Warning: This article contains spoilers about the series finale of OWN’sGreenleaf.
In the end, all the loose ends were tied up.
And my fascination with this family and story never ended.
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Looking back, what excited you most as this journey began?
And it was scary at first, for meI’ve never been out front in such a way.
Do you recall the first time you met Oprah?
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Was it during the casting process?
There was no stress in my casting process.
I remember I had guests at the house when I got the 10 pages for an audition.
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Again, very calm and easy and everything about it just feltgood.
Like a comfortable sweater.
Can you make it to her office?"
And I dropped my phone.
[Laughs] I picked it back up and they were like, what’s that about?
So I got myself together, finished the day and drove to her office.
How do you encapsulate her journey and where it took herand youphysically, emotionally, mentally?
The show took Grace to some very tough places.
She was forced to straight on confront her Boogeyman.
Ultimately, it helped her push through.
Watching them fight for it, I think, was inspiring to people.
It was inspiring to me, I’ll tell you that.
It has been empowering, healing, challenging, and wonderful.
Is there one storyline, in particular, that was fulfilling in ways that the others weren’t?
The mother-daughter relationship [between Grace and Lady Mae].
Only then could they start to heal the relationship between them.
Make you sit-up in-your-seat-and-pay-attention dynamic.
[Laughs] You knew [those scenes were] going to be fireworks.
Watching them come together each time was like watching a car wreck.
you’ve got the option to’t look away but it is terrible to watch.
Also terrible…Bishop’s death in the penultimate episode.
When did you find out this was really going to happen?
What was the reaction like amongst the cast?
When we got that script, I think we were all in denial about it.
We get surprises every single day, as COVID and this double pandemic has taught us.
So, when we actually went tofilmthose scenes, it was heart-wrenching andreallydifficult.
We were very fragile those days.
At the end of the finale, we see Grace go off to pursue this opportunity in New York.
What should we deduce from that about whether this spin-off that’s been announced will be focused on Grace?
You never know what’s going to happen.
There are so many things that they could say and do.
So what you’re saying is, the focus of the spin-off is still being figured out?
Oh, you’re asking me for a firm answer on what it’s going to be?
Uh-huh, well, I can’t tell you that, boo.
[Laughs]
I had to try.
I was like, oh, you want me to speculate.
“No, tell me the answer.”
What will you miss most about being part of this family and ensemble?
We really are a family.
That’s the thing.
And I think we always are going to be a family.
On and off screen.
Especially since MerleasGrace, I took all of those blows for five seasons.
I’d like to sit in the lovey part just, for a little while.
