One on One with Adilah Barnes

Yes, of course you recognize Adilah Barnes. She's been all over the big screen, small screen and stage for the last four decades.

One of my favorite characters on one of my favorite shows as a teen was Anne-Marie on "Roseanne." Adilah Barnes played Annie-Marie, the character which she's best-known for. Little did I know that I would meet her several years later and quickly deem her one of my teachers and mentors.

Born and raised in Oroville, California, Adilah started acting when she was just a teenager. After earning a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz and performing and teaching in the Bay Area including at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, she made her way to Southern California. It was there that she began to build her award winning acting resume and co-founded the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival. According to her website, the LAWTF is an "annual, multi-cultural festival that showcases female artists in the disciplines of dance, music, theatrical performances, spoken word and comedy that has produced well over 400 artists." LAWTF recently enjoyed its 18th year of success at the Electric Lodge in Venice, California.

Over the past twenty-one seasons, Adilah has toured a highly successful one-woman show called, "I Am That I Am: Woman, Black." The play provides an extraordinary journey into the lives of seven historical African-American women: Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman and Maya Angelou, to name a few. The success of this play has had Adilah touring over 40 states and three continents including North America (the US and Caribbean, Africa and Europe.)

In addition to all that she does, Adilah recently found time to add a new credit to her extensive resume, when in December of 2008, she released her first book: On My Own Terms: One Actor's Journey. It received the #3 bestselling nod from Essence Magazine behind President Obama's two soft back books. One Amazon reader described the book as "mandatory reading for all young actors who are serious about a career."

Recently, Adilah answered my eight questions…

Shenita: Is there a specific person and/or experience that inspired you to become an actress?

Adilah: Actually, I was inspired to become an actor by taking my first acting class at age 16 in Project Upward Bound, a college preparatory program for "disadvantaged" youth at Chico State in Northern California. I played The Queen in A.A. Milne's "The Ugly Duckling" and fell in love with acting - particularly the power of playing a queen!

Shenita: Who has been your biggest inspiration and/or motivator throughout your career?

Adilah: Cecily Tyson and Sidney Poitier have been inspirational actors for me. I am reminded of Cecily's credo, "There have been many times that I have been broke, but I have never been broken."

Shenita: If you could choose the ideal co-star, living or dead, who would that be and why?

Adilah: It is hard to name JUST one. However, I would enjoy working with Cecily Tyson, Sidney Poitier, and Morgan Freeman, just to name a few.

Shenita: What advice would you give to African American actresses, of all ages, who deal with lack of roles and the ongoing pressures in Hollywood?

Adilah: Create your own vehicles! I developed my own one woman show, I Am That I Am: Woman, Black twenty-one years ago. I have also become an entrepreneur who is an educator, proprietor of a literary writer's retreat for women in Georgia (The Writer's Well), Essence Magazine bestselling author, internet talk show host for ADILAH and became a co-founder/producer of the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival 18 years ago.

Shenita: What shows can we find recorded on your DVR?

Adilah: I am old school. Nothing is recorded.

Shenita: What is your favorite color?

Adilah: There are several including the color purple.

Shenita: Share with us a little known fact about you.

Adilah: I am a vegan of 5 years and I have not eaten red meat in 35 years!

Shenita: Where can we see you next?

Adilah: I just finished performing my solo show on October 26th at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. I was also seen recently on the new television series, "Prime Suspect."

Thanks for interviewing me, Shenita!

Shenita: Thank you Ms. Adilah. Best of luck in all your endeavors!