By: Karen Steinberg
Photo Courtsey of Rama Montakhabi
Q) Please tell us the premise for the film The Daughters of Dolemite.
A) The Daughters of Dolemite is a film that follows Dolemite (Gary Anthony Sturgis) as he meets his three daughters for the first time while searching for a hidden lottery ticket his friend from jail left clues about. As he’s trying to track it down, my character (along with the Hard Body Crew) is also after him for the same ticket, which creates a lot of tension and action throughout the story.
Q) How was your character Jade originally described to you?
A) Jade was described as the muscle of the Hard Body Crew. She’s the one who handles all the heavy cleanup work. She’s the one stepping in when things get physical, whether that’s fighting or taking people down.
Q) What was it about the film or this role that drew you to want to be a part of it?
A) Honestly, I was a hungry actor at the time with little to no credits, so I was just excited to be part of a new production. On top of that, being on set with some incredible veterans I grew up watching made the opportunity even more meaningful to me.
Q) Was there anything you added to this role that wasn’t on the page initially?
A) I brought my own sense of sex appeal and charisma to the character right away. I wanted Jade to feel strong but also memorable, so I leaned into her presence and energy. Foster [V. Corder] later told me he didn’t expect the character to stand out the way she did, but that my performance really elevated her.
Q) Were you familiar with the cult classic Dolemite before working on this, and did you watch it to prepare?
A) I wasn’t familiar with the cult classic at first, so I definitely did my homework. I watched Dolemite Is My Name, which helped me get a better feel for the tone and the kind of energy the film needed.
Q) Talk about working with director/writer Foster V. Corder.
A) Foster was straight to the point and really a pleasure to work with. I like people who are direct with little to no extra stuff, and he was exactly that. I learned a lot from being on that set and I’ll always appreciate him for believing in me to bring Jade to life.
Q) There are so many fantastic scenes in this film! Was there one that was your favorite to film or one you’re most proud of?
A) My favorite scene would have to be one of the first ones in the film, where I kick down the door, burst into his office, flip him over the couch and start kicking his ass! It was fun to shoot and really let me show my strength as an actress.
Q) What scene was harder for you to get through without laughing?
A) I’d say the scene where I had to kick Dolemite in the groin. It sounds simple, but in the moment I was also rushing to catch a flight, all while kicking him where it hurts the most. Trying to stay focused and get through the scene without laughing definitely made it harder.
Q) What do you hope lingers with viewers of The Daughters of Dolemite?
A) I’d love for this movie to become something people can keep going back to and enjoy over time. It’s different from other Dolemite films because it highlights women’s empowerment and puts strong women more at the front, rather than just focusing on Dolemite as a womanizer. At the same time, it’s still fun and has a lot of funny moments that people can enjoy.
Q) What other projects have you been busy working on lately?
A) I recently had a film come out on Tubi called Rockabye where I play Vanessa, also known as Tina, a character who was drugged and placed in a psych ward. I’m also working on a new series in Detroit called “Firing Line,” which is set to release this year.