Malinda Williams Talks ‘A Cross to Bear’By Wilson Morales
February 18, 2012
Best known for her roles in ‘A Thin Line Between Love,’ ‘Uninvited Guest,’ ‘The Wood,’ ‘Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls’ and as the hair stylist Tracy “Bird” Van Adams in the Showtime acclaimed drama series, ‘Soul Food,’ actress Malinda Williams has carved out a good amount of work over the last decade on the big and small screen.
Lately, the New Jersey native has working pretty hard on a number projects, completing four films in the span of four months. One of those is films is the inspirational film ‘A Cross to Bear,‘ which also stars Kim Fields, and newcomer Danielle Deadwyler.
The inspirational drama about a young girl’s long road to redemption makes its world television premiere on Saturday, February 18th at 7:00 PM ET, with encore telecasts 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM on GMC TV.
Blackfilm.com recently spoke to Williams about her role in the film, as well as her upcoming projects, including Russ Parr’s ‘The Under Shepherd,’ and ‘2 Days in New York’ with Chris Rock.
What role do you play in ‘A Cross to Bear’?
Malinda Williams: I play a woman named Fae and she’s a good friend of Joan, who’s played by Kim Fields. Joan runs a home for women and is a mentor to my character. It’s basically for women who are at risk, have been abused, who suffer from various addictions. She supports them and Fae herself came through the home. She comes to the home now that she’s older and mentors these young girls based on her own experience. She’s not a professional. She actually spent time in prison for taking the life of her then-husband, who had been abusing her. She couldn’t take it anymore and took his life and ended up spending some time in jail for it. She finds God in prison. She goes back to Joan’s home and mentors these girls from a level where they can relate. She understands and shares her experience with them.
What drew you to this project?
MW: One of my very best friends, Terri J. Vaughn co-wrote and produced the project with Cas Sigers. Anything that Terri asks me to be a part, I’m certainly and able to do so. She’s like my sister. That was the initial attraction. When I read the piece, one of the things that resonated with me was how these were women who were supporting women. I always found in my life that whenever I was going through something, I need another woman who understood what I was going through. I have gone to therapists and various places and people who have the credentials to help you professionally, but I found that the thing that was most helpful to me was having another woman who can relate. That’s the thing that would always make me feel better.
How was working with Kim Fields?
MW: There’s a scene in the movie that’s a revealing scene where her character gives some information about her background that none of the women had known. I remember I was crying my eyes when we were rehearsing the scene and she was acting. She’s such an amazing presence. I grew up watching her so to be standing next to her and working with her was incredible. She makes work effortless. A lot of people are used to seeing her in comedic projects but wait until you see her in this movie. I was in awe. I am saying that in an honest way. I’ve seen a lot of actors work, but I was in awe of Kim Fields.
You have a number of upcoming films. How was filming ‘2 Days in New York’ with Chris Rock?
MW: That was a funny experience. First of all, most of the cast and half of the crew spoke French and very little English. The nice thing about this was that the character that I play was not supposed to know what’s going on with these French speaking characters. It was new and interesting for me. It was very well received at this year’s Sundance.
What role do you play in the film?
MW: I play the role of Elizabeth, Chris Rock’s sister.
You also have a part in Russ Parr’s film, ‘The Under Shepherd.’
MW: Yes. I did a number of films in the span of four months, but in ‘The Under Shepherd,’ I play Cassandra, Isaiah Washington’s wife. She’s the first lady of this mega church and the theme around the film is on the church and corruption. It’s also a person being corrupted by power and that’s Isaiah in the film. People’s morals get questioned in the film based on the power and money and things that surround running a mega church that way. The film is dark at times and will shock a lot of people. It’s shocking because of the place you don’t expect it to happen.
There’s also another indie film you shot called ‘Percentage.’
MW: I think it’s the first film that Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere are doing for Flavor Unit Films and I’m in the film with Cam’ron and Ving Rhames. I play a woman who is caught up in a crime syndicate run by Macy Gray. It’s your average everyday credit card fraud.
Why should anyone see ‘A Cross to Bear’?
MW: Well, the film is truly inspiring. As I mentioned before, the film is relatable to some. There’s also some great talent, new and familiar in the film.
