Arts & Entertainment
Angell Conwell:The Young and Restless Angell
Angell Conwell was born
in Orangeburg, South Car-
olina on August 2, 1983, but
raised in nearby Columbia.
At 17, she made her big
screen debut in the gritty,
John Singleton drama Baby
Boy opposite Tyrese, Taraji
P. Henson and Snoop Dogg.
She followed that outing
with well-received support-
ing roles in such feature
films as The Wash , Soul
Plane and 24 Hour Love.
More recently, Angell
enjoyed a starring role on
the TV-One hit series “Fam-
ily Time” with Omar Good-
ing, as well as a recurring
role as Kevin Hart’s ex-wife
on the hit BET series “Real
Husbands of Hollywood.”
Her TV credits include
guest starring roles on such
shows as “NYPD Blue,”
“Sabrina the Teenage
Witch,” “Moesha,” “That’s
So Raven” and “3rd Rock
from the Sun.” She has also
appeared in the music
videos “Batter Up” and
“Ride Wit Me” and Usher’s
“Confessions.”
In her spare time she
enjoys reading inspirational
books, days at the beach,
walks with her dog Xeena
and giving back by helping
to serve at MyFriend-
sHouseLA.Com. Here, she
talks about her upcoming
independent movie 4Play
with Wesley Jonathan, and
about
playing
Leslie
Michaelson on the daytime
drama, “The Young & the
Restless” which just cele-
brated its 40th Anniversary
on the air.
Kam Williams: Hi Angell,
thanks for the interview.
Angell Conwell: My
pleasure, Kam.
KW: What interested you
in doing a soap opera?
AC: Being on a daytime
drama never crossed my
mind until the breakdown
for the character “Leslie”
was released. She was
described as a strong, spit-
fire legal shark. It’s rare that
an opportunity comes to
play such a character, and
to play a lawyer?
AC: As far as the legal
lingo, I Googled most
C ELEBRITY of the terminology and
I NTERVIEW started to try to use it on
a daily basis so that it
would begin to sound
by Kam
normal coming out of
my mouth. It’s not
Williams
every day talk for me,
so I had to get used to
that. Once I learn the
material, it’s mainly all
Restless is not only the #1 about helping to give Leslie
daytime drama overall, it’s some spice and life. The
also the #1 daytime drama writers put it all on the
within my family. They’ve paper. My job is to bring it.
all been watching since
KW: Are there any
before I was born. After
being that The Young & The
sure, but as time goes on, I
realize that all you can do is
do your best at any given
moment.
KW: You’re also on
another hit show, the Real
Husbands of Hollywood,
where you play Kevin
Hart’s wife. How is acting
on a fake reality show dif-
ferent from appearing on a
soap opera?
AC: Two words: one take!
For the most part, we shoot
everything in one take on
The Young & the Restless,
which makes it unlike any-
thing I’ve ever worked on.
It’s a great adrenaline rush!
KW: In your upcoming
movie, 4Play, you share the
screen with a couple of for-
mer child stars in Jaleel
White and Wesley Jonathan.
How was it working with
them?
AC: Jaleel has fantastic
comedic timing. He is clear-
ly such a pro. Wesley and I
worked together on the
NBC morning show, City
Guys. We’ve been friends
since, but haven’t worked
together in over 10 years.
It’s great being able to be on
set again with him.
considering all these things,
it made complete sense.
KW: Tell me a little about
your character, Leslie.
AC: Leslie Michaelson is
an attorney. She has a pas-
sion for what she does.
She’s a stand-up woman
who has been through many
terrifying situations in life,
but has turned them to her
advantage. She loves her
younger brother, Tyler
[played
by
Redaric
Williams], with all of her
heart, and she stands by her
man, Neil [played by
Kristoff St. John], without
being smothering. She’s
quite a lady!
KW: How did you prepare
upcoming developments
you can share about Leslie
and her love interest, Neil?
AC: Plenty of Neil and
Leslie’s relationship has
revolved around Gus, Rose,
a mysterious blogger, and
figuring out the different
connections. So, I’m hoping
that we may get to see
another dynamic to their
relationship soon. Maybe
more romance and passion,
but honestly, I have no idea.
KW: “The Young and the
Restless” has endured on
TV for 40years. Do you feel
any pressure to live up to
that record of success and to
honor the show’s long lega-
cy?
AC: I used to feel pres-
KW: What message do
you think people will take
away from the movie?
AC: It’s a great movie
about maturing in life. We
all come to a point where
we realize we need to
change in order to become
better. This movie high-
lights that we either remain
stagnant in life and love or
face our fears and grow.
KW: Is there any question
no one ever asks you, that
you wish someone would?
AC: Um... who let the
dogs out? [LOL] No, not
that I can think of.
KW: The Columbus Short
question: Are you happy?
AC: I’m happy in this
moment, but I feel that hap-
piness comes and goes. Joy
and peace may be more
valuable because they’re
with you no matter the
weather.
Hot Chili Peppers.
KW: The Teri Emerson
question: When was the last
time you had a good laugh?
AC: About an hour ago
with a friend and make-up
artist, Tai.
KW: The Sanaa Lathan
question: What excites you?
AC: Work! Travel! To
love and be loved.
KW: What is your guilti-
est pleasure?
AC: Carbs upon carbs
upon carbs.
KW: What is your favorite
dish to cook?
AC: I make a mean grilled
cheese.
KW: The Uduak Oduok
question: Who is your
favorite clothes designer?
AC: That’s tough. I don’t
have one yet. I’m in love
with the clothes I design in
my imagination.
KW: The bookworm Troy
Johnson question: What was
the last book you read?
AC: The Four Argu-
ments—for the fifth time.
KW: The Mike Pittman
question: What was your
best career decision?
AC: Sticking with it.
KW: The music maven
Heather Covington ques-
tion: What was the last song
you listened to?
AC: Something by Red
KW: When you look in
the mirror, what do you see?
AC: My parents’ child and
my grandparents’ grand-
daughter.
Holiday Special
S u i t s
2 0 % o f f
H a t s
1 0 % o f f
o n S e l e c t e d H a t s
Offer Expires 1-2-14
10:30-6:30 M-F • 11-6:30 Sat
5233 NE MLK Jr Boulevard
(503)281-7161
December 18, 2013 The Portland Skanner Page 9