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It is likely that you recognize actress Jenifer Lewis from her role as Ruby Johnson on the ABC hit show Black-ish, but it was her unforgettable roles in films like What’s Love Got To Do With It and Poetic Justice that helped earn her the affectionate title, “The Mother of Black Hollywood,” which is also the name of her new page-turning memoir.
In an exclusive interview with theGrio‘s Gerren Keith Gaynor, Lewis reveals that while she has played many pivotal roles throughout her 40-year plus career, there are at least two roles she would love to have.
“I think as soon as ABC lets me play Cookie’s mother child you know the explosion would be to much, that is why it hasn’t happened,” Lewis says about playing the mother of Taraji P. Henson’s breakout character, Cookie Lyon, on “Empire.”
“You know how Beyonce shut down the Super Bowl; Taraji and me together would shut down the world baby.”
“That is my girl and I am so proud of Taraji,” says Lewis, who coincidentally played Henson’s mom in the film Not Easily Broken. “Wow, what a force of nature she is.”
But that’s all Lewis has on her sights. The veteran actress says she also sees herself starring in a biopic about the life and career of Congresswoman Maxine Waters.
“Maxine [Waters] is passing the torch to young people. She is brilliant and from my hometown (Kinloch, Missouri). Maxine don’t play. I am hoping to play her life story,” Lewis divulges.
“There it is Maxine, give me the rights can’t nobody play you baby. She is fabulous.”
No matter the role, Lewis says one thing is for sure: “When people come to see me you will be entertained.”
But while she’s in the business of making people laugh, Lewis also dropped some life gems to inspire the younger generation.
“The elevator to success is broken take the stairs. It is when you are hardest hit that you mustn’t quit. I gave up many times, but I didn’t quit. I got nearly everything that I wanted in life and that’s the truth because the biggest thing that I ever wanted was to be in my own skin,” Lewis says.
“Dream babies, dream and work your ass off to get it.”
Don’t forget to get your copy of Jenifer Lewis’ book The Mother of Black Hollywood: A Memoir available now.