April 2009 | blackfilm.com | AMERICAN VIOLET - An Interview with Nichole Behaire

April 2009

AMERICAN VIOLET - An Interview with Nicole Beharie

(April: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Screenings * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive

AMERICAN VIOLET
An Interview with Nicole Beharie
by Wilson Morales

April 13, 2009

For Black actresses, landing quality roles in films is very competitive since they are very few that come their way. You’re either playing the wife of the lead actor, or the best friend with minimal screen time. For newcomers like Nicole Beharie, she used the opportunity to tell Hollywood and any producer out there that she’s worth the risk.

In her first starring role, this South Carolina born- Juilliard grad knocks it out of the park with a breathtaking, riveting performance in ‘American Violet.’

The film tells the astonishing story of Dee Roberts, a 24 year old African-American single mother of four who is wrongfully swept up in a drug raid. Despite the urgings of her mother (Alfre Woodard), and with her freedom and the custody of her children at stake, she chooses to fight the powerful district attorney and the unyielding criminal justice system he represents.

In speaking with Blackfilm, she spoke about her role and working with both Regina Kelly and Alfre Woodard on the film.

The story is based on Regina Kelly, who was a victim of Texas police drug enforcement tactics.

How did the role come about for you?

Nicole Beharie: Well, my agency sent me a stack of scripts and initially I think they were they were thinking it was a way for a new sign-in to start off, but I was immediately taken in every way by this particular story. I had asked if I could go for casting and I knew that the character was a bit old for me, but I wanted to play the baby’s mother of Xzibit’s kid. The next day I had a callback with director Tim Disney and producer Bill Haney. Haney had done a documentary on the ACLU and he told me how he heard about the case through NPR and with meeting with Regina, real Dee Roberts, and her family and the people in Hearne, Texas and I was like, ‘Ok, I definitely have to work with these people.’ Tim was so compassionate to the actual plight and wanted to talk about the politics of it, I wanted to work on this film and things just sort of worked out for me.

Did you get a chance to talk to Regina about playing her?

NB: You know what? I really wanted to. I worked hard. I was making calls. There were so many bureaucratic things in the way, but Bill had done a documentary on her, the actual D.A, and the attorneys so had DVDs of footage to work with. That served as my inspiration and starting point before I got on set. I spent weeks just listening to them. Once I got on the set, I wanted to meet her. She’s alive and I’m here. She finally came on the set and we talked for quite a bit. We still text each other. I was so nervous when I saw the film. Regina said at the screening, She’s like, “Nicole, come sit besides me!” and I have never seen myself on film for a long duration. It was also a strange experience sitting besides the woman whom I’m playing, but it was also a rewarding one.

What do you andher have in common?

NB: I think we both know what it feels like to have ownership of life and we do have choices. Also, I’ve lived down South in a small town by South Carolina and I could imagine what she may have felt when the charges were pressed against her. Those are things I think we have in common. I learned a great deal from her. This experience changed her to a new person. It broadened her horizon and she started working for the ACLU. Now, she’s very political and has evolved as a human being through her hardship.

How was working with Alfre Woodard?

NB: I felt so fortunate to be able to work with Alfre, and Will (Patton) and Xzibit. There was never a single moment where I felt like I wasn’t being supported. Everyone was interested in the project and invested. This was a low budget film and there for me as I was the new face. Alfre was so generous. We did this scene where the paint can opened and it gets all over me and I’m all red and we did that scene several times and it was a real cold day in New Orleans. Alfre came over and said, ‘We have to do something to take care of you.’ She sent me flowers and gave me advice on the set. She was constantly giving me advice and sharing stories with me. She’s been in this business a long time and I’ve most of her work. I was starstruck when I first met her because she’s one of the actresses that I look up to.

Did you feel any pressure knowing you are the lead carrying this film?

NB: I think the pressure that I felt was more to Regina than anything. Everything on set was moment to moment. That’s one of my goals, to be every moment and live now. I don’t think I ever considered myself the center of the film. Everyone in the one is as important as the next person. We all created and passed off energy to each other to make this film happen.

Wha’s next for you?

NB: I just finished a pilot recently. I also have a grant from the Annengberg Foundation. I’m developing my own play. It’s a one woman show.

Why should anyone see ‘American Violet.’?

NB: I think a good reason to see it is for the youth and the time. This is a story on someone who was disenfranchised and the situation for her was terrible and she was able to find it within herself to be proactive about her life and change something. Considering our economy and we have a new President, this is a hopeful story and even when there aren’t many options and the chips are down, you can still make it. You have to be a bit savvier and trust in what you believe in. For the new generation, this is a story of hope.

AMERICAN VIOLET opens on April 17, 2009

(April: Main Page * Features * Reviews * Screenings * Teen ) Current Issue * Archive