Raven Goodwin began her career as a child actress in the early 2000s.
Goodwin and Riley’s dynamic in the film is equal parts unsettling and entertaining.
What an incredible movie!
What was most appealing to you about working in the psychological thriller genre?
That was a big thing for me.
I think you and Amber, I think it’ll be great."
I was like, “A thriller?
I’m pretty much already game.
Doing a thriller was pretty high on my list.
I want to do more.
I love this genre.
It was definitely from an authentic place.
I lost my father in July, and we shot the movie in [September through October].
It was an emotional time for me.
Anyway, I was getting married.
I was planning a wedding.
It was a lot of emotions going on you’re happy and you’re sad at the same time.
You’re grieving, but so many great things are happening to you.
I think that’s where Monica was at [too].
She’s in a transitional period in her career.
I think with all of that, it came from an authentic place, really.
Honestly, it was easy for me.
I hope that this experience was cathartic for you in a way.
Definitely cathartic, definitely therapeutic.
All of those crying scenes, I was really crying.
I would be like, “Get me out of this scene!”
But yeah, it was a good time, definitely.
I think that’s key in anything, honestly.
No, my life at the time was so busy.
But I just made sure I was just out of that character and in the present.
Once I pulled that wig off, I was gone.
No, it wasn’t that experience for me.
I’m looking forward to that role.
Looking at yourself in the mirror and you don’t even recognize yourself.
I’m looking forward to it.
I’m such a sick actor, but go ahead.
I’m always very curious about how people get into character for these films.
Yeah, I’m pretty old school.
When I get characters initially, I create my own backstory for them, typical acting school stuff.
Although, I’ve never really taken real acting classes or anything like that!
But from my personal research, that’s what I do.
For me, it’s a few memorable moments.
One was my baby coming on set.
Her getting behind the camera and just hollering out “Mama!”
That was definitely memorable.
I’m a very personable person so I like being in my trailer, inviting people to my trailer.
That’s just who I am.
I think that’s great.
Let’s just chill.
Let’s just enjoy this.
I always ask people while we’re filming, “Are you having fun?”
This should be a fun experience, because what we do is so cool.
How was that in terms of establishing your dynamic with Amber?
How was it for you to maneuver that dynamic in your relationship?
Amber and I met when I was 17 years old.
We met literally at “Glee” auditions.
I heard her singing and I [said], “Okay, I didn’t get this.
We can go home, mom.
It’s fine.”
If we had something intense, we’d just do it.
It was like working with a relative.
We’d already had those conversations and we started building a solid relationship a few years back.
It’s probably been about four or five years since we started really building.
When this came about, I was like … this is perfect.
We’ve been establishing more of a sisterhood, more of a friendship trying to figure each other out.
This will be good for us.
I’m glad you guys finally had this chance to collaborate.
We took a picture [together] in New Orleans.
I think it was either 2018 or 2019.
It came, and we manifested it.
I think that’s pretty cool.
It’s always nice when you might manifest those things.
I always think what you put forth into the universe comes back to you.
That’s so easy.
For me, it’s between “Being Mary Jane” and “Huge.”
With “Huge,” that experience was so enriching for me, because of the relationships I developed.
Our dialogue coach, Larry Biederman, is everything to me.
He really taught me so much and he really got me to tap in.
I think when you’re a child actor and you transition and you start doing [other] things …
I was 18, 19 on that show.
I graduated high school on that show.
You don’t know.
[You ask yourself] “Do I still love this?
Is this actually what I want to do with my life?”
I think that show made me realize how much I love doing what I do.
We had so many amazing experiences.
Gabrielle [Union]can really throw a party.
She had so many parties while we were filming that show.
I grew up on that show, too.
Especially when I reflect, I worked with really amazing people, like Richard Roundtree.
Watching him smoke his cigars at his trailer.
Just these amazing legends living.
Yes, everything does.
That’s the thing.
I feel with my age and with the things that I get, it’s always perfectly aligned.
No, I don’t.
I know all of them are doing well.
Leigh [Allyn Baker] has the most amazing, cute boys ever.
We don’t keep in touch.
We really don’t, as much as we should.
But they always treated me so sweet and nice.
I always send them love and light when I think of them.
I was just thinking about Eric’s [Allan Kramer] cooking the other day.
He was a great cook.
He would cook every Wednesday.
I think every Wednesday that we would do the online grid run through, he would cook.
Chili, cornbread, all kinds of stew.
He could just really cook.
I was thinking about his cooking the other day.
Now you make me feel like I’ve got to reach out.
I’ve got to reach out and say hi to them.
We would play Bananagrams, bake, do all this cute stuff.
They’re cute people.
You’ve been cast as the absolutely iconic Hattie McDaniel in the upcoming biopic “Behind Her Smile.”
I was curious, as a fan of hers, what period of her life will the film cover?
It will cover multiple periods of her life.
I’ll just say that as of now, it’s still in the works.
My producer, Jami [McCoy-Lankford] is doing all that she can to get this film done.
We’re really, really excited.
I just want to pay homage and just bring a lot of nuance and love to Hattie.
I think I have her all over my house, she’s all over my house.
You’re capable, you’re able, because it’s just a huge responsibility in my opinion.
Goodwin talked about having the amazing opportunity to portray Hattie McDaniel
That’s so important.
She laid on the cross, at the end of the day, for everyone.
It’s the highest accolade.
She accomplished what she was supposed to accomplish, it’s just unfortunate the way she was treated.
It’s just insanity.
People always just think it was “old school Hollywood,” but it was not that long ago.
People are still alive from that time period.
Somebody alive right now that lives in Beverly Hills was there that night.
I’m ready to bite down and really get this done.
It’s just a matter of time.
I can’t wait until it’s done and we can be interviewing about that.
Do you think that will change when you’re depicting Hattie, because she’s a real person?
Because with this project, you don’t need to create the backstory because it already exists.
Yeah, it’s definitely a different process.
I have to study her mannerisms, and there’s not much of her to find.
I think the only video of her that’s outside of her acting is the Oscar speech.
I’ve looked high and low and I cannot find anything.
I found some of her music that she recorded.
Those are the things that I’m going to have to figure out.
It’s tough, but I’m sure I’ll make a way.
Probably Eliza from “SMILF.”
That’s another one.
I think she comes third, maybe.
I had so much fun playing her.
She was this pre-med genius girl who was into all stupid stuff, but she was so brilliant.
It was a cool storyline to me and I had so much fun.
That was my favorite wardrobe all her chains, and the braid with the shaved sides.
She was a moment to me.
I loved Eliza, so I’ll be friends with Eliza.
She’d be a good person to hang out with.
“Single Black Female” premieres on Lifetime on Feb. 5
