It’s refreshing to experience new grounds being taken in Black Hollywood such as the indie film Pariah staring Kim Wayans and Adepero Oduye.
Pariah tells the story of a courageous 17-year-old black girl growing up in Brooklyn while coming to terms with her homosexuality. Her struggle to face her very religious parents leads to finding peace within herself. It is director Dee Rees first feature film and based on her own life.
Reporter Chris Witherspoon of The Grio got the opportunity to sit down with Wayans and Oduye to discuss the uniqueness of the storyline in Hollywood and its potential controversy.
“As an actor, I want to play well-rounded characters, be a part of amazing stories. [...] This character is like the role of a lifetime,” says Oduye. “It never, ever, ever crossed my mind and doesn’t cross my mind ever that there could be a stigma. I feel very thankful and fortunate that I found this role.”
Wayans found her own personal challenges in receiving the dramatic role due to her career in comedy. But the former “In Living Color” cast member says that playing the role came naturally.
“Usually I can’t even get in those rooms to read the dramatic stuff because people just think of me as a comedian,” she says. “The hardest hurdle was getting the opportunity to show people what I could do. The actual doing was fun.”
Pariah is now playing in select theaters and opens nationwide Jan. 6, 2011.
Check out the full interview below!