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Reagan: Yes, I attended The Freedom
Theatre in Philadelphia. I loved the experience
and a lot of my fellow students and teachers are
in LA now. I was actually going back and forth
from Philly to New York all the time working. I
did several independent films and shows there.
In the summer of '94, my mom suggested we go to
LA and give that a shot. So she contacted
Dateline NBC, and they did a whole show on my
trip. We took the Greyhound bus there, and I
wound up booking a film and The Parent'Hood.
KS: Was the
Robert Townsend show ‘The Parenthood’ your first
acting gig?
Reagan: The Parent'Hood was not my first
acting job. It was the one that put me on the
map though.
KS: Do you
still keep in contact with any of the cast
members?
Reagan: Ashley and her mom came to my
baby shower in 07. I keep in contact with her
via myspace. I can always pick up the phone and
call Curtis's mom Ivy. We were all close.
KS: Who
would you like to work with in terms of
directors and actors?
Reagan: I'd love to work with EVERYONE!
KS: You
were a little feisty in Never Die Alone. You
played DMX’s love interest. Your character was
very cunning and some would say scandalous. Do
you see yourself pushing the envelope like that
in future roles?
Reagan: It always surprises me how many
people love that movie. The Donald Goines books
are really popular. I loved that part,
because I have to show my depth as an actress.
Also, I’d love to play more characters that will
challenge me. That's how you grow as an actress.
KS: You
have been working in the business for a number
of years. What do you hope to accomplish in the
next few years?
Reagan: What I want to accomplish in the
next few years and I'm actually doing now, is to
continue my writing. I co-wrote an episode of
The Parent'Hood back in the day. I'm very close
to finding a home for my first written feature,
and I'm really focused on that. Work is always
going to come....God Willing, but at this time
in my life.....especially with the overall lack
of quality work for black actresses, that is my
priority. I wrote a small article in King on the
election too, so being able to write for a
living, and still act, would be a blessing. I'd
be able to continue to live my life, and still
be able to employ other sisters out there.
KS: You
have been in sitcoms, movies and you are still
working. This business is hard and you are
viable. How do you do it?
Reagan: How am I still viable...good
question and the answer is...I have no idea. It
honestly depends on who you ask, like there are
so many people on the blog sites who swear, I
haven't worked since The Parent'Hood...Google me
people. … (there are) others that know my whole
resume. I'm not about staying in the gym, 365
days a week ‘cause that magic part might come
tomorrow. I've been blessed to have been in this
business as long as I have, and hopefully it
will continue. I'm going to continue to live my
REAL life. I want more children, and I'm going
to do what I want to do. Not what I have to do.
I think that's what separates me from everyone
else. It's kind of cool how the world works. I'm
at home being a mom, then the T.I. video drops
into my lap, then the cover, and everyone is
like...Oh yeah, she's hot. I need her
everywhere. Sometimes it's good to lay low for a
while, then hit em' like BAM! Remember
me...(laughs)
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KS: You are
a King Magazine cover girl. That’s big. It was a
sophisticated and sexy cover. How was it
shooting with magazine?
Reagan: I love King. It's actually my
second cover, third time being in the magazine.
My first time shooting with them, I wasn't on
the cover. Also, it was my first time doing a
sexy shoot. Everyone loved the orange bathing
suit picture. So the second time, they wanted me
on the cover, because that picture was one of
the highest rated pictures in King history. So,
it was King's hottest women issue for their 5th
Anniversary. This issue just fell in my lap. I
had just worked with T.I., and he happened to be
guest editing this issue, so that's how that
happened. Since it's the election issue I wanted
to do more and that's how my article came up. My
brother is overseas in the Navy right now, I'm a
home owner, and I'm concerned about global
warming, so this election is EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT!!!
KS: How
were you chosen for the “Whatever You Like”
music video for T.I.? You were so believable in
the video, portraying the waitress to glamour
girl. That’s something that I truly love about
your role in the video, you weren’t just the
beautiful actress walking around and looking
great for the camera.
