1988: Gets first gig
“At 15, I was the information girl at the Alameda [California] County Fair. If you needed to know where the livestock exhibits, the biggest sow, or the 4-H clubs were, I’d point you in the right direction.”
1995: Lands a model agent
“I was at UCLA taking 20 units, working at the bookstore, and interning at the Judith Fontaine Agency. When my internship ended, they asked if they could represent me.”
1995: Scores first onscreen role
“Saved by the Bell: The New Class was my first job. I was, like, ‘Mistletoe Girl Number One,’ making the lowest you could possibly pay somebody.”
2000: Stars in Bring It On
“I had wanted this cheerleading movie Sugar & Spice, but they didn’t go black on any of the roles. I couldn’t even audition. In Bring It On, the story is about cultural appropriation, and how the hard work of African Americans has been repackaged with blond hair and blue eyes. The social justice of it appealed to me.”
2004: Falls in love with acting
“Something the Lord Made is [about] a beautiful black man who revolutionized open-heart surgery. I realized I love being able to tell stories that can lift up marginalized people.”
2013–Present: Stars in and produces BET drama Being Mary Jane
“The script blew me away. It was created by a brilliant black woman [Mara Brock Akil]. I could relate to it; women across the globe could. I loved how Mary Jane was unapologetic about her mistakes. I [started producing] in season three. I was being called upon for casting and using stories from my life. If I was doing the work of a producer, I wanted to be paid for it.”
2015: Produces first TV movie, With This Ring
“It wasn’t a blockbuster, but the feeling I got from being able to create female-driven employment was awesome.”
2016: Sues BET for $3 million for breach of contract
“I was terrified. I’ve seen what happens to women of color, and specifically black women, who make waves. They’re dismissed and never heard from again. Hopefully we set a precedent and put the industry on notice.”
2017: Writes best-selling memoir We’re Going to Need More Wine
“When you speak your truth in an open, honest way, people are drawn to that. The book tour was a safe space. Your soul might be fucked up and your boat might have holes in it, but you’re going to survive.”
2018: Produces and stars in this month’s Universal thriller Breaking In
“I wanted to do action, first and foremost. I wanted to kick ass, and I wanted to be a strong woman who takes her family’s safety into her own hands. [My character] Shaun is her own hero.”
This article originally appears in the May 2018 issue of ELLE.
