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Lena Waithe has unwrapped for us an extremely significant and a remarkable interview that is an absolute first and never before seen. Among others, this is a discussion with the actress Loretta Devine, and cow that Devine is very candid in the interview, opening up about the struggles and the right mindset one would have to have to survive a long stay in Hollywood. This is not just a blog; it is a part of Waithe’s ‘Legacy Talk’ series- it is a tribute to Devine’s great and long-lasting career and the patience of a saint. The whole thing is a unique personal meditation of a Hollywood icon.
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The section that has been released from Waithe archives shows Loretta Devine giving the aging problem in the industry his very honest point of view. “It’s like; oh, you could have long been over, or you should have already done at your age now,” she says in the video. Devine alludes to the never-ending rumors regarding the possible coming back of ‘Black Golden Girls’ and says this is just one more barrier on the road to success. Nevertheless, she always comes across as very self-assured and low-key. “You just that sort of keep wishing for the best,” she admits, revealing a career made of saying yes- starting from major studio projects down to student films.
The text from Waithe is very touching. She calls Loretta Devine “the epitome of longevity with purpose”; she always praises her for the transition from Broadway to movies and television. “She has been our mouthpiece and our savior in the arts, and now we just love and power that cannot be denied.,” writes Waithe who gives it an incredible conclusion by saying, “We see you. We honor you.” The complete interview can be viewed on the Hillman Grad YouTube channel, which is a co-production with Lemonada Media.
The announcement did just that; it hit the public spot and as a result, many people started to comment, sharing their stories and expressing their respect and admiration for Loretta Devine. A user, who seemed to be really touched, wrote, “I WANT TO MEET @lodivadevine. Just the thought of kissing her hand and giving her the biggest bubble of flowers keeps me awake at night. She’s the one. I just have a gut feeling her soul with the Almighty is good and her spirit would soothe my nervous system.” The user’s extremely passionate feelings are a clear indicator of how massive Devine’s influence is on her fans.
With another comment, a hairdresser shared their story and the audience was led directly to the scene behind the curtain, unveiling the marvelous personality of Devine. “I will never forget the moment when she came into our HMUA trailer for the first time. I almost couldn’t breathe, the one and only REAL LEGEND had made it to our trailer!” the stylist shared and added that they even text each other now. This indeed shows Devine’s gift of being an inspiring energy and at the same time, being so hospitable and warm.
The topic became one of philosophy as a person posing the question of a possible driving factor of not giving up, associated this with the ongoing discussion of Devine’s statements. “I wonder what makes some actors refrain from retiring (besides the money side). Do they simply love their art and that they cannot bear to stop? She gave some indications about the matter here,” they philosophized contrasting it with their father’s unwillingness to retire. It’s a simple poser about dedication to the craft vs. job holding.
The others were only praising her in relation to her time and again great performances. “The original Dreamgirl @lodivadevine 👏🏾👏🏾 a class act,” was one of the comments that resonated with the audience’s sentiments about her Broadway roots. “Incredible commitment to the art. The students who got her in their projects are the lucky ones. I love when I hear her voice in a movie because it is going to be a good one,” said another movie buff. This is a great example of her being able to meet the audience’s expectations and being recognized for such a reward based on their trust created over years of hard work.
Looking back at her achievements, Loretta Devine boasts a four-decade long career, which has included an extensive array of films including ‘Dreamgirls,’ ‘Waiting to Exhale,’ ‘The Preacher’s Wife,’ and the series ‘The Carmichael Show.’ She has been so flexible in her acting that she can switch from comedy to drama and vice versa without any difficulty, the reason of her being so loved. In the discussion, she is at once determined professionally while on the other hand content at the personal level, she tells she is knitting and watching sports with hubby now- what a balanced artist! This interview is part of a larger series, and Cree Summer was also featured in a powerful conversation.
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With her unanticipated but incredibly powerful and precise gift of storytelling, Lena Waithe continues to build her Legacy Talk series. Her work often reflects on powerful community events, as seen when she reflects on the energy that fuels her work. In another collaboration, Lena Waithe and Robert Townsend discussed creative philosophy. She has also shared an unreleased clip featuring Taraji P. Henson discussing a significant role.
