A little bit 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. Wanting again, what initially attracted you to this position 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 per week. Again then, the one Netflix individuals knew was the supply DVD service. I want that I may 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 presupposed 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 additionally 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 an ideal, loyal pal 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 job like that, to be on a present as impactful as that. I am simply glad I by chance fell into it.
When talking in regards to the character, you as soon as mentioned, “I believe 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 bought the position. 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 one knew as a result of I wasn’t well-known then. However I used to be actually on that path of, do I deliver my greatest pal on a carpet with me sooner or later? You will have so many alternative voices in your ear once you’re beginning to acquire fame, entry, and all of these issues. And I had a few of these voices. I grew up within the church, so a number of these voices had been involved about what being open would imply for my profession and for my life.
I actually needed to understand and discover that my job right here is, sure, to behave, but additionally to have this sort of platform. What a travesty it might be if I did not seize this chance to be my genuine self and, due to this fact, attempt to have that be infectious to different individuals. It was actually via Poussey, who has all the time been snug with who she is. She’s such a phenomenal mild. Her realizing how vivid her mild was, I used to be capable of see that, “Oh, that is really coming from me.” I would like to just accept myself, love myself, and embrace myself and never have these outdoors voices affect my life.
