Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 2 august 2017
Jessica Williams says it’s a great time to be actor of color

By JOHN CARUCCI The actress feels Netf-
Associated Press lix helped shape stories
NEW YORK (AP) — Jessica about people of color, cit-
Williams says it’s a great ing original programming
time to be an actress of like “Master of None” and
color, and applauds Netflix “Orange is the New Black”
for leading the way in pro- that are able to “show-
moting diversity. case people of color in an
Williams, who cut her teeth amazing way.”
as a correspondent on While inclusion continues to
“The Daily Show,” takes on improve, especially on Net-
her first starring role in the flix, Williams says the strug-
streaming network’s origi- gle for racial equality is far
nal film, “The Incredible from over.
Jessica James .” “I think it’s a difficult time

This Wednesday, July 26, 2017 photo shows actress and comedian Jessica Williams in New York.
Williams says it’s a great time to be an actress of color, and applauds Netflix for leading the way
in valuing diversity.
Associated Press

in some ways to be a per- actress that is black, in a producer.
son of color, and I think the way,” she said. “Just in case I had things
same for actors of color, But that doesn’t make shift- to say creatively,” Williams
but I also think it’s a great ing gears from a comedy said. Strouse called Williams
a time. Because I think now news show to a feature film a comedy ninja and the
... there’s so much more an easy choice. Williams right actress to portray the
room, I think, for us to be certainly felt some trepida- ever-changing nature of
seen, and there’s room for tion with the move. romantic relationships.
us to create our own sto- “I was really nervous be- “I remember when a re-
ries,” Williams said. cause this movie does have lationship goes astray or
Williams feels great pride comedy in it. It also has whatever, you break up,
that she’s part of move- a lot of heart, and some you don’t talk and in like
ment toward greater di- sweet moments. So I was maybe months down the
versity on screen, calling it worried whether I would be road you have coffee,”
something that makes her able to portray that or not. he said. “Now it’s like, you
heart warm and sing. She But I had a lot of fun do- ghost and maybe a cou-
said she remains mindful of ing it, and I found out that ple months down the road
the actresses who paved I could,” she said. you start liking each other’s
the way. Written and directed by Jim photos again. It’s a weird
“It’s like so many black ac- Strouse — who previously time.”
tresses that came before directed Williams in his 2015 He called the dynamic in-
me and my generation. film, “People Places Things” teresting, then with a know-
They came before and — the story was written with ing smile said, “I don’t know
they did not necessarily Williams in mind. Her desire if it’s healthy.”
have this opportunity that I was to correctly depict the As for her previous gig, Wil-
feel like I have now, and so “life of a modern, young liams has the distinction of
I’m really grateful for that, black woman,” and took it being the youngest cor-
and I really do think it’s a a step further by also taking respondent hired for “The
really great time to be an on the role as an executive Daily Show.” q

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