to be in front of a camera. Even though the film never made it to distribution, it was the confirmation I needed, in order to hold onto my dream of one day becoming an actress.
Which actors work do you admire and which of their careers would you want to emulate?
I’m a big fan of Meryl Streep and Rooney Mara. Rooney is a young actor in Hollywood, but both her and Meryl’s body of work are versatile, and I hope to have a similar resume in terms of the many characters I might play throughout my career.
You’re currently on TLC’s, Too Close to Home. How did you first hear of this series and what was it about the script that excited you?
I heard about the show from my agent when I was first notified to come in and read for the role of Valerie. To be honest, I didn’t really even know the full dynamic of the show, until after I booked the role. Based on the sides I was given to read at my audition, I knew that Valerie and Anna had a close relationship, and that relationship was being put on the line because of a horrible mistake Anna made. That alone was enough to excite me. I’m a Virgo, which is one of the most loyal zodiac signs (if not the most loyal) so, the scene where Anna reveals her secret to Valerie, really hit home for me almost immediately.
As mentioned, you play the role of Valerie. What are the many sides of her character?
Valerie has so many layers that I hope people will see more of, as the season progresses. She starts off as a supportive friend and quickly turns into a pistol that leaves her friend out in the cold. She’s very transparent and probably a little too honest, but that all comes from a place of loyalty and hurt. She’s a hard working young African American woman who I think, really is the most misunderstood character on the show. She isn’t willing to help her best friend get out of trouble and that bothers people. But, if you take a look at everything going on around them, Anna’s mistakes are affecting those closest to her, Valerie especially, and that is what becomes so upsetting to her.
What do you enjoy most about playing Valerie on screen?
Valerie is a fun character to play because she definitely knows how to get under people’s skin with her words. Her words can be very cutting at times, but thats what I so appreciate about her. It’s very rare that you find folks who can be that transparent in the world, so with that being said, I love being able to play a girl who can say and do all the things people wish they had to courage to say and do. She keeps is real and is raw. Her reasons for doing so, are more than valid, if people would just pay attention to what she is saying.
The previews look intense. What can viewers expect to see from Valerie and the rest of the cast in this first season?
As far as Valerie goes, the viewers can expect to have a love-hate relationship with her. She, at times, can be very intense and transparent, but that’s because she appears to be the only one seeing things full circle. Because Anna has lied so much, everybody associated with her could also be held accountable for her mistakes. Valerie is not for it in any way and hopes that people will see things from her perspective. The season starts off intense and a lot of questions remained unanswered. By the end of Season 1, the viewers will have their minds blown, as all the pieces of the this story’s puzzle start to come together.
When it comes to fashion, who are some of your favorite designers?
Oh wow… I love Alexander McQueen, Michael Costello and Versace just to name a few!
We look forward to seeing how things develop on TLC’s Too Close to Home. What other projects do you have coming up?
I just wrapped filming a guest star role on The Vampire Diaries, so look out for that this Fall. Hopefully soon, maybe even a Season 2 of Too Close To Home will get under way, so keep your fingers crossed. 😉
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Photo Courtesy of Tommy Chung & Jay Wiggs