Malinda Williams – A Baby For Christmas

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) A Baby For Christmas! I have been working on the franchise for the last three years. I also worked on Girlfriends’ Getaway for TV One.

Q) How was your character originally described to you for A Baby For Christmas?

A) Well, it’s hard to say how she was originally described to me. My character is named Marci Kirkland and she runs her own boutique advertising agency. She is sort of like me, she’s a little feisty, a go-getter with an entrepreneurial spirit. She wants in life all the things that I think most women her age with her aspirations wants – she wants a family. She wants a career. She kind of wants it all. She wants to be successful at it all as well.

Q) Was the chemistry with Victoria Rowell instant or did you spend some time to bond?

A) I would say most women in this industry you don’t’ really need to spend a whole lot of time bonding with. The thing is, either you click or you don’t. I haven’t really found anyone that I don’t’ click or connect with. If you are an actress in this industry then most likely we have a lot in common. There is always a place to connect from. We share a common bond because we have a very similar (not completely similar) experience. So, when I met Victoria…First, I had always been a fan. I had always admired her as a woman even above her being an actress because I know what it takes to be an actress and maintain longevity and maintain integrity and longevity in this business. So, she had my utmost respect even before I met her. When I got to sit down with her and connect with her, I loved her even more because she is such a lady. She is so classy and I realized that this is a woman who does have integrity. She didn’t stand on anybody’s throat to get where she is and she didn’t have to compromise to get where she is. She is very intelligent and so graceful. I had already held a few women as my gage or standard of where I wanted to be. I would always say, “When I grow up I want to be Diahann Carroll.” After meeting Victoria Rowell, I want to be Diahann Carroll with a bit of Victoria Rowell. She is definitely the type of woman to inspire to. She set a new standard for me to walk around with. I think of her often. Sometimes I think, “What would Victoria do in this instance? What would Victoria wear? What would Victoria say?” She set a new standard for me.

Q) What was it like for you to have to balance being an actor and producer on the movie?

A) It is really not that difficult. When you have an interest in making a great project whether you are the actress, producer or the director I don’t necessarily think makes it more or less difficult. I think the point is to make sure that everyone on board understands we have one common goal and that common goal is to make a good project. So, there wasn’t really a balance per se. Not for me anyway. I never know if people from the outside looking in are thinking that I have to do something that I typically or normally don’t do. No. Every project that I work on I work with the crew and production toward that common goal. So, in that sense, I always feel like a producer anyway or I treat it that way. I treat the project as though I’m a producer anyway. So, it wasn’t really far out of the realm of how I operate on a project typically.

Q) How were you able to get into the holiday spirit when filming out of season?

A) That is always challenging because in Atlanta in September and October is definitely very warm. So when we are dressed in coats, boots and sweaters it can be a bit challenging at times. We have such a wonderful cast and such a wonderful crew and everybody sort of gets into the spirit. We’re all living the dream and that’s suddenly correlates with the holiday spirit. it’s about having fun and I think that’s what sort of comes off and is able to translate into the work. We should just all be grateful for what it is we’re doing and able to do. It’s a blessing. It didn’t take very much because set decorating and props did a really wonderful job with setting up trees and decorations. They made sure everything around us was in the holiday spirit. That certainly lent itself for us to be able to go, “Oh right! It’s Christmas time!” The holiday time for everyone is simple and easy to recall because it is embedded to who we are and how we grow up. It’s not very difficult to recall those feelings and those memories. It’s actually fun and it feels good to do that.

Q) What is a moment you are most looking forward to fans seeing?

A) When we unwrap gifts and when we sing Christmas carols. That’s always fun because not all of us can sing. I’ll be one of the first to admit that I’m not a singer. If you saw you the first Marry Me For Christmas, you would see Victoria singing on stage at the church. It was hilarious because her character thinks she can sing she and actually can’t sing. Also, again, it’s a holiday movie so it is one of those projects that is inherently feel good. When people gather around their television sets to watch it, I automatically know it is going to be a feel good moment so that makes me feel good. This is not a stressful TV program. People won’t go on an emotional rollercoaster where they might be stressed out, angry or happy. It’s easy to watch. It’s fun and feels good. If I can be a part of something that does that for people then I’m happy!

Q)  You are a part of social media. Will you be live tweeting during the movie and are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will receive?

A) Definitely! That’s always a thing these days when you a live event that you do interact on social media with fans. Everyone always chimes in and has something to say whether they liked it, have a question or liked your shoes. Whatever the case is, I love the interaction with fans when they are watching a program that I am a part of.

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

A) Thank you! Thank you because I understand the work that I do is in part because tune in. People don’t have to watch my TV shows and see my movies. They are making a choice with their time and I understand that they have literally thousands of other choices to make with their time. They are choosing to watch something that I happen to be a part of and I really appreciate that. I don’t take that for granted. I understand you are making a choice and if you are making a choice to support something I am a part of then that is humbling. You are choosing something I’m a part of over thousands of other options and who wouldn’t be appreciative of that? If that gets lost on you then you need to reevaluate what you are doing this for, how you are doing it and why you are doing it.