{"id":142955,"date":"2020-03-25T12:58:27","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T16:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/?p=142955"},"modified":"2020-03-26T12:34:36","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T16:34:36","slug":"exclusive-sistas-kj-smith-on-climbing-into-stardom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/exclusive-sistas-kj-smith-on-climbing-into-stardom\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Sistas’ KJ Smith On Climbing Into Stardom"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Currently occupying the number one rating position on Wednesday night scheduling on the BET cable network as well as occupying the number two rating position across the US is the Tyler Perry comedy-drama series Sistas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Starring\u00a0KJ Smith<\/strong>, Ebony Obsidian<\/strong>, Mignon Von<\/strong>\u00a0and Novi Brown <\/strong>in a series written, directed and executive produced by Perry, Sistas follows a group of single black females from different walks of life who bond over their one common thread: why am I single? In this bold new series, viewers watch these women navigate their \u201ccomplicated love life\u201d status, careers and friendship through the ups-and-downs of living in a modern world of social media and unrealistic relationship goals. The hourlong drama takes viewers on a roller coaster ride of emotions and hilarious moments that are the epitome of #squadgoals.<\/p>\n

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For\u00a0Khaneshia “KJ” Smith, who plays the\u00a0high-powered attorney Andi Barnes, the Tallahassee, FL native is having the best role in her life so far. Although it’s her first leading role series, folks have seen her before on several series playing on network, cable and streaming platforms. In the last few years, she’s had guest-starring roles on shows such as Queen Sugar, Being Mary Jane, Saints & Sinners, Dynasty, NCIS: Los Angeles, Black-ish, Family Time, All Rise<\/strong> and The Family Business<\/strong>, where she will be coming back as Sasha Duncan.<\/p>\n

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She also appeared in Tyler Perry’s last film as Madea in A Madea Family Funeral<\/strong> and has a starring role in the indie film Fatal Affair<\/strong> alongside Nia Long and Omar Epps that will play on Netflix. 2020 will also see Smith appearing in upcoming Netflix TV series BlackAF<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0created by Kenya Barris, a family comedy that centers on Barris\u2019 own family life. Every role she takes is different from the other as is her appearances. She’s the ultimate chameleon when it when it comes to her looks and characters she plays.<\/p>\n

Blackfilm.com recently caught up with Smith as she discussed her role on Sistas, the roles she takes and what makes her stay humble.<\/p>\n

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How does it feel to be on a hit show?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028KJ Smith: <\/strong>It feels surreal. It feels incredible. Like it’s a dream come \u2028true. It’s what I envision for myself. I’ve always wanted to be able to \u2028connect with people in this way. And for people to feel like they see\u2028 themselves on television and tell stories. It’s a dream come true.<\/p>\n

Now for those who are not familiar with the show, or if they haven’t \u2028caught up with it, can you tell me what the show’s about and who you play?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028KJ Smith:<\/strong> The show is basically about a circle of friends who are all\u2028 experiencing different things at the same time. We are all single in the\u2028 city of Atlanta, and we’re trying to understand how to navigate and\u2028 balance life, love, career, family and friendship all at the same\u2028 time. I play the character of Andi Barnes. I\u00a0got it together – money,\u2028 power and respect. I have a secure job. I have a boo, who I love and \u2028adore. I’m in a penthouse apartment and I just got a raise. My life is going great on the surface, until things take a turn for the worse.<\/p>\n

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\u2028Have you been following the comments on the show through social media?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028KJ Smith:<\/strong> 100% I’m very active. It’s my favorite thing to do. I like to tune in and watch the show on the East and West Coast with my fans. I find myself connecting with a lot of my online fans because I can feel their love and support. That feeling alone makes me extremely grateful. Also, I haven’t seen the show beforehand so it’s\u2028exciting for me to watch the show with them. Yes, I read the scripts and did the performance \u2028but I don’t know what happens on the cutting board. I don’t \u2028know what edits are made. So yes, I’m very active. On\u2028 Wednesday nights people are always asking, “What are you doing?”, and I’ll say, \u201cI am at home on my couch watching too.” It\u2019s a three or four-hour process between coast times. While I\u2019m watching \u2028I decided to reach out to the people who support us and tweet and IG post them back.<\/p>\n

How do you relate to Andi?\u2028\u2028<\/strong><\/p>\n

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KJ Smith:<\/strong> Oh, wow. All of her with the exception of sleeping with a\u2028 married man, I think that I’m a voice of reason in my friend group. I am \u2028the one that people can call on. I’m reliable. My friends ask me for\u2028 help. I’m definitely in a great place, career-wise, I’m a workaholic and\u2028 the next step in my life is finding love and what that looks like. So, I\u2028 think all of me because that’s the place where Andy is. She’s got \u2028everything except the love component.<\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028How’s it working with the rest of the cast and with Mr. Perry?\u2028\u2028<\/strong><\/p>\n

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KJ Smith:<\/strong> Working with the girls is incredible because we are who we say\u2028we are. We get along because we are true to each other and we love each\u2028 other’s differences and similarities. We present who we actually are.\u2028That’s always great when you work with people who are 100% authentically\u2028 themselves, then you can love what you know. I love working with the girls. It’s \u2028a real love. We were real friends and Tyler’s my guy. He’s one of my\u2028favorite people on this planet next to my mom. He’s just so inspirational.\u2028 He\u2019s so encouraging and he’s changing the world. For me to be able to work \u2028with a living legend is an honor.<\/p>\n

