Believe and Let Go | Ft. Sundra Oakley - Let's Talk Di Tings

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Some stories remind us that what is meant for us
will never pass us by, or, as a Jamaica saying goes,
what is feel can be on feel. Sundra Oakley's journey
is living proof of that truth. From her striking role
as Diane Jobson in the film Bob Marley One Love,

(00:24):
to her powerful role as Theodora in the Hulu miniseries
Washington Black, and her commitment to empowering actors through her workshop,
Jamaican American actress and author, Sondra Oakley knows what it
means to show up fully, beautifully and with integrity. As

(00:45):
you listen to this episode, you'll realize what makes Sondra
remarkable is not just her talent, it's her authenticity, her
commitment to empowering others, and her refusal to wear anything
but her own skin. In this conversation, she opens up
her world, one that is shaped by trust, community, and

(01:10):
the courage it takes to remain authentic in an industry
that often rewards masks. Her reflections on representation remind us
of the simple but profound fact we cannot be who
we don't see through her presence, grounded, intentional and deeply Jamaican.

(01:31):
She is shaping a narrative that resonates far beyond the screen.
This is a celebration of Caribbean culture, resilience, and the
relentless determination of a Caribbean woman.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
She's a reb.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
So who's teaching us to believe and let go. If
you're listening to the podcast on Apple Podcast, please remember
to rate and leave a comment below. Also, don't forget
to follow us on Instagram at Let's Talk the Things. Now,

(02:09):
grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine and
Let's Talk the Things. Hello everyone, Welcome back to Let's
Talk the Things, where we discuss personal growth, travel, music,
beauty and wellness while encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously.

(02:30):
I'm your host, Ash, and this week we are talking
to Things with a Jamaican multi talented author and actress
regarded for her authenticity and commitment to empower.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Other actors through her workshops.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
A woman who knows what it means to show up fully,
beautifully and with integrity. Sondra Oakley.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Hi, Sandra, how are you?

Speaker 3 (02:56):
I'm wonderful, Ash. Thank you so much for having me
in that beautiful introduction.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
Oh You're welcome. It's just the truth. It's just the truth.

Speaker 4 (03:08):
Very honored, William, thank you.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Oh you're so welcome. So for a first as a
first time guest and for persons listening for the first time,
we begin each episode with our listener's favorite segment, and
it's called that no sound safe.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
Don't worry, it's not.

Speaker 1 (03:30):
Just it's not crazy. Everyone always gets concerned. But it's
just some fun.

Speaker 5 (03:36):
Okay, okay, I love it, love it.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
All right.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
So what I'm going to do is read messages or
social media posts that listeners sent in, and if you
think it sounds crazy or a little bit concerning, you'd
say that sounds safe and explain why. And if you agree,
you say you agree and explain why.

Speaker 3 (03:55):
Okay, all sounds good, sounds good?

Speaker 2 (03:58):
All right, perfect, all right.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
So the first person said, my circle is so small
that when the phone rings, I know it's scammers.

Speaker 5 (04:10):
Oh God, okay, oh dear, okay, I want it.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
That sound safe because listen here now we can be
in this world by ourselves.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
Here, and it's true, it's true.

Speaker 3 (04:29):
Scamma's calling you, not onegger person calling you. We need
to bread on that, we need to get you community,
even if it's one or two people. We need to
have community. We need to get that for you, and
I'm wishing that for you.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
I love that, and it's so true, right because I
think part of our culture is, like, you know, you
don't trust people. You're raised with your parents telling you
don't trust you know when you eat somewhere, or don't
trust when you do this or do that, so you
kind of grow up with that mindset. And sometimes, if
we're being honest, I'm sure we've all experienced it, you
meet people that do betray your trust, so you could

(05:10):
want to not be around certain people. But you're absolutely correct,
like people need people. As my parents always say, you
just have to choose the right people and pay attention
to the character of the pearls.

Speaker 4 (05:22):
Correct.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
And I was just about to say when you were
as you mentioned, it is that I know personally having
been when you have been betrayed, and it stings.

Speaker 4 (05:35):
It hurts deeply.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
Especially if you're somebody who kind of puts your heart
on your sleeve. Where's your heart on your sleeve and
is very trust So then to not have people or
to have people betray your trust, your confidence, your heart,
it is one of the most painful things in the world.
So I get it, and it can be very easy
to then just shut off the world other people. But

(06:02):
you know that saying no man is an island is
so true and and I guess maybe that's just part
of life is that nothing is promised, that is roses
and smooth sailing, and part of that life is being
is learning how to how to how to then continue

(06:23):
the course when you have been hit inundated with the
proverbial storms of betrayal by other human beings.

