Melissa De Sousa – Reaching For the Stars

Q) What are the current projects you are working on?

A) I am not working on anything right now. It’s been a slow period. I am kind of looking for the right project, instead of jumping into stuff that I don’t really love. I’ve done that in the past. I am just kind of looking.

Q) Please tell us about the premise for the movie The Ron Clark Story and your character Marissa Vega.

A) It’s a true story. Ron Clark was actually a teacher. He comes to the inner city of New York (in Harlem) to get a shot at teaching kids. Matthew Perry plays Ron Clark and it’s that story where he comes and turns their lives around. He gets really personal with the kids and their families. He really takes an approach that no other teacher has. The kids finally connect with him (I am sure it didn’t happen easily). I actually met some of the real kids. It was kind of cool to meet them. He gets involved with all of these kids, works with them and they broke a record for their school’s test scores. While Ron Clark teaches, he works part time also in a restaurant, where he meets me. I am an actress and waitress, something I’ve actually done in New York. We just become friends. They like each other and they get together in the end. He kind of also ignites her passions after she gives up on her career. She was in musical theater and living in New York City, but she became a waitress and had to concentrate on that to make money. You forget about the dreams that you were doing if it doesn’t really click quickly. You kind of just start to forget about them and stop believing that you can actually achieve them, which puts you in a rut. That’s kind of where she is when he meets her. When she sees how passionate he is about the kids and how he goes after his dreams, it kind of wakes up her dreams. He becomes a support for her and pushes her to go after her goals and dreams.

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

A) I loved the script! It went through a lot of changes, actually. Actually, I am a native New Yorker and I am an artist so, I could relate to the character. There were also periods where I wanted to give up and gave up. I don’t know if I went as far as to get a part time job at a restaurant, I didn’t have to do that, but I’ve been there. Of course, that was what attracted it to me. It was one of those roles that doesn’t come around that often, but every now and then you find a role that just speaks to you about who you are and what you’ve been through. I just related to it really well. I am also a fan of Matthew Perry and he was great to work with. It was really a no-brainer. I really just liked the project and the people who were to work on it.

Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming?

A) We had a lot of rain when we weren’t supposed to. Those were fun days. I guess I could be coy and say the most memorable moments were when I had to kiss Matthew [Perry]. That was a lot of fun! I’ll never forget that day.

Q) What was it like working with Ernie Hudson and Matthew Perry?

A) Ernie Hudson has been doing it for so long. I only had one scene with him so I wasn’t around him that much, but I was a fan of his, too. I was a fan of his from his role in “The Hand That Rocked the Cradle.” He was a really nice guy and just a professional. Matthew was a joy to work with. He’s really kept the morale of the set up. He’s very personable. He was really good with the crew and just made it a fun atmosphere. He jokes around. He’s funny so I had a great time with him.

Q) Why should viewers take the time to tune in to The Ron Clark Story?

A) I just think it’s important, especially with what goes on in schools. It’s changed so much, the school system has deteriorated throughout the years. So, I think kids should watch it and adults (even parents) should watch it. This man really changed several groups of people, but it really showed him dealing with the parents. I am not saying all parents, but I think a lot of times parents don’t take such an active role in their kids’ education. In public school systems these days, you have people getting shot at and guns. That is really not how it was years ago. So, it kind of can wake people up a little bit as to what is going on. It shows that with a little time, effort, care and interest children can really excel.

Q) You were nominated for an NAACP Image Award for your work on the movie The Best Man. How did that make you feel?

A) Of course, it was a huge compliment. That was another one of those roles where I read it I thought, “No one else can do this better than me.” You just felt it. That movie was just a great experience. Look at all of the actors that came off of it, such as Terrance Howard and Taye Diggs. The director, Malcolm Lee, gave me the best role I’ve had. It was just a great experience so it was just icing on the cake to be recognized for it. I was up against Angela Bassett for some role that she did, but it kind of made me think, “Maybe next time.” It was a huge compliment and it really made me feel good about my work. I was really proud of that movie and that role.

Q) What made you originally want to be an actress?

A) I went to the High School of Performing Arts in New York and I started out as a dancer. Acting was kind of another thing you had to do at the school. The dancers had to act and the actors had to dance. It just came hand-in-hand. It wasn’t what I started out aspiring to do. I just wanted to dance, but one of the teachers at the school kind of took me under his wing. He really showed his care and interest. He really made me interested in it. I guess I could say it was really him that motivated me. He really made it fun, my teacher in high school. He got me interested in it really. It was his classes at school that really got me excited about it. I danced for a company for a while in New York at the same time I was taking acting classes. I was kind of moonlighting as an actor while I was dancing with this company. I started to go out and audition. I’d start to get work as an actor, which conflicted with my rehearsal schedule for the company. So, I knew then that I had to make a choice of one or the other. I ended up finishing out my contract with the dance company and I started acting full time. I would say that teacher really inspired me to want to do that and I loved it.

Q) You are of Panamanian descent. How has your heritage shaped you as a person?

A) I haven’t been to Panama as much as I would like. I love the culture. My parents are directly from Panama, but I was raised in New York. It just gives me a sense of family and a different sense than just being an American and a New Yorker. I really try and find out the history of the people in Panama through my father. Learning from my father, you have this other kind of support system and history that is behind you. It inspires me. I feel like I have some extra ammo. My father worked for the Panamanian government as a police officer and played baseball for the international league. It’s kind of cool. It just makes me want to soak it up and get to know that culture more. I’ll probably go and spend more time there.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I’m starting to pick up writing. I think I want to write more and develop something for myself. I take dance classes. I’ll always be a dancer. I take modern, ballet and salsa classes.

Q) What is your latest obsession? A movie? A sport? A book? An activity?

A) I am obsessed with maybe becoming an award winning salsa dancer. I just started studying with Alex De Silva. I hooked up with him and I am obsessed with salsa right now. I was taking some private lessons with him. He’s a great guy. I love him to death. I guess you could say that’s my obsession. I’ve taken a couple of private lessons and now he can’t get rid of me! I’ve been studying with him and going to all of his classes. Because I have a dance background (training), he’ll use me in his class sometimes as his assistant. I am so flattered. I feel like the belle of the ball! It’s different because my training is in modern dance and salsa is very different! It’s a style. It’s a feeling. I have it. I grew up around it, but I never really formally learned. Now, I am like, look out! When I go to Panama and see my family I am going to kick butt! I am kind of obsessed with it.