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Reagan: I was offered the video. I was
at home and got a call. T.I. wants you to do
his video. I read the treatment, and loved
it. Plus, it was Dave Meyers so it was a
no-brainer. |
KS: Is T.I.
one of your favorite artists?
Reagan: T.I. is one of the best artists
out right now.
KS: What
artists are you feeling right now?
Reagan: I'm feeling Kanye, Estelle, and I'm
digging Solange right now. Of course, I'm
waiting for Beyonce.... she always brings it.
KS: You
don’t hide the fact that you are married. I find
that many actresses and actors are indeed
married but seem to never mention it. You don’t
seem to have that fear that your male fan base
will be turned off by the fact that you are
taken.
Reagan: My Real life always comes first.
I don't put my marriage in the forefront, but I
don't hide it either. You hear so many negative
things about black love.....it doesn't
exist.....there's ONLY baby mama and baby
daddy's in our community. Obviously, that's not
true. It'll be 9 years this November, and I'm
proud of that. I have a great family. That's
why, I'm able to take so much time off, and be
happy. It's my agent who's like.....I have all
of these auditions for you, you NEED to go out
for them!!!
KS: When
did you and your husband first meet?
Reagan: We met at Brandy's sweet 16 back
in the day.
KS: How do
you keep the disrespectful people in the
industry at bay?
Reagan: We really don't have any problems
with any disrespectful people in the business.
Mainly because, we respect everyone, therefore
everyone respects us. We have more important
things going on in our lives on the day to day.
KS: Are
your friends mainly industry people or do you
still hang out with any childhood friends?
Reagan: As far as close friends, I don't
have any close industry friends. I live about 45
minutes from LA, so no industry folk here, just
family.
KS: I’m
sure you hear this lot that you look too good to
have a child. How do you do it Reagan because
you are fabulous? Are you one of those women
that can eat whatever they want or do you work
it out in the gym?
Reagan: No, I am not one of those people
who can eat whatever they want!! But I have a
lot of time to run after my daughter. She's 17
months now, so she runs EVERY WHERE!!! I'm not a
gym person right now, but I do eat healthy and
try to stay active. You don't have to be TOW
DOWN, just because you've just had a baby.
Everyone gains weight, so it's up to you if you
want to lose it quickly, slowly, or lose it at
all. It's all about how you fell about yourself.
KS: You can
be counted on to show a bright friendly smile,
but underneath that smile, I think its something
there, like, don’t mess with Reagan, she will
tell you off. Do you speak your mind often?
Reagan: I smile all the time, because I
am happy. I don't put myself in situations where
anyone thinks they can disrespect me. I've been
in this business long enough to know how to
communicate with people without going "Sista" on
them...(laughs). However... I'm a grown ass
woman, so of course I speak my mind, if I feel
like I'm not being heard.
KS: I’m a
mother too and I’m taking my daughter with me
when I vote for Barack Obama. I’m taking
pictures, my daughter has her Obama pin and is
studying the branches of government and
everything. I have to document this monumental
event. I know you too are passionate about this
election. What type of Change do you feel that
Barack Obama will make?
Reagan: Of Course he's going to make huge
changes in government, as far as our health care
system, renewable energy and just the way that
the world views us as a nation. However, as an
African American, I think the biggest change is
going to happen within our own community. For so
long we have been told (sometimes by other
African Americans) what we can't do. How we're
only good for this....or that. To see a BLACK
MAN, as the most powerful man in our country.
The LEADER of our country. To see his beautiful,
BLACK wife and black children running around the
white house, and this family be the symbol of
America.... it’s powerful. Our community has so
many problems and family secrets, that aren't
being fixed. Hopefully, this election will
inspire the young people of our community, and
of our nation. Now we can truly say that..."You
can be whatever you want to be with hard work
and determination," is not just a saying, it's
the truth.
KS: Do you
have any companies of your own?
Reagan: I do have my own company. I am
going to continue to write. Also, in the future,
you will see TV shows and movies created and
written by me, and starring me. If not me, some
other sister. I'm about putting women of color
on. No one else is doing it, so we have to and
I'm proud to say, I'm on that path. |