Speaker 1 (06:33):
Absolutely, that's so beautifully said. And I think it's something
that as a community we're doing better at just because
I think we have more tools now to kind of
work through that. Whereas I think like our parents and
our parents parents generations, we're just like, oh, stay yourself,
just cut them off.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
Absolutely, I mean we are you know, we have a
few things with out within our culture, you know, being
you know, coming from the remnants of British occupation, which
is a very stiff upper lip, you know, hold yourself,
not to mention came from what was handed down, not
even spoken about, but you know, through survival of being enslaved.

(07:13):
So there's a lot of things that we hurry that
we don't even realize that we carry. And like you said,
our generation has the benefit of being able to talk
about things in a way that our parents didn't. They
didn't even talk about it, whereas we can think and
chat about with our girlfriends and go on podcasts and

(07:35):
look at YouTube video and see any manner of discussions
with these things. So we're very fortunate, and I think
it's up to us to do that, even if it's
in honor of those who putn't before us.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
Oh I love that so beautifully said yes, absolutely, absolutely, Okay,
So that one is so unsafe, but we understand. We
talked through it. Yes, okay. The next person and said,
you're going to meet people in your life that can't
see you. They can't see your love, they can't see

(08:06):
your light, they can't see your intellect. You are on
different frequencies. They can only see flesh. They can't see
you because they aren't supposed to.

Speaker 4 (08:16):
I agree, I agree.

Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, I think that's very part.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
Yeah, not everything and everybody is for you, and that
just fine.

Speaker 1 (08:26):
Yes, yes, and I've found that, you know, God will
show you that that person isn't for you by making
it very very difficult whatever it is. Whatever, if it's
a job, if it's a friendship, it's a relationship, you'll
just find that you just don't feel settled, you know,
and you'll think, like, why isn't this working out? Like

(08:46):
you know, maybe it's I'm a really good person, like
we were just talking about before, or you know, why
can't they see my light or my talent? And it's
because you're not supposed to be there, you know, you're
not supposed to be in that room. Maybe for you,
I'm sure in your career, maybe you didn't get a
certain role, but you got a different role, and that
role was much better than what you even.

Speaker 3 (09:08):
Absolutely in career or in life. You know, not everything
is for everybody, just like not every human is for everybody.
And that is fine because while we are still live
in community, it is not that we are all to
be in the same community, so, you know, and that's fine.
And I think we don't have to make everybody be

(09:29):
appealing to every person.

Speaker 4 (09:31):
That's not possible, that that's not real.

Speaker 1 (09:36):
So it's okay, absolutely beautifully said. And especially in your industry,
I always hear that there's a lot of rejection. So
how do you even deal with that? You know, just
being your authentic self. And normally I don't even do
a follow up question, but since we're on the topic.

Speaker 3 (09:56):
Oh my dear, wow, this industry it is. It will
teach you about yourself one way or another.

Speaker 4 (10:05):
It's a saint of heart.

Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yes, I tell people who say they want to get
into this industry, I always ask them, are you very
sure about that? Are you very sure? Because while it
is nice to look at the instagram of people that
you admire, I would even you know, I've said it
to people even regarding mind. You know, just know that
there's a whole lot more that goes on behind these

(10:29):
very nice curated images. This is an industry of show
of appearance. So you're not going.

Speaker 4 (10:41):
You're you're you're not.

Speaker 3 (10:42):
Going to see It's like the Wizard of Oz. You're
not going to see what is behind a curtain. And
you're really not supposed to see what's behind a curtain
in there from their perspective, from their perspective, right right,
you're not supposed to see. But you know, we live
in a time now where we have access to more information.
You know, this business will help you to develop a

(11:04):
very tough skin. And if it doesn't, then you usually
won't last very long or are some way you've seen
with very many people, you can go down a very
dark road. So you it's it's something that I tell
people know who you you have to You should know
who you are before you come into it, because you

(11:28):
you're not going to find I think what it is
that you're looking for if you're looking for the celebrity
part of it, which is what is appealing to.

Speaker 4 (11:36):
Some people, you know, when they first see.

Speaker 3 (11:38):
It, it's it's glamorous. It's it's the pictures, it's the
red carpets, it's the it's all the trappings that most
people see and think that is the every day and
it's like, oh my dear, no, it is so not.

Speaker 4 (11:51):
That is not every day.

