Tika Sumpter talks Tyler Perry’s A Madea ChristmasBy Wilson Morales
December 12, 2013
Coming out this week is another hilarious film from writer-director-producer Tyler Perry, ‘Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas,’ starring Perry, Kathy Najimy, Chad Michael Murray, Anna Maria Horsford, Tika Sumpter, Eric Lively, JR Lemon, Alicia Witt, Lisa Whelchel, and Larry the Cable Guy.
Madea gets coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas, but the biggest surprise is what they’ll find when they arrive. As the small, rural town prepares for its annual Christmas Carnival, new secrets are revealed and old relationships are tested while Madea dishes her own brand of Christmas Spirit to all.
For Sumpter, who has appeared in the remake of ‘Sparkle’ and in numerous TV programs such as ‘One Life to Live,’ ‘Gossip Girl,’ and ‘The Game,’ this marks her second outing with Tyler Perry. The Queens, NY native currently plays Candace Young on his TV series ‘The Have and The Have Nots‘ on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network.
Coming up for Sumpter are roles in ‘Ride Along’ with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, ‘My Man is a Loser’ with John Stamos, and the James Brown biopic ‘Get On Up,’ where she plays Yvonne Fair.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Sumpter goes over her character in ‘A Madea Christmas,’ working with Tyler Perry, and her upcoming projects.
How would you best describe Lacey?
Tika Sumpter: I would describe Lacey as an overachiever; someone who tries too hard a little bit to make everyone happy, but ultimately a loving, family oriented person.
What was the attraction to doing the film?
TS: Well, I love the character. She’s a good-hearted person trying to do the right thing and what’s best and her direction at times is off-center, but also, I’m glad I got to work with Tyler. He’s done a lot for a lot of people who weren’t working and helped them get on the map. I just totally looked up to him. He’s a great business guy and also a great creator; someone who took the reins when nobody would give it to him. I was just happy to work with him.
Although Madea is the draw, with her name on the title, your character is the center of attention. How does it feel to be the co-lead of the film?
TS: I love it. Any time you have a character where you are the center of why everything is happening, it’s always a nice thing. I don’t who wouldn’t be flattered by that as an actor. “So, you want me to play this role?” I’m in everyone’s lives in this movie. It’s exciting and I’m flattered and I like her character at the end of the day. That’s why I really did it.
How is Lacey different from Candace, your character from Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots?
TS: Well, Lacey wouldn’t half the things Candace does. Lacey’s definitely an overachiever but she doesn’t have a chip on her shoulder, and I feel that Candace has bricks on her shoulder. I think Candace is a good person, but there is so much she’s had to deal with in her life that sometimes it takes a lot of digging to get to that good person, and if you cross her, how dare you. She’s had so many bricks thrown at her in her life, she sometimes doesn’t know how to be vulnerable and all the things that I think Lacey is.
How is working with Tyler from both a TV perspective and film perspective?
TS: To me, Tyler is Tyler. It’s really not that different. He’s definitely focused and knows what he wants. When his train starts, you have to move with it, and you have to know your stuff and you have to know your lines and know where you are at. He will definitely help you. If he’s not getting something, he will help you get you there. I’ve seen him do it with so many people, but you definitely need to come on board and know what you are doing.
What’s the message behind A Madea Christmas?
TS: I think there are message behind everything. I think this movie has so many messages. One is really accepting people for exactly who they are. Even with bullying, you have to stand up for yourself in some aspect. For me, it’s about family and bringing them together; bringing two very different families together and it’s about love.
From ‘One Life to Live’ to ‘Gossip Girl’ to ‘Sparkle’ and to ‘The Haves and the Have Nots,’ all of your roles have been different. Is that by design?
TS: I don’t want to be typecast. I have this other movie coming out with John Stamos called ‘My Man is a Loser’ and when I did ‘Gossip Girl’ and these other projects, I feel like why do I have to be held in somebody’s jar? This is what you look and this is who you are. When I walk in a room, I’m not just that person. There are so many different aspects. I’ve lived in two different worlds. I don’t think anyone is just one thing. I put me in a corner as that and when I walk in a room, I prove that to them. They see me as something beyond what they see.
You have ‘Ride Along’ coming up. What’s it like working with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube?
TS: Gosh. Ice Cube is actually quieter that I thought he was. He’s funnier though. He’s like a dry sense of humor but he’s quiet and he’s a Gemini like me, where I’m loud. Kevin is all over the place and he’s a hot mess and I love being around him. I just watch him and see what he did and just his comedic moments and timing is something amazing to watch. Even like Tyler, his comedic moments. I used to drama all the time, so it was nice to be around laughing and seeing how other people work. I love to learn so I’m like a sponge on set.
Then you have the James Brown film, ‘Get On Up,’ coming up. What’s your role in the film?
TS: I’m playing Yvonne Fair, who was one of James Brown’s background singers. She actually was his artist and protégé. She was like James Brown as a girl. She actually recorded ‘I Feel Good’ and he changed it to his version. She was a soul singer and they had a baby together. It’s one of the relationships that James Brown had and that Tate Taylor will focus on in the movie.
Will you be singing in the film?
TS: I don’t think it will be my voice. I know I just got put in more scenes but I think it will be probably be the original recordings. I don’t think they will re-do those.
When you’re not working, what keeps you grounded?
TS: My mother, my family, and my really close friends. I’m a girl who just wants to be around love and positivity and want to uplift my friends. I want them to be able to enjoy life. I’m not saying that you have to be a billionaire or anything like that, but I want them to be able to come with me to dinners and events. I want to them to be part of my world. What’s the point if you are not sharing with anyone? Outside of working, I’m just kicking it with my friends, movies and dinners and wine.
What are your plans for Christmas?
TS: Family. Hang out with my mom. I have siblings and we’re all talking about what we are doing. It’s so weird because when I was young, I was really quiet, so I see myself reverting back to that when I’m in my household. But that’s like my happy zone; being in the house with my family with music, the football games, or whatever. It’s just goodness.
