Erica Ash – Uncle Drew

By starrymag | July 12, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

 

A) My new 1-hour law procedural TV show on BET just wrapped its first season. I just starred in and executive produced a film in Mauritius, Africa called Singleholic.

 

Q) Please tell us the premise for the movie Uncle Drew.

 

A) An ambitious if not blundering young man has a dream of winning the Rucker basketball tournament but when his dream team falls apart he rounds up not-so “most likely to succeed” band of players to try and make it happen.

 

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

 

A) Super fun cast, super fun script. There was no way I was going to miss this. It was well worth it!

 

Q) How was your character Maya originally described to you?  

 

A) As the level headed one of the bunch and sort of the girl next door.  I tried to honor that in my portrayal though it was tough to bridle my instincts to be over-the-top

 

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before filming with them?

 

A) Who Shaq?! Never heard of him!  [laughs] OF COURSE!!  I’m not the biggest fan of the actual sport of basketball but it’s hard not to know who these guys are.

 

Q) Was there anyone you were excited to get to work with on the movie?

 

A) It was nice to be reunited with Tiffany Haddish.  We played cousins in “Real Husbands of Hollywood” and this was our first time working together since then.

 

Q) What advice did director Charles Stone III offer during filming that you took to heart?

 

A) Trust the process and what your character brings to the movie.  Because everyone else was super funny and my natural instinct and usual characters are funny.  It’s hard to play straight in a comedy.  But he was totally right.  This movie needed a whale.  I was the whale.

 

Q) The cast is filled with comedians and basketball legends. What were some of your most memorable behind the scenes moments?

 

A) Shaq walking around with his but hanging out of his hospital gown all day; The cast and crew celebrating Reggie Miller’s birthday, Big brother talks with Chris Webber.

 

Q) What do you think it is about Uncle Drew that will make it a fan favorite film?

 

A) The positive messages that: 1) One mistake does not need to define your life 2) Family is what you create it to be; and the fact that the movie has something for everyone and will bring friends and family together for something positive.

 

Q) You are the lead the BET series “In Contempt.” What have you found challenging about playing a public defender?

 

A) Processing all that they have to deal with and making sure I bring those nuances to my character so that I represent public defenders honestly and fairly for a change.  They get a bad rap: people say they don’t care, they’re not good lawyers, they’re public defenders because they could not get jobs in big firms.  But the actual truth is they are quite probably the best lawyers that exist as they are expected to defend their clients just as fiercely as high paid firm lawyers even though they start off at a gross disadvantage being understaffed, underpaid, under-appreciated, over worked and under-resourced.  Kudos to public defenders.  I never knew just how difficult their jobs are!

 

Q) Is there someone you didn’t get to work with much in Season 1 that you are hoping to have more scenes with in Season 2?

 

A) Richard Lawson.  I really like our father-daughter chemistry.  I pray he survives!

 

Q) What do you think it is about the show that makes it such a good fit for BET?

 

A)  In the social climate we live in where so much is going wrong between the justice system, police and the black community this show is very poignant and timely and a black entertainment network is a great fit because this is the biggest issue of our community and has been for a very long time.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Have you enjoyed the fan feedback you have received to the series/episodes?  

 

A) I truly have, especially since a lot of the growth is a result of word-of-mouth it’s nice to see how people are talking amongst themselves and addressing the issues we raise on the show.  They have ideas for characters, ideas for subject matter and are talking on social media about ways to solve the problems.  That’s what a show like this is all about: starting the conversation and giving people a forum to discuss positive action.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?  

 

A) First THANK YOU!  It is because of you, your encouragement, support and well wishes that I know my work makes a difference.  And that keeps me going.  And please keep supporting and encouraging me as you have been.  The best is yet to come.  I promise!