Speaker 1 (11:54):
You know, wow, that's that's incredible to just be able to,
I guess consciously choose your career every day just because
of that. You know that could really, like you say,
weigh someone down and it has you know, we hear
the stories all the time. So what makes you continue
to choose that? You know, I would think it's your passion,

(12:17):
but I obviously want you to answer to continue to
choose that career.

Speaker 3 (12:21):
Let me tell you know I have said this a
million times when I graduated from NYU, and like many of.

Speaker 4 (12:29):
My peers, we all laugh about this.

Speaker 3 (12:31):
We thought, oh yes, within a couple of months, oh yes,
we'll TV show.

Speaker 4 (12:37):
You know, we're coming from NYU. Just give it up.

Speaker 3 (12:41):
It will be we will we will be set, you know,
we' saf And I always say I am so glad
that I didn't get what I thought I wanted at
that time for a number of reasons. I don't know
if I would have been able to handle it properly.
This isn't nurturing. Business People are not going to nurture

(13:04):
and care about you. You know, as many people say,
oh my, you know, as many hugs and air kisses
that are given, trust me, at the end of the day,
it's very few people within the business that care about
the individual, especially as an actor. For me, I will
tell you I have had a couple of come to

(13:25):
Jesus moments when I've said, God, if you don't want
me to do this anymore, just tell me, because it
were rough and it just came to me. This is
what I do it because this is what I love
to do.

Speaker 2 (13:38):
Wow, that's incredible.

Speaker 3 (13:40):
And it's incredible It was hard to accept because I
was I was really ready to say, if this is
not what I'm supposed to do, show me and I
would do something and maybe it wouldn't maybe it would
hurt for a little bit, but I was I would
have been fine. I really felt that I would have

(14:01):
been I was fine with I would have been fine
with that decision. But it was very clear to me
that this is what I need to do. And it
made me think about, Okay, why do I do it?
I love doing what I do. I really really do,
you know, and I've put my heart and soul into it,
and I've you know, not all the jobs are glamorous

(14:24):
and sexy. They're not right, but I enjoy it. It
has it has been a gift to my family. We've
had health insurance because of it. I have when i'm all,
a pension coming to me, so.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
You have.

Speaker 3 (14:42):
That's why I say to people, especially in my workshop,
you have to really think about what it is why
you are doing this, because not everything is going to
be an instagram worthy picture.

Speaker 4 (14:56):
There are some jobs that are just a job and
it's not.

Speaker 3 (15:00):
See.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
That's so true, and I think that's important.

Speaker 1 (15:03):
I think that's so great that you have those outlets
for people just to give them a little dose of reality,
because unfortunately that is what people reference is you know,
social media and the glitz and the glamour, and you know,
like you said, it's nice, but it's good to have
a realistic picture if it's something that someone is trying

(15:23):
to do.

Speaker 2 (15:24):
So that's amazing.

Speaker 4 (15:25):
Yeah, it's you know.

Speaker 3 (15:26):
When I created the workshop, and I'm sorry if I'm
jumping ahead, but it really was born out of a
desire to give what I wish was to be when
I was starting in the business. Because for having gone
to big, big university, one of the best in America,

(15:49):
I wasn't we weren't taught about the business side of
the industry. I have just been fortunate that the book
upon some certain information and I haven't gone down any dark,
negative paths, but there are certain things that I wish
I knew and somebody had talked to me and with
the realness and concern and care, and that's what that

(16:15):
was born out of. And I tell them, I said,
I doing this workshop is not going to guarantee you
a job. What I want to do is give you
information so that you can at least decide to stay
on this path and do this career that at least
you're informed and you're armored in a way that can

(16:38):
help you to go down the pathway, go down the roads,
go through the alleys, go through the local gully areas,
and know what it is that at least encountering, so
that you go there fortified. You do the path fortified, right,
as opposed to going into battle. Imagine going a soldier
going into war with no no gun, no no proper boots,

(17:05):
no health. Okay, so you don't and when they're going
into battle, they don't know exactly how it's going to go.
They have no clue where the bullet is going to
come from, or what to expect where they step. But
at least if they're somewhat fortified, dressed appropriately, have their
own weapons right, then at least they can feel a

(17:27):
little bit more confident going into that battlefield. So and
I use that, you know, metaphorically for what we do.

Speaker 1 (17:35):
I love that, and I love that analogy because it's true,
you know, when you go into anything, you.

Speaker 2 (17:41):
Should be prepared.

Speaker 1 (17:42):
But I love actually that you use the analogy for
a battle because that's what it sounds like. Because you're
for yourself, you know, like you said, no one's really
looking out for you in that way, so exactly. Yeah,
that's definitely really important.

