We’ve taken a look at Rashad’s biggest influences and turning points over the years.
Here is the stunning transformation of Phylicia Rashad.
Spoiler: She’s one of many'90s sitcom moms who are unrecognizable today.
She was the second of four children.
By all accounts, Vivian was a massive influence on Rashad and her siblings.
“And so we’ve been doing that forever.”
Phylicia Rashad has also spoken up about how her mother’s influence helped her to develop her creativity.
The children once created a makeshift skating rink on the floor using baby powder and wearing socks.
Another time, Rashad used cornflakes on the floor as a burglar alarm.
“She never chastised us for being creative,” Rashad summed up.
Apparently, she was just 6 years old at the time, but she never forgot it.
“That was my first lesson in fractions,” she said.
Apparently, her love of theater was born from her lack of self-confidence.
She confessed that she always felt unattractive compared to the rest of her family.
As Rashad explained, she had been asked to read on stage at an event.
Because she had never been on stage before, she was surprised by how bright the spotlight was.
“I just talked to the light,” she recalled.
Isn’t she beautiful?"
He then showed her a magazine article about the school’s successful drama department.
“So I went to Howard University,” she said.
“We were plunged into the discipline from the first day,” she shared.
She went on to explain that her instructors were pretty demanding of their time and energy.
“We were in the drama department and we had work to do,” she said.
She went on to say that every student becomes part of an important living legacy.
“It was the first time I ever felt like I lacked something,” she confessed.
She explained for theArchive of American Televisionthat Bill Cosby had been looking for someone who could speak Spanish.
And luckily, her hard work paid off, as she got into the final round of auditions.
But Rashad confessed that wasn’t the real reason she won the role.
“I asked him years later, ‘Why did you cast me?'”
Apparently, Cosby replied, “Because of that look in your eye.”
And who could forget that one-of-a-kindClair Huxtable stare!
She had no idea what a smash hit the show would ultimately become.
She also noted that she couldn’t have asked for better colleagues.
“The people who worked with us, the guest artists, it was amazing.”
At the ATX Television Festival, she was keen only to remember the show with fondness.
And in 2015, Rashad explained toShowbiz 411that she found it hard to watch Cosby’s legacy being destroyed.
It’s reset the actress will always cherish her time on the show.
She appeared in a series of well-respected productions both on and off Broadway.
In 2000 and 2001, she played Peggy in the world premiere of the playBlue.
She then appeared inHelenin 2002,The Storyin 2003, andA Raisin in the Sunin 2004.
In fact, between 2000 and 2008, she worked on stage constantly, according toBroadway World.
“It’s alive.
It’s living art,” she explained.
“Theater is very powerful because it is living art and it touches people.
Theater is a communal effort.
She spoke on theArchive of American Televisionabout the historic award.
That was wonderful to share that with them.”
We wish we could have seen this Tony-winning performance for ourselves!
According to the Howard UniversityFacebookpage, Rashad returns occasionally to teach master classes.
She also teaches at Julliard and Carnegie Melon.
It’s no surprise that Rashad turned to teaching in spite of her thriving career on stage.
Throughout her career, she has been a strong advocate about the importance of arts education.
As she explained toLos Angeles Sentinel,she never sought out directing positions instead, they came to her.
“My venture into directing began with an invitation from Constanza Romero, whose husband was August Wilson.”
Romero asked Rashad to direct her husband’s playGem of the Ocean.
She explained toEbonythat the experience of directing was different from acting: “I learn something all the time.
I’m learning more about the craft of theater and I’m learning a lot as an actress.”
It sounds like taking on directing roles actually helped Rashad to further refine her acting skills.
It sounds like all of Rashad’s directing opportunities taught her a lot about theater making!
The pair eventually got to work together on the Lifetime Channel remake ofSteel Magnolia.
Phylicia toldEbony, “It was beautiful.
It was absolutely beautiful.”
She explained that she was hugely impressed with her daughter’s mature, professional attitude on set.
However, neither Phylicia nor Condola ever thought about working together when Condola was younger.
By the sounds of things, this dream came true, too!
What an amazing collaboration that would be!
In fact, the actor and director seems to be busier than ever!
In 2020, she starred in an hour-long drama presented by OWN calledDavid Makes Man,according toVariety.
Rashad stars in the playPulling the Lever(viaDeadline).
