Samira Wiley Talks Orange Is The New Black Season 2Posted by Wilson Morales
June 10, 2014
Season 2 of Netflix’s ‘Orange Is the New Black’ is currently playing and folks have been binge-viewing every episode since June 6.
Based on Piper Kerman’s memoir ‘Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison,’ the series stars Laura Prepon, Jason Biggs, Taylor Schilling, Kate Mulgrew, Michael Harney, Michelle Hurst, Matt McGorry, Natasha Lyonne, Samira Wiley, Vicky Jeudy, Lolita Foster, Uzo Aduba, Adrienne C. Moore, Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Danielle Brooks, and Pablo Schreiber.
Orange Is the New Black follows engaged Brooklynite Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), whose decade-old relationship with drug-runner Alex (Laura Prepon) results in her arrest and year-long detention in a federal penitentiary. To pay her debt to society, Piper must trade her comfortable New York life with fiance Larry (Jason Biggs) for an orange prison jumpsuit and a baffling prison culture where she is forced to question everything she believes and form unexpected new alliances with a group of eccentric and outspoken inmates.
For Wiley, who plays Poussey Washington, the show will give more to her background than being the BFF to Taystee (played by her good friend Danielle Brooks).
Blackfilm.com recently spoke with the Julliard grad on season 2 and what to expect from her character and how the show has changed her life.
How long had it been since the cast was back together?
Samira Wiley: It hadn’t been that long, but probably, with the entire cast, since we shot season 2 last year. I try to see them often. They really have become my family, like my sisters.
Is there anyone that you have become close with since the show started?
SW: Yes. Definitely. I was friends with Danielle (Brooks) before we started the show and we’ve remained friends and got closer because of the show. From working on the show, Udo Azuba is a great friend and she’s amazing and Natasha Lyonne is a buddy of mine.
As the new season is now running on Netflix, and for those who haven’t seen it yet, what can they expect from Pousey?
SW: In season 1, the reason she didn’t say much is because she’s such a loyal friend to Taystee. She’s such a great person to have by your side. In season 2, we’ll get to see her own journey and how she stands alone and where her morals are.
With more characters added to this show, will we be able to see more or less of Pousey this season?
SW: Definitely more. The writers are so amazing. It’s a hard task to handle with such a big cast but everyone feels valued and they are getting their time and it’s great. It’s a really great working environment.
What has the show done for you so far in terms of recognition?
SW: In terms of recognition, there has never been anything like this in my career. This is the biggest job that I ever had. It’s given me more exposure than I ever dreamed of. All the people that I’m working with are good people. It’s just been a dream come true. I couldn’t wish for a better narrative.
Since you’ve done the show, have you met or known women in prison with a background similar to Pousey?
SW: I have people in my life that have been in and out of prison. I worked with the Women’s Prison Association (WPA), actually the whole cast has, and they have put us in contact with many women who have unfortunately through in the system. I have a background in theater and one thing that is foreign to me from doing film and TV is not having that one on one connection. When you’re on stage, you have that audience right there in front of you and to be able to connect with fans and to be able to connect with people whose stories are similar to the stories that we are telling is just amazing.
What has your experience been like when you promote the show and tell folks that it’s on Netflix?
SW: When I first started working on the show, I definitely had to explain it (Neflix) to an older generation. It’s been good all around. It keeps people in touch with new technology and having my friends watch me on TV, online, or on their phone is great.
Have you had the opportunity to do other projects?
SW: Between season 1 and season 2, I was able to shoot the indie film ‘Rob the Mob’ with Michael Pitt, Andy Garcia, Ray Romano, and Griffin Dunne. That came out earlier this year. I’m always auditioning.
What’s the best thing we should be looking forward to seeing in Season 2?
SW: So many people fell in love with the series and they have their favorite character from the first season, and we get so much more with what everyone fell in love with, but we also get into some new characters. They come in and spark it up.
For those who haven’t been watching the series, what’s a good reason to do so?
SW: I think it’s a comedy with dramatic elements in there. I think everyone should watch it because it’s an amazing display of the human experience. It has something in there for everyone. People should give it a chance. People may think it’s heavy because it’s set in a prison but it’s not. It’s a comedy. Life is hilarious.
