In the hauntingly powerful Harlem-set family drama, “A Thousand and One,” from writer-director AV Rockwell, R&B star-turned-actress Teyana Taylor plays Inez de la Paz, an ex-convict (and force of nature). who kidnaps his 6-year-old son. -Her oldest son, Terry, out of foster care to raise him herself. Although it took Taylor more than a decade of film and television appearances in lighter films like “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” “Coming 2 America” and “Miracles Across 125th Street” before she landed her first major dramatic role, She says the timing was right. just right.
“Yeah [this role] It happened immediately, I just don’t think you would have seen this version of Inez from me,” Taylor recently told The Envelope. “Inez went through some things, and my character and I went through some things. By the time I got to [play] “Inez, I knew I had something to prove.”
Reviews indicate that he has more than proven his point, along with nominations for a Gotham Independent Film Award and an Independent Spirit Award, as well as a National Board of Review award for outstanding performance.
The warm and bubbly Taylor had a lot more to say about her part in a career change during a free Zoom call from her home in Miami.
You’re no stranger to receiving attention for your work, but the recognition for playing Inez must be different. How has the past year been?
Oh my god, it feels amazing… especially when you come from an industry. [the music business] where it’s more of a popularity contest than a real situation of talent or skill. In acting, when you step into a role, people feel it. It has nothing to do with who you are or how many followers you have. [Praise for acting] It’s all new to me, so I’m very grateful.
Teyana Taylor plays a woman who kidnaps her son from a foster home to raise him herself in “A Thousand and One.”
(Aaron Ricketts / Focus Features)
How did you make the transition around 2010 from musical artist to actor?
Honestly, I’ve always been a character, so even coming into the music scene… I always wanted a narrative, I always wanted to be a character. [Back then] There just weren’t many narrative videos, so I had to take matters into my own hands and started directing my own videos. Once I had that power, I started making them more movie-like. Acting was like the natural next step. I was excited to get out of it, because, you know, a lot of singers or rappers who become actors, sometimes it’s hard to separate them.
Most of her previous acting was in comedic or more glamorous roles. What was your reaction when you found out about Inez’s role?
When the paper arrived on my desk, well, first [like Inez] I’m from Harlem, so that was a good sign. Also, reading the script, I realized that Inez was like many of the women in my life, including my own mother, including me as a mother. Inez is for many of us women like mothers in general, although it is not exactly the same story. So, I was emotionally attached from the beginning.
Your character and the film are very vivid and intense. What was your emotional dynamic like during the weeks of filming?
It was crazy, because I was dealing with postpartum depression; I had just had my baby six months earlier. And then it was the first time I spent so much time in Harlem, in my hometown, in a long time, and saw how different it was. Also, I lost many childhood friends. [around that time]. I went to funerals during my lunch break. So every emotion, every tear, everything you see in Inez was something from real life. I think playing the role was therapeutic, because for once I was able to just be vulnerable and weak. I come from having to be strong. All the women in my life have had to be strong.
Did you find that you took the paper home every night?
When I got home, I understood that I was now bruised, but I had to “put my cape back on” and be the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the heroine. There were many times when everyone was asleep, everyone was full and fed, and I would just cry. And she was saying to myself, let me take that image to set it up and let it out. Let it out in a way that it will be seen, heard and applauded.
Who are some of your acting influences? Whose career would you like to emulate?
I’m not saying she’s even half as good as Angela. [Bassett] and viola [Davis] and Mo’Nique, but they are what I aspire to be. They played an important role in me being able to take advantage of this role. I also want to give an honorable mention to Julia Roberts. I love me some Julia Roberts.
