Exclusive: Sharon Leal Talks Addicted DVDPosted by Wilson Morales
February 9, 2015
Coming out this week from Codeblack Films and Lionsgate Home Entertainment on DVD (plus Digital) and On Demand with the unrated version again being offered as an option On Demand is the racy and provocative thriller, Addicted, which is based on The New York Times bestselling novel by ”Queen of Erotica” Zane.
Making Fifty Shades of Grey look tame, Addicted follows one woman as her perfect life is nearly destroyed when her sensual cravings lead her down a path she may not survive. This tale of erotic desire and the dangers of indiscretion features an all-star cast including Sharon Leal, Boris Kodjoe, Tasha Smith, Tyson Beckford, Emayatzy Corinealdi, Kat Graham and William Levy.
Based on the wild and sexy erotic thriller by Zane, a leader in the erotica novel genre, with a screenplay by Christina Welsh and Ernie Barbarash, and directed by Bille Woodruff (Honey), Addicted follows a successful businesswoman, Zoe (Leal), who is irresistibly drawn to the sultry pleasure of a sexy painter and sculptor. Throwing caution to the wind, Zoe’s life spirals perilously out of control as she risks her marriage, her family and her dignity for the sweet taste of forbidden fruit.
For Leal, having played so many roles on film and TV, this particular film was a bit challenging considering the nature of the plot. Not only is she paired with some of the hottest actors on camera but she also has to play a woman torn between her desires and a disease.
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with Leal on her role, the DVD, and what the film does for her career.
What should we expect on the DVD that wasn’t shown in theaters?
Sharon Leal: More sex scenes and an extended version of stuff we shot. Some of the scenes are a little longer and a couple of deleted scenes. More Boris, more William and more for the ladies. They are going to love it.
Having to play opposite some many guys, how challenging was this compare to the other films you’ve done?
SL: It was really challenging just because of the sexual element. Just because I don’t play women like this, this edgy and this sexually active. That was definitely intimidating and you just hope that you’re not compromising yourself too much when you’re in scenes like this. I do think the story of her being a sick woman, her really suffering from a disease that exists, what the reasons were for the disease and being a part of who she is, are really heavy and serious issues. I just hope that the underlying story would really resonate and validate with some folks.
In working with Bille and Zane, was there anything different they wanted you to play the character that is different from the book?
SL: I met Zane after the movie was shot and from what I was told from the very beginning was that the movie version was adapted or inspired from the book but we didn’t try to mimic the book in any way. I haven’t read the book, but I heard my character is very different. So, there are two different versions but it was initially inspired by the Zane chronicles. When I spoke to Bille initially, I just wanted it to have a nice balance. I didn’t want it to be a movie with just a bunch of sex scenes. I wanted people to see a woman tortured with something and conflicted with a real illness.
How was working with the cast? Besides Tasha Smith, with whom you had worked with before, was everyone else new to you?
SL: Well, I had also worked with Boris before when I was on TV doing “Boston Public” and William Levy, I had heard so much about. With Tyson, I had met him in New York way back in the day. I really admired Emayatzy because I saw her in “Middle of Nowhere” and thought she was great and I wanted to work with her. Everyone involved was so kind and professional but also we had a good time on set and it felt respectful the whole time. We had 30 days to get it down.
What does this film do you for you as an actress? Is it still a challenge to go after the lead roles?
SL: I think so. It’s a challenge to be at the mercy to what’s available to you. Sometimes you’re only as good as the opportunities that are given to you and that’s what’s scary about our business. We wait around every year hoping that something will come across our desk and just the fact that you’re waiting for something to exist and then you hope you get an honest shot at things. It’s a difficult thing to navigate and there are plenty of talented people sitting around who can kill in a role but are never given the opportunity to do that and that’s what’s challenging. I have been really fortunate to been able to play some great roles and I hope to continue to work and be able to do what I love. I’d like to start producing and creating stuff and that helps you feel like you have a little bit of control over the trajectory of things. You try to create content and so many of us are trying to do that. I think that’s really important. It’s always a challenge to prove ourselves and show people what we are capable of.
With the many roles that you have played on TV and films, what’s left for you to do?
SL: There’s millions of people to play. There’s still action roles. There’s still French women, English women, African women and all sorts of roles of people with challenges. I just love playing roles that somebody can relate to. People have amazing stories and I think those roles are endless. You do want to change from role to role and you want to tap into parts of yourself. I think there’s always something different to tap into.
You recently had “White Water” on TV One, where it was set in the 60s.
SL: Yes. I played Annie and it’s based on a true story on a 7 year-old boy in the 60s. It’s 1963 and she is married to Larenz Tate’s character, who is this free spirited musician who was there for a minute but then took off. So she’s raising her son in the 60s in Opelika, Alabama in the middle of all the segregation and all the racial tension.The movie is really cool because it tells the story from a different perspective, which is from a 7 year-old. It almost brings to life the extremity of what that situation was. The child doesn’t understand why he has to sit in the back of the bus and why he can’t drink from the regular fountain. Seeing him discover this for the first time is really touching and beautiful and it’s done with a little bit of humor. It’s an interesting take. We’ve seen a lot of movies with this premise so this is another version. I’ve always wanted to work with Larenz Tate. The boys that they found are twins, played by Amir and Amari O’Neil.
What’s a good reason to pick up ‘Addicted’ DVD?
SL: I think Addicted lends itself to a very particular demographic. I can’t tell you how many women stop me in the streets and say, “You’re that girl in that movie!” They get to live out their fantasies watching my interactions with William Levy and Boris Kodjoe and Tyson Beckford. On an entertainment level, it gives something that many women appreciate. It’s also the whole erotic thriller thing and that particular genre has an audience and people really get excited about it. So, if that’s your cup of thing, then it gives you everything that you are looking for.
