October 11, 2017 The Skanner Page 7
Arts & Entertainment
Kim Fields: The ‘Question of Faith’ Interview
can increase.” I feel the
same way as an actor.
Let Kim decrease, so the
character can increase.
So, I’m extremely grate-
ful for that observation
and comment from you.
By Kam Williams
For The Skanner News
K
im Fields is a veter-
an actress with an
eminent household
name, starring in
two long-running series,
NBC’s “Facts of Life” and
Fox’ “Living Single.” Both
shows remain in world-
wide syndication, con-
sistently reinforcing her
place as a global, pop cul-
ture icon.
As an esteemed and
versatile performer, Kim
has accumulated numer-
ous starring and guest
starring roles in TV mov-
ies and series, as well
as independent feature
films over her 40-year ca-
reer, including “What To
Expect When You’re Ex-
pecting” starring Jenni-
fer Lopez and Cameron
Diaz. In 2014, she starred
in one of the Hallmark
Channel’s highest -rated
movies, “For Better Or
For Worse”, proving her
endurance as a fan favor-
ite and industry staple.
She has also returned
to the stage several times
for powerful perfor-
mances in one-woman
shows, as well as leading
all-star casts in success-
ful ensemble produc-
tions. The start of her
next 40 years in showbiz
finds Kim currently star-
ring in the new British
comedy series, “Living
The Dream” for Sky TV.
And she is thrilled to re-
turn to ABC for the excit-
ing reboot of the hit “Bat-
tle of the Network Stars”.
But perhaps nothing is
more thrilling for Kim
these days than the fall
release of her highly
anticipated autobiogra-
phy, “Blessed Life.” With
arresting transparency,
humor and chock full of
many personal stories
of joy, pain, triumphs
and challenges as well as
wonderfully-delightful
tales of growing up in
Hollywood,
Kim Fields
Kam Williams: Hi Kim,
thanks for the interview.
I’m honored to have this
chance to speak with you.
Kim Fields: Oh, right
back atcha, Kam. Thank
YOU!
KW: I was moved to
tears by “A Question of
Faith.” What interested
you in the film?
KF: After reading the
role of Theresa New-
man, I thought, “Wow!
To breathe life into this
character would be a tre-
mendous opportunity to
stretch as an actor and to
use some skill sets that I
haven’t for a while and
that people don’t normal-
ly know me for.” That was
my first reason for say-
ing, “Yes.” And right on
the heels of that were the
movie’s messages, and
the way in which those
messages were executed.
It’s relatable faith. you
see people dialoguing
the way that real people
do. It’s not so sanctified
that you don’t see people
really struggling with
their faith and with each
other, because that’s tru-
ly challenging.
KW: I loved how you
and the rest of the cast
disappeared into your
roles.
KF: Thank you so much
for that. One of your
goals as an actor is to dis-
appear. and as a person
of faith, we always say,
“Lord, let me diminish.
Let me decrease, so you
KW: You played Tootie
for close to a decade be-
tween “Diff ’rent Strokes”
and “The Facts of Life.”
Do you think you were
typecast by playing such
an iconic role for so long?
KF: Not at all. I never
felt typecast. I’ve done
many different types
of projects, some even
while playing Tootie,
whether TV movies, on
the stage or independent
features.
KW: You’ve directed
before. Have you thought
about directing a film in
which you also star?
KF: Absolutely! I think
of that often. It keeps me
up sometimes. I even
have a camera in my bed-
room. In the near future,
I hope to adapt my col-
lection of short stories,
“When Bad Women Hap-
pen to Good Men,” into a
script, and then play one,
“
rested for protesting the
police shooting of a Black
woman. I could see you
playing Trayvon Mar-
tin’s mother in a docu-
drama about his killing.
Are you still interested
in that as an issue?
KF: Oh, very much so.
Activism and social aware-
ness have always been a
part of who I am, and even
more so now as the mother
of African American boys
and the wife of an African
American man
if not all, of the women
featured. I love the world
of independent films and
hope to be a part of some-
day.
KW: You were once ar-
In fact, I’m in the midst of
creating and launching a
social initiative around
that and much more. Ac-
tivism and social aware-
ness have always been
a part of who I am, and
even more so now as the
mother of African Amer-
ican boys and the wife
of an African American
man. A concern for them
and for everyone is in the
fabric of my DNA. And
it’s important to me to
that my voice not just re-
gurgitate complaints but
offer solutions, which
calls for a little more
strategizing. I’m not in-
terested in stirring the
pot simply for the sake of
stirring the pot. At some
point, we have to change
the ingredients, if we
want a different taste.
That’s the type of citizen
and leader I am.
KW: What did you
think
of
President
Trump’s waffling re-
sponse to Charlottesville
in which he suggested
See INTERVIEW on page 11