Arts & Entertainment
Tamala Jones: The ‘Castle’ Interview
alongside Nicole Ari Parker, Keith Robin-
son and Wendy Raquel Robinson.
Kam Williams: Hi, Tamala, thanks for
the interview.
Tamala Jones: My pleasure!
Kam Williams
Special To The Skanner News
T
amala Jones has created a varied
career based on her prodigious talent,
working steadily in comedic and dra-
matic projects for both film and television.
At 20 she made her feature film debut in
“How to Make an American Quilt” as the
great-grandmother of Maya Angelou's char-
acter. That same year, she racked up
television roles in “The Wayans Bros.,”
“The Parent 'Hood” and “The Fresh Prince
of Bel-Air,” as well as a recurring role as
Joanie on “ER.” From there she joined the
regular cast of the ABC drama “Dangerous
Minds,” which gave her a chance to show
her dramatic chops as a teenage mother fac-
ing parenthood and an abusive spouse.
In 1997 Jones landed a supporting role in
the popular comedy “Booty Call” and a
recurring turn on “Veronica's Closet.” She
was next featured in the teen comedy “Can't
Hardly Wait.” That same year she was cast
in a more grown-up role as a divorcee on
“For Your Love,” showcasing a winning
combination of irreverent moxie and sur-
prising sweetness.
Jones was featured in both the romantic
drama “The Wood” and the action comedy
“Blue Streak,” then was seen in the musical
drama “Turn it Up” and the comedies “The
Ladies Man” and “Next Friday.” On televi-
sion, she amassed credits that included a
turn as Lucille of rock song fame in the
biopic “Little Richard.”
In 2001 she renewed her focus on the big
screen in supporting roles in the African-
American ensemble features “The
Brothers” and “Kingdom Come,” which
gave her the opportunity to create characters
while working alongside more experienced
performers. Later that year Jones was one of
the women being schooled in the manage-
ment of men by Vivica A. Fox's savvy but
stumped character in the comedy, “Two Can
Play That Game,” and in “On the Line” she
had a turn as an ambitious and controlling
advertising executive who clashes with the
idealistic hero, portrayed by *NSYNC's
KW: What interested you in Castle?
TJ: Playing a doctor because it was some-
thing that I’d never done before. And
Nathan Fillion. I’d watched him and fol-
lowed his whole career. He’s a great guy!
KW: Tell me a little about your character,
Dr. Lanie Parish.
TJ: She’s sassy, she knows her stuff, and
she doesn’t play around.
Tamala Jones
Don’t feel like you
have to change who
you are to be
successful. As long as
you’re true to yourself
and you never give
up, you will succeed
Lance Bass.
In 2003 she worked opposite Chris Rock
in “Head of State” and had a co-starring role
as the wife of Traci Morgan in the self titled
“Traci Morgan Show.” Since then, Jones
has co-produced an independent movie,
“Nora's Hair Salon,” and starred in several
more films, two of which were “Daddy Day
Camp,” with Cuba Gooding Jr., and “Janky
Promoters,” opposite Mike Epps.
In late 2009 she appeared on the big
screen in the Oscar-nominated feature “Up
in the Air,” with George Clooney. In 2010
she completed post production on another
independent film she co-produced entitled
“35 and Ticking,” in which she also stars
Santa Claus
is Coming to:
The Miracles Club
4200 NE Martin Luther King Blvd,
Portland, Oregon 97212
Date: Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012
Time: 2:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Ages: Infant—16 Years Old
(Must Be Accompanied By a Parent)
Page 6 The Portland Skanner December 12, 2012
KW: What type of research did you do to
prepare for the role?
TJ: I read a lot of coroner books and I
also watched a lot of reality crime shows
like “Dr. G: Medical Examiner,” “The First
48” and “Forensic Files.”
KW: During the show’s third season,
Lanie had a relationship with Detective
Esposito, but they later broke up. Is there
another romance in store for her this sea-
son?
TJ: I really don’t know. [Executive pro-
ducer and screenwriter] Andrew Marlowe is
very secretive about what he has in store, so
I have to wait and see what’s going to hap-
pen along with all you guys.
KW: You’ve done a lot of movies and TV
shows. Which is your preference?
TJ: I love them both; I don’t have a pref-
erence. I wish I could do them both at the
same time.
KW: How about drama versus comedy?
TJ: I love comedy, because I’m naturally
a very silly person.
KW: Who would you like to paired oppo-
site in a romantic comedy?
TJ: Bradley Cooper!
KW: What film director would you like to
work with?
TJ: Steven Spielberg. I love him. I respect
him. And he gave us E.T.
KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you
ever afraid?
TJ: Yes. I’m afraid that I won’t do a good
job when I go into an audition.
KW: The Columbus Short question: Are
you happy?
TJ: Yes!
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When
was the last time you had a good laugh?
TJ: Just the other day. A friend of mine
made me watch a video on Youtube, “Hot
Cheetos and Takis.” I don’t know what a
Taki is but those kids were rocking out and
that was so funny to me.
KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?
TJ: Laying in bed and sleeping all day.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson ques-
tion: What was the last book you read?
TJ: “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.
KW: The music maven Heather Coving-
ton question: What was the last song you
listened to?
TJ: Tammi Terrell’s “All I Do Is Think
about You.”
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
TJ: Macaroni and cheese.
KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What
excites you?
TJ: Hopping on a plane and going to dis-
cover a new island I haven’t been to before.
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is
your favorite clothes designer?
TJ: I love Yves Saint Laurent. I love
Chanel. And Versace! Such beautiful
gowns!
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