Edwina Findley Dickerson Talks ‘Get Hard’ And OWN’s ‘If Loving You Is Wrong’Posted by Wilson Morales
April 13. 2015
Currently in theaters is the comedy film, Get Hard, starring Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Alison Brie, Edwina Findley Dickerson and Craig T. Nelson.
When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison. Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other.
In addition to Get Hard, where Edwina Findley Dickerson plays Kevin Hart’s wife “Rita Lewis,” the Washington, D.C. native also stars as “Kelly” on Tyler Perry’s primetime drama If Loving You is Wrong, which airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network and premiered as the highest rated debut in network history. The show’s season 2 premiered March 24th to huge ratings of over 3 million viewers.
Best known for her role of “Davina” on HBO’s Emmy nominated, critically acclaimed series “Treme,” Dickerson made her primetime debut as “Tosha Mitchell,” “Omar’s” gun-toting sidekick in the critically acclaimed HBO series “The Wire.” On the big screen, she starred along Emayatzy Corinealdi in director Ava Duvernay’s award winning feature “Middle of Nowhere.” Other notable credits include roles on HBO’s “Veep” with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters” and the “Law & Order” franchise.
Upcoming projects include “Free in Deed” opposite “Homeland’s” David Harewood and based on a true story, Leila Djansi’s “Where Children Play,” and “All the Children Are Insane,” which is currently in pre-production.
Dickerson recently spoke with Blackfilm.com about her role in “Get Hard” and the excitement of working on “If Loving You Is Wrong.”
Can you talk about getting the role on “Get Hard?”
Edwina Findley Dickerson: I did a comedy on HBO called ‘Veep’ with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the casting director for the show is the same casting director for ‘Get Hard’ and she just thought pf me for that role. I went in and met with the producers and creators and did the audition for them. Then I left town to go to Memphis to film the most intense drama that I’ve ever done, and about a week after I got back from that movie, I got a call from my agent saying, “Guess What? You’re going to be in a new comedy.” So, it was great. I’m the type of actor to move in and out of genres. It was definitely a treat to go from something so intensely dramatic to something so ridiculously comedic. It was really nice for me as an artist.
How would you describe the character you play, Kevin Hart’s wife Rita Lewis? She’s reluctantly goes along to support whatever endeavors her husband is doing to get money.
EFD: The beautiful thing that we can all relate to is that as a couple they have a dream. They live in the hood right now but they really want to save up and buy a house. She’s a nurse and he owns a car washing business and they’re both hard working people and they’re also parents; but it’s been really difficult for them to get ahead. They definitely have two different philosophies. Her philosophy is to continue to work hard and things will turn around for them.He has seen that we have done that and that they are not getting there fast enough, and feels that they should take advantage of this quick opportunity. There’s a lot of comedy in that as well he’s not a thug. He’s never been to jail.The movie makes a lot of social commentary on what Will Ferrell’s character initially expected versus who Darnell Lewis, played by Kevin Hart, really is. There’s a funny moment when he tries to practice his gangster persona on me and it doesn’t go over so well. Somewhere along the way, it becomes a little charming.
How was working on the set with two gifted comedians?
EFD: I loved it. It was awesome. With the both of them, they are so freaking hilarious. Anyone who has seen them in anything would agree. Off-screen, they are both considerate. Will Ferrell has a kind spirit and so does Kevin. I felt right at home as soon as I got there. There definitely was a lot of improvising although we had a wonderful script. There were producers and writers that would throw out different things for us to play around with in the middle of a scene. You definitely had to stay on your toes. It was definitely a very supported environment.
While the film is in theaters, you’re on television celebrating the second season of If Loving You is Wrong. How exciting is it to be on the series?
EFD: One of the exciting things for me honestly is how much the fans love it and how they get so invested in the characters week after week. I’m used to going in and out of projects, so a person who may see so many projects and a lot of times they don’t that it’s the same actress, which for me has been fine because I really try to inhabit whatever character I’m playing. The person doesn’t know that the same actress from The Wire was the same one on Treme, was the same one on Middle of Nowhere, was the same one on Veep, was the same one on Get Hard, and was the same one on If Loving You is Wrong. A lot of times people don’t put it all together, which again signifies that I’m doing my job well. It’s really about serving the character and the story. Being on a series like the one I’m on now and I’m one of the lead characters week after week and we shot 20 episodes the first time around, it’s really exciting to see people go on this journey with my character. Live tweeting with people during the show and just reading all their comments in the middle of watching the show is exciting because the entertainment aspect is meant to be enjoyed.
Is that a challenge shooting 20 episodes as opposed to some series that do about half of that?
EFD: I’m a big manifestation person. I have this whole goal book and actually this time last year, I specifically prayed to being on a show and I wanted to do at least 22 episodes. The funny thing is that this show was picked up for 20 and this upcoming season, we’re picked up for 22. I wanted this. I like a challenge. I like to roll my sleeve and jump in and go for it. That’s the opportunity we have on this show, to go for it, each and every day. This is the first show where I have the scripts upfront and that’s always nice too because I can help plot out the arc of the character. Typically in television, you get each script after each episode and it’s a moment to moment thing. You don’t necessary know where your character is going. As an actor, it’s really been nice to inhabit this role, circumstance, environment over a longer period of time and working on such an abundance of material. I actually enjoy it.
