Tasha Smith
The “Addicted” Interview
with Kam Williams
A Spirited Tête-à-Tête
with Tasha 2.0
Tasha
Smith is a multifaceted actress whose
work brings style and intensity to the subjects she plays on the big and small
screens. She currently stars in the television series “Tyler Perry’s For Better
Or Worse” on the OWN Network, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award
nomination as “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series.”
Tasha’s memorable portrayal of
Angela in Why Did I Get Married?
and Why Did I Get Married, Too?
sparked the creation of the spin-off series which is focused around her
relationship with her husband, Marcus, played by Michael Jai White.
Additionally, she has joined the cast of Fox-TV’s new hip-hop drama series,
“Empire.”
Tasha’s other film credits
include Daddy’s Little Girls
opposite Idris Elba and Gabrielle Union where she delivered a powerful
performance which impressed audiences and critics alike. She subsequently went
on to co-star in the #1 box office hit Jumping
the Broom, starring Paula Patton, Laz Alonso and Angela Bassett.
She also co-starred in the
romantic comedy Couples Retreat
opposite Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman and Faizon Love, adding to
her already impressive box-office resume which includes ATL, The Good Mother, The Whole Ten Yards, and The Longshots. She is well-known for
her extensive work on the small screen, too, most notably, her
critically-acclaimed portrayal of the drug-addicted Ronnie Boyce on the Emmy Award-winning mini-series
"The Corner."
On and off the big and small screen, Tasha has
a naturally commanding presence. She takes time to share her inspirational life
story through motivational speaking, and to mentor emerging actors through the
Tasha Smith Actors Workshop (TSAW). And in her spare time, the Camden, New
Jersey native loves to workout at the gym, cook
gourmet meals, and entertain friends at her home.
Here, she talks about
co-starring as Dr. Marcella Spencer opposite Sharon Leal in Addicted, the
screen adaptation of the steamy best-seller by Zane.
Kam
Williams: Hi Tasha, thanks for the interview. It’s
been too long.
Tasha Smith:
Hi Kam. I’m happy to talk with you.
KW:
Same here! Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what
you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you
made me feel.” And whenever I’ve interviewed you, you’ve always made me feel
great.
TS:
Oh, Kam, thank you! That is awesome.
KW:
You’re publicist was a little concerned about what I would
talk to you about today. So, I sent her an outline of what areas I hoped to
cover. Did you read it?
TS:
No, I’ve been working so hard, I didn’t have a chance to
look at it. But I trust you, and I adore you. I’m sorry.
KW:
No, need to apologize. I know that you’re busy enough as an
actress, and then you spend so much time teaching acting workshops, too. [www.tsaw.com]
TS:
Yeah, you know I’ve opened up my school in California in a beautiful facility on Ventura Boulevard. I’m
always in heaven when I’m doing my classes.
KW:
What interested you in Addicted? Had you read the book? How about Fifty Shades
of Grey?
TS:
I read the book, of course, because I had to in order to see
the whole dynamics of Dr. Marcella’s relationship with Zoe [played by Sharon
Leal], and I loved Marcella. I loved her voice… I loved her tone… I loved the
fact that she was the voice of reason who served as the guide to help Zoe deal
with her addiction so that she would not destroy the rest of her life and her
family relationships, because that’s exactly what addiction does. Addiction
will kill everything in you and around you. I was familiar with Addicted for a
long time, even prior to the movie, way before it got the greenlight. And when
it finally got the greenlight, I was very happy to be a part of it.
KW:
How did you prepare to play your character, Dr. Marcella
Spencer?
TS:
I tell you, I met with so many therapists… I sat in on sex
addiction classes… I went through hypnotherapy because, at first, she was
supposed to be a hypnotherapist. I feel like the people I met and the
experiences I had in group sessions gave me a good anchor for Marcella.
KW:
When I went to see the film, the audience was 90% female?
Why do you think that was the case?
TS:
I think because it opened up fantasy in terms of women’s
sexuality. We’re used to seeing fantasy explored from a male perspective, and
the way men might see sex, have sex, want sex and even be addicted to sex. But
I don’t think women pursuing that sexuality within themselves is something
that’s talked about or experienced as often. I think women found it intriguing
because they wanted to see what that look like and felt like and sounded like.
I think it was a curiosity with women.
KW:
The screen version of Fifty Shades of Grey is coming out
soon. Do you see any parallels between that and Addicted?
TS:
I do, as far as the type of story
it is. I know it’s the same genre, but I’ve never read the book. So, I can’t
really comment about it. But I am going to see the film, and I think that it’s
cool. Zane has been that urban voice for black people as far as our sexuality
and our sensuality, not that she only has an urban following. We may be used to
seeing the Zoe’s of other races, but I think it was great to be able to tell
the story of this beautiful black woman and her family.
KW:
I remember meeting Zane at a party and being surprised that
she seemed so straitlaced and perfectly normal, and not a nymphomaniac like one
of her protagonists.
TS:
Yes, she looks like she could
work at the Post Office. She’s just as conservative, but with a mind that could
blow your mind.
KW:
What would you say is the movie’s message?
TS:
That if you don’t deal with
addiction, it could destroy your life. It also addresses the inspiration of
restoration in a relationship.
KW:
I see that you have a picture called Polaris coming out this
year. What type of character do you play there?
TS:
I play Sophie, who’s that
All-American best friend. It was more of a cameo role, but it was still a
wonderful opportunity to work with an amazing, first-time director [Soudabeh
Moradian], at least as far as features, who comes from the documentary film
world. It was also great to have a chance to work with my best friend,
Elisabeth Rohm.
KW:
What other upcoming projects do you have, Tasha?
TS:
I have two new TV shows, Power
and Empire. On Empire, which just premiered in January, I play Carol, who’s
Cookie Lyons’ [played by Taraji P. Henson] sister. It’s fun. It’s a great show.
KW:
Tell me a little about Power.
TS:
That doesn’t come on until the
summer. It’s with Omari Hardwick, Naturi Naughton and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
You’re gonna love it!
KW:
The Uduak Oduok question: Who is your favorite clothes designer?
TS:
My favorite
clothes designer? It’s a shame that I
don’t have a favorite right now. I gotta tell you, Kam. I am just discovering
my fashion side. I have never felt anchored when it comes to fashion. I’ve
always had to depend on a stylist helping me to figure it out. But over, maybe,
the last four or five months, I have literally been getting back to myself and
to what I really love as far as fashion is concerned. So, I can’t really answer
that question, although I do have a couple of favorite shoe designers I have a
little bit of an addiction to: Giuseppe [Zanotti] and Christian Louboutin. For
some reason, I’m in love with their shoes... [Pauses] Wait, I just thought of a
designer that I’m actually feelin’ who’s really fun and exciting for me… Stella
McCartney… I’m feelin’ her. I have some pieces of hers that make me go look for
more of her pieces.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what
do you see?
TS:
[Breathes deeply… exhales… clears
her throat] That’s a very good question. Kam, I gotta tell you, you always ask
me wonderfully probing questions and, for some reason, I always want to be
extremely honest with you.
KW:
I’ve always appreciated that.
TS:
I’ll say this: the last three
years of my life have been very painful and somewhat abusive, mentally.
KW:
Gee, I’m so sorry to hear that.
TS:
And I always found myself trying
to cover the mental anguish and the torment and the abuse that I was dealing
with. That made me always question my beauty, my intelligence, and a lot of
other things about myself.
KW:
That is so sad! I had no idea.
TS:
I felt like I was literally
losing myself as being the joyful, spiritual, passionate, exciting woman that I
naturally had been. I remember working on a show, and feeling so insecure about
whether I looked attractive enough to do a love scene. It was weird because I
couldn’t understand why I wasn’t feeling beautiful, even though I knew I was.
And my friends were like, “You know why!” I remember that I kept asking the
person I was working with whether I looked okay. He was kind enough to take a
photo of me on the monitor. When he took the photo, he asked the director to
wait. Then he came to me and said, “This is how you look.” I don’t think even
he knew how that moment impacted me. My reaction was, “Wow! I look like that?”
You hear about actresses experiencing their insecurities, and how we always
want to feel pretty enough, good enough, or this or that enough. But this was
such a revelation for me, because I had been spending time in the mirror
questioning my beauty. When he showed me that snapshot, I finally really
appreciated myself again. There was this revelation in one second that really
blessed me, big time. So, now when I look at myself in the mirror, I see this
beautiful woman that’s getting back to her old self.
KW:
That’s terrific! Sherry Gillam would like to know what makes
you smile on the inside?
TS:
Right now, my excitement about my
life and my future makes me happy, because I am a dreamer, and I always dream,
no matter how many obstacles are in my way. My dreams, my desires, and my goals
make me smile.
KW:
Finally, what’s in your wallet?
TS:
[How’s with laughter] What’s in
my wallet? A note to myself.
KW:
Thanks again, Tasha. I really appreciate your being so open
and forthcoming with me, as usual.
TS:
Thank you, Kam, and have a great day, okay?
To see a trailer for
Addicted, visit:
To order Addicted on DVD, visit:
