A bit over 10 years in the past, the world was launched to you as Poussey Washington, an overtly homosexual inmate, on the hit Netflix sequence Orange Is the New Black. Trying again, what initially attracted you to this function and what are your emotions towards the character at this time?
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. Again then, the one Netflix folks 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 am a agency believer that there is a path for me, and Poussey was on my path. She was speculated 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 folks watching the present globally, but additionally simply personally, for me. Poussey actually modified me as an individual. There’s so many nice qualities to her. I at all times take into consideration what an excellent, loyal buddy she is and the way I’ve particularly taken that trait and tried to use it to Samira’s life.
I am going to by no means be the identical due to Poussey being in my life — my profession, she’s additionally the rationale I’ve a spouse and a household, to be very sincere. It is one thing that actors dream of — to have a task like that, to be on a present as impactful as that. I am simply comfortable I unintentionally fell into it.
When talking concerning the character, you as soon as stated, “I feel falling in love with Poussey, which is an actual factor that occurred to me, helped me fall in love with myself.” Are you able to inform me what you meant by that?
I used to be not an out actor once I first obtained the function. I do not suppose many individuals know that. I really feel like folks thought I used to be at all times out and proud, however no one knew as a result of I wasn’t well-known then. However I used to be actually on that path of, do I convey my finest buddy on a carpet with me at some point? You will have so many alternative voices in your ear whenever 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 plenty 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 additionally to have this type of platform. What a travesty it might be if I did not seize this chance to be my genuine self and, subsequently, attempt to have that be infectious to different folks. It was actually by way of Poussey, who has at all times been snug with who she is. She’s such a wonderful mild. Her realizing how vibrant her mild was, I used to be capable of see that, “Oh, that is truly coming from me.” I would like to just accept myself, love myself, and embrace myself and never have these exterior voices affect my life.