Speaker 2 (17:57):
Okay, perfect, all right.

Speaker 1 (17:59):
Two more than the next one says, my silence doesn't
mean I agree with you. It means your level of
stupidity left me speechless.

Speaker 5 (18:12):
That sound safe, Oh, I agree most of one.

Speaker 4 (18:15):
Capricorn said that. Capricorn said that.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
Are you a Capricorn?

Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yes I am.

Speaker 1 (18:27):
Oh my gosh, that's hilarious, but yeah, I agree with that.

Speaker 4 (18:32):
I agree absolutely, boomy.

Speaker 1 (18:36):
Sometimes you just have to be silent and let people
be stupid because it's not worth it sometimes.

Speaker 4 (18:43):
Oh goodness, I tell you, I tell you.

Speaker 2 (18:46):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (18:47):
The next person said, I'm about to start telling people
different stories about my life. So when they get together
and gossip about me, they end up arguing.

Speaker 2 (19:03):
I actually love that. It's not safe.

Speaker 1 (19:06):
But I love that because that's what exactly for chatting
too much.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
So now you're both confused.

Speaker 3 (19:11):
Yes, you know what I should have I should have
qualified that. No, so safe, but I agree.

Speaker 2 (19:18):
Yes, yes, I need for that to get an answer. Yes,
oh my.

Speaker 4 (19:24):
God, chat too much?

Speaker 3 (19:25):
And it's like, don't you have a life of your
own you know, but sometimes it is funny to set
people up. It is funny to set people up, so
let them look stupid, exactly, because like that for reasons.

Speaker 4 (19:38):
Like.

Speaker 1 (19:39):
My thing is, why aren't you passionate the way you're
passionate about gossip? Why aren't you passionate about your own.

Speaker 2 (19:45):
Life like that?

Speaker 1 (19:46):
Like, think of how far you could go in life
as a gossiper if you were that passionate about learning
the ins and outs of your own life or maybe
your goals or things like that. So it's just like,
especially at this adult age, why are you chatting people's business?
And you know, it's like, I don't care what you
know Beverly chin Su did last week. I don't care, Like,

(20:08):
just tell me something that can benefit me. And I
think that that's just such a shame that that still
goes on in adulthood. And I say that all the
smile on my face, because when I was younger, I
always thought, oh, this is a young person thing. Like
when I get older and people are mature, you're not
going to happen. Right, That's why I'm laughing exactly.

Speaker 3 (20:32):
That's that's that's worthy of a love, that is definitely
worth of a love. I mean, look, none of us
are are free from any kind. We have imperfections, right,
we all have imperfections. I realize that's a lot of people.
It's I guess the gossip is a way of making
them feel good about their lives, right, because the truth is,

(20:54):
we all have way too much to focus on on
our lives to really even our selves with anybody else. Unfortunately,
I think there are many who are not aware of
that and can't see that rationale, right, And it's up
to people who know. You know, when you know better,

(21:16):
you do better, and you know, like I would love
to say to some of those people, what you know?
Have you have?

Speaker 5 (21:22):
You?

Speaker 3 (21:23):
Have you taken a nice dive into your own life
to be as happy as you can be before you
go and chat somebody else.

Speaker 1 (21:31):
Okay, yes, yes, that's so eloquently said. That's an eloquent
way of saying, stop chat people.

Speaker 2 (21:39):
Because I love that.

Speaker 1 (21:47):
Perfect. That's a perfect one to end that. Say, you
said that was fun, So now we're going to talk
the real things. So you as a child was acting
some thing that you knew you always wanted to do,
like were you an animated child? And then also I
read that you were born in Queens, but you were

(22:08):
raised in Jamaica or maybe went to Jamaica frequently.

Speaker 2 (22:11):
Can you tell us about your background or sure?

Speaker 3 (22:13):
So, to answer your first question, I was not an
extroverted child. In fact, I was painfully shy, painfully shy.
Here's a fun thing about us, Capricorns. They were called
the we have the Benjamin We're called the Benjamin button
of the zodiac. We're these very old souls when we

(22:34):
are children. You know, we sometimes even prefer to be
around adults rather than for the children in a way,
you know, or we're very comfortable around adults.

Speaker 4 (22:46):
But we tend to be these old souls.

Speaker 3 (22:49):
And then the older we get, it's like the younger,
more vivacious we get. And every Capricorn I know has
said the same thing, which is very interesting. So when
somebody described it to me as with the Benjamin button
of this that it makes sense, right.

Speaker 4 (23:08):
So I was painful.

