Just a little over 10 years in the past, the world was launched to you as Poussey Washington, an brazenly homosexual inmate, on the hit Netflix collection Orange Is the New Black. Looking again, what initially attracted you to this function and what are your emotions towards the character in the present day?
That was over 10 years in the past [laughs]? To be very sincere, on the time, I used to be a struggling actor in New York, working as bartender. I had a number of auditions every week. Back then, the one Netflix individuals knew was the supply DVD service. I want that I might say to you that I had discernment and that I actually pored over the script, and that I actually understood the character was going to be impactful, however actually, on the time, I simply wanted a job.
I’m a agency believer that there is a path for me, and Poussey was on my path. She was imagined to be part of my life, and that is how I discovered her. I really feel extremely blessed to have performed that character. The impression that she made, not solely with the individuals watching the present globally, but in addition simply personally, for me. Poussey actually modified me as an individual. There’s so many nice qualities to her. I all the time take into consideration what a fantastic, loyal buddy she is and the way I’ve particularly taken that trait and tried to use it to Samira’s life.
I’ll by no means be the identical due to Poussey being in my life — my profession, she’s additionally the explanation I’ve a spouse and a household, to be very sincere. It’s one thing that actors dream of — to have a task like that, to be on a present as impactful as that. I’m simply joyful I unintentionally fell into it.
When talking concerning the character, you as soon as stated, “I think falling in love with Poussey, which is a real thing that happened to me, helped me fall in love with myself.” Can you inform me what you meant by that?
I used to be not an out actor once I first bought the function. I do not assume many individuals know that. I really feel like individuals thought I used to be all the time out and proud, however no person knew as a result of I wasn’t well-known then. But I used to be actually on that path of, do I convey my finest buddy on a carpet with me sooner or later? You have so many alternative voices in your ear once you’re beginning to achieve fame, entry, and all of these issues. And I had a few of these voices. I grew up within the church, so quite a lot of these voices had been involved about what being open would imply for my profession and for my life.
I actually needed to notice and discover that my job right here is, sure, to behave, but in addition to have this sort of platform. What a travesty it will be if I did not seize this chance to be my genuine self and, subsequently, attempt to have that be infectious to different individuals. It was actually by way of Poussey, who has all the time been snug with who she is. She’s such a wonderful mild. Her realizing how brilliant her mild was, I used to be in a position to see that, “Oh, this is actually coming from me.” I would like to just accept myself, love myself, and embrace myself and never have these outdoors voices affect my life.
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