Besides Sistas, are you coming back to The Family Business season 2?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2028\u2028KJ Smith: <\/strong>I am going to be in Carl Webber’s The Family Business Season Two\u2028 as Sasha Duncan. I’m really excited about reprising my role. You’re going to get a lot more Sasha this year. I am really excited about the levels and the layers that everyone’s\u2028 going get to see because she’s not just some murderous assassin. She’s got\u2028 depth and she\u2019s got heart and you get to see her family life as well. You\u2028 get to see her storyline with her family. There will be some exciting news \u2028about who my family members are and how we interact so I’m excited about\u2028sharing that as well.<\/p>\n

So between these two series, what goes into saying yes to the project\u2028s you’re taking?\u2028\u2028<\/strong><\/p>\n

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KJ Smith:<\/strong> Now it has to be availability. I was blessed enough to when I \u2028finished Sistas, I was able to book a movie right away because right after\u2028 the show, my team was like, “Alright, let’s go, we can do a movie now.”\u2028 So, Fatal Affair is coming out this summer on Netflix. So now the first \u2028thing is about my availability. Am I even available to do it? It’s the \u2028first thing I think about. Secondly, is this a role I would like to play?\u2028Is this a character I would like to portray? Is this something I haven’t\u2028done before? I’ve been blessed to play so many different characters from a\u2028mom fresh out of rehab trying to reconnect with her son, to a sassy\u2028secretary to City Commissioner of Atlanta and now a lawyer with an ensemble\u2028group of friends. For me, it’s about the availability and is this\u2028 something that I want to share with the world? Is this a role I want to \u2028bring to the world?<\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028When you’re not on TV, and you’re not on social media or anything else,\u2028 how do you stay humble?\u2028\u2028<\/strong><\/p>\n

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KJ Smith:<\/strong> Well, originally it was just having great people around me,\u2028 great people who are not convoluted by this industry around me, my mom, my\u2028 grandma, my sister, and my friends from back home. Now in addition to \u2028that, it’s my therapist. I do have a therapist. I do go to therapy and\u2028 that helps big time. And my fans. It’s really been incredible for me;\u2028especially now that we have the ability to connect with the fans. That\u2028 keeps me humble. There’s no way you can not be grounded when there’s a 14 \u2028year old in your inbox, and says, Hey, I’m having some problems at \u2028school. These girls are telling me that I’m ugly, and I believe them. That \u2028type of stuff keeps me so grounded and keeps me connected with my\u2028 community. I’m having the greatest year \u2028of my life so far. And when I’m able to connect with the people who have\u2028 supported this great year, and I see what they’re going through, I’m not\u2028so far removed from that. I remember that time. I remember going through those things, and I have the ability to stay grounded to stay in touch. I\u2028 keep my ear to the streets. I don’t ever want to lose sight of my \u2028community and particularly little black girls out there.<\/p>\n

Do you have any outside projects besides films that you’re currently involved\u2028 with?\u2028\u2028<\/strong><\/p>\n

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KJ Smith:<\/strong> Yes, I am an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy, which is a\u2028condition my father had before he passed away. I thought it was really\u2028important for me to bring his vision to life. He had a charity that he\u2028will do every year in the month of May. It was called the Cerebral Palsy\u2028 Roll-a-Thon.\u00a0 I’m carrying that torch and bringing awareness and\u2028diversity. You will be surprised how many black people don’t even know\u2028 what cerebral palsy is. It’s just not one of the more “glorified”\u2028 conditions in our country or in the world. So, for me it is really\u2028important to bring a voice of inclusion and diversity from the woman’s\u2028 perspective and from the African Americans’ perspective to the charity and \u2028to the world. I was telling my friends that growing up I was very\u2028defensive. I was very angry growing up because I would go to a mall, for instance, with my dad, and people would look at him like he’s not a human being. That’s something I actually unraveled in therapy \u2028recently.<\/p>\n

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Whenever anyone sees you on Instagram or at events, you never look the\u2028 same. Is that your decision or your stylist?<\/strong><\/p>\n

KJ Smith:<\/strong> That’s just me as a person. I don’t like to be confined or boxed in. I am very versatile in who I am. I’m a multi-layered person; that changes my clothes, hair and everything else to reflect that, depending on what mood I’m in. I love showing different facets of my personality.<\/p>\n

How many more episodes of Sistas are left to air?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028KJ Smith:<\/strong> We have five more episodes left.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s more than 20 episodes in one season, which is rare these days for a \u2028non-procedural drama series.<\/strong><\/p>\n

KJ Smith:<\/strong> Yes. Most series are doing eight, maybe 10 episodes, even with streaming. I feel incredibly blessed that everyone’s been able to follow\u2028 our journey for so long and have time to actually jump on board before\u2028it’s all over.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s a good reason for folks to watching Sistas?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028KJ Smith:<\/strong> I feel like we\u2019ve created the perfect recipe between comedy and drama. We cover topics that are relevant and pressing boundaries in today\u2019s society. Social media,\u2028homosexuality and the transgender conversation, infidelity, love, career choices\u2028 and racism. After each show we want to provide a discussion piece, that you can revisit with your family, friends, co-workers and lovers.<\/p>\n