Speaker 3 (23:10):
You know. As a child, I thought I was going
to be an archaeologist. I thought I was going to
be a lawyer because that sounded fun and dynamic. It
was really only those two careers that I thought I
would ever do. And but here's the thing. I was
always in dance class, which I loved. Always, from maybe

(23:33):
the age of four, I was always class. So I
loved that feeling of performing on a stage. I do know,
oh that much. I do know that much that I
had that and was It probably wasn't until I was
around I would say thirteen, maybe when I realized I

(23:57):
want to do acting as a career. Which is interesting
because you know, in our culture, as we appreciate when
we see a movie and we see a TV show
and we see the star, it's not something that traditionally
our people have encouraged our children to do right. It's

(24:22):
not a thing you're going to get something stable right exactly.

Speaker 4 (24:27):
Yes, you know that's a hobby. That's a hobby.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
And you know, which is funny because I'm thinking, if
you want to the people that you're appreciating when you
go watch them at at the movies or on the television,
they had to start someplace and they had to learn.
They didn't just come up on the screen one day.
So so that that was a very that was I

(24:53):
think thirteen was the age when I really decided this
is what I want to do, you know, but I
still kind of kind of teetered on the on the
edge of well, I can't really go study that, let
me go study something real, and ended that on the
side because again, you know cultural inductrination and you know

(25:17):
family inductrination, and also.

Speaker 4 (25:19):
What you have seen.

Speaker 3 (25:21):
You know, if you didn't have anybody that was doing
that in your life, it does some you kind of
think is that possible? Right, So there's that right To
answer your second question, yes, I was born in New York,
but I was very fortunate in that I say I
spent I said, I spent my growing up years between.

Speaker 4 (25:45):
America and Jamaica.

Speaker 3 (25:47):
So I feel that gave me a very great understanding
of being in both places. And it's definitely helped me
in my career because prior to the Marley movie, I
have every role that I have done except for one.
Two sorry, except for two, I've had an American accent, right, Okay.

(26:13):
And it wasn't on No Lie that missed up Lie.
There was a TV show that I did where I
had to be Jamaica. It was a Key for Sutherland
TV show, an episode of that, and that was interesting.
That was very interesting because it also dealt with some
other topics that are quite prevalent today.

Speaker 4 (26:31):
But yeah, so it wasn't until.

Speaker 3 (26:33):
The Marley movie and then Washington Black, because I know
Washington Black I filmed before the Marley movie.

Speaker 4 (26:43):
So I actually filmed.

Speaker 3 (26:45):
I actually filmed Washington Black in twenty twenty two, really,
and it's coming up this year.

Speaker 1 (26:52):
Yes, yes, because I was about to say I thought
that just came out.

Speaker 4 (26:56):
It did just come out. But we filmed it in
twenty twenty two.

Speaker 3 (27:00):
Oh okay, but then boom, boom boom. I did Washington
Black where I was Jamaican because our I was they
wanted a Jamaican and our showrunner, executive producer, Selwyn Heinz,
apparently had been looking high and low couldn't find the
right person, even people who were perhaps Jamaica or Jamaican American,

(27:20):
and he said he just couldn't find a person. And
then what is for you can be on for you?
I was led to him and then and then I
filmed Marley where I was Jamaican. And then last year
I filmed our rom com in Jamaica nice yes, called
Love Offside where I They haven't found a distributor yet

(27:42):
for it, did they heard this year at the American
Black Film festival, but I was Jamaican in that one too,
So it's just very interesting how I have this career
of how many years, twenty odd years, and all of
a sudden I have.

Speaker 4 (27:55):
These Jamaican characters.

Speaker 1 (27:58):
Yes, but isn't that that's reflect of what we were
talking about in the dat noasaun safe that you know
where you're supposed to be, You're supposed to be, you know,
and how things are supposed to happen. They're supposed to happen,
because I'm sure ten years ago you would have never
thought you would be in so many roles where you
get to be your authentic self.

Speaker 3 (28:15):
No man, In fact, I had to you know how
many times I would have to really make sure that
no trace of a Jamaican accent slipout, you know, very
very mindful.

Speaker 4 (28:29):
Certain times, you know, other times it's easier.

Speaker 3 (28:31):
But there have been times where I would I would
catch myself and you know, the minute, the minute somebody
says to me, oh, where are you from? That's when
I realize, Okay, Sondra reel it back in because I'm slipping,
I'm slipping, maybe you're tired, or or the minute them

(28:53):
said where are you from? I said oh no, and
it's not your same. It's not to shame at all,
but this business on fortunately for an industