Interview with Nia
Long (NL). Conducted by Rachel (R)
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R
On
lack of roles for Black women in Hollywood do you share that sentiment?
NL
I
think there aren't a lot of roles but I think there aren't a lot of
roles for women of any race. There are
not roles for Black women and other women and we've been saying this
for years and personally I'm really tired of complaining about it. I
think in order to change something you can voice your opinion but you
have to do something about it. I don't think I have all the answers
but I will certainly try to make other moves to maybe change that. Or
try to influence the minds of producers some sort of way
or inspire them to give us more chances.
R
Is
there a particular role or character that you would like to play?
NL
Not
really. I kind of take it as it comes. I read scripts and if I like
them I respond and if I don't I move on to the next thing. But as far
as the ideal role I haven't seen it yet and I'm still trying to figure
out what that would be for me.
R
The
NAACP has declared a potential boycott against television networks to
increase minority roles. How do you feel about this?
NL
I
feel that there needs to be more Black people behind the scenes making
moves. We need to produce, we need to write,
we need to be show runners - no one can represent us better than we
can. And there needs to be a variety of ethnicities behind the scene
because our society is not just white and Black. There are so many things
in between and until we are represented both behind the scenes and in
front of the scenes we are not really getting very far. But we cannot
be afraid. The thing is that Black people, in general, were not raised
with the same opportunity. So I'm saying when you look at us as a whole
we were not always raised with the same opportunities and so
we have to teach ourselves some of the things that are important in
order to succeed behind the scenes at this
work.
R
Who
was your role model and support?
NL
Betty
Bridges, Todd Bridges mother was very, very influential in my life.
She helped so many people
throughout the years get started. I also had a lot of support from my
family - my Mom, my grandmother. People have always been there for me.
So I knew if I
fell I could get back up again.
R
Many
of the roles you played were the quintessential girlfriend and or love
interest. Is there anything you are looking
to do career wise that might separate you from that image?
NL
It's
interesting because you know as women we either play the girlfriend,
the lover, the mistress, the doctor, the lawyer so as I get older I'm
sure I'll play a mommy. As women we don't get to play the super
hero, we don't get to play the killer, unless it's like for 5 seconds
and maybe longer if it's something super natural. So I try to make the
characters that I play as interesting as possible with the
parameters that I'm given. I haven't read one role that was different
for a woman.
I
was thinking sort like the female role in Matrix. Something
that's a little more action oriented?
NL
Yeah,
but how many roles are out there like that?
R
There
aren't many. I was wondering if there was any thing of particular interest?
NL
Oh
I would love to play a film like that or a character like that
but even for white women it doesn't happen every day. It's a gender
thing.
Read Part I *
Best Man Review *
In Too Deep Review
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