One on One with T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh

Without a doubt, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, T'Keyah's love for the craft dates back to early childhood. Her website explains that, "from the age of three, Keymah entertained her family; singing, dancing, and reciting original poems and stories." Little did they know, T'Keyah would go on to have an amazing career as a performer!

Nationally, the first glimpse of her talent was when she joined the original cast of the award winning show "In Living Color" in 1990. From there, T'Keyah's career blossomed as she concurrently worked on every hot show on television throughout the 90's. In 1996, T'Keyah joined the cast of "Cosby" where she worked alongside the amazing Phylicia Rashad and the legendary Bill Cosby (as their daughter) for four seasons.

While my generation knows T'Keyah from stints on shows like "In Living Color", "Cosby", "On Our Own" and "Waynehead", younger generations know her from the wildly popular Disney Show: "That's So Raven." I remember quite vividly the evening I returned home from an event where I had just met T'Keyah. I showed my kids the photo of her and I, and I'm certain their squeals could be heard from blocks away: "OMG, you met Raven's Mom?!? That is soooo cool!"

T'Keyah is the most recent in a string of celebrities who has agreed to give thought to my questions...

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

T'Keyah: I don't remember ever deciding to become a performer I just always was. I began performing by mimicking the performers on the new television that first took the attention away from me as the baby of the household. I continued performing to put a smile on my grandmother's face and always considered her when accepting or declining roles.

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

T'Keyah: That's such a difficult question. Many people have been angels of inspiration in my career from my St. Sabina kindergarten teacher Miss Smith, who taught me that my art had value to my friend Rosalind Cash who gracefully survived in the industry backlash for the stance she took for (natural) Black women. I'm inspired every time I see a role I'd like to play, an actor turn in a well crafted performance, a story I'd like to tell, direct or produce.

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

T'Keyah: I have had the great fortune to work with too many performers I admire to name - all of whom I would be honored to work with again... of those with whom I have not (yet) worked, my co-star wish list is quite long and I'm working on it. :) One of my unfinished was written with Michael Jackson in mind, and I told myself that I wouldn't do it unless I could get him to be my co-star. So I guess if I had to name one ideal person, it would be him... or Ruby Dee (I'd love to play her daughter or share a role with her)... or Eddie Murphy (I'd do to a film where the two of us play all of the parts)...O.K. I'll stop... or Idris Elba... or Sophie Okonedo.

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?

T'Keyah: Don't take anything personally. Speak up when you can. Support each other. Write, direct and produce your own work. Build a team.

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

T'Keyah: If I knew how to operate a DVR, you'd find episodes of "The Tavis Smiley Show", "Democracy Now!", and lots of stuff from TV Land. What you can find now on my Hulu account are Korean soap operas, "Grey's Anatomy" and films from the Criterion collection.

Shenita: What is your favorite color?

T'Keyah: Purple to marvel, orange, reddish brown and cream to wear.

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

T'Keyah: I wrote my first play as extra credit for my fourth grade English class. "Can Helen Stop Smoking" was a satire on the ill effects of cigarette smoking. My friend Vicki Haugabrook played as Helen and I directed the show. At the time, my brother Vince was leading the campaign to get our grandmother to quit.

Shenita: Where can we see you next?

T'Keyah: My new stage show, "Don't Get Me Started!" debuts at The Black Academy of Art & Letters (TBAAL) as part of their DRESS PERFORMANCE THEATRE SERIES on November 11th & 12th, 2011 (Clarence Muse Café Theater, Convention Center Theater Complex, 650 South Griffin Street, Dallas, TX 75202. Tickets are $15, and are available at TicketMaster, www.ticketmaster.com/Tbaal-Presents-Tkeyah-Crystal-Keymah-tickets/artist/1654021.) This is my third solo show and I'm really looking forward to going to Dallas. This is a work in progress and the Dallas audience will influence how the show progresses. After that, I will tour with it. Look to my website, www.tkeyah.com for more details and to www.facebook.com/TKeyahCrystalKeymah and www.twitter.com/tkeyahcrystal for more frequent updates.

Shenita: Thank you so much T'Keyah. Best of luck in all your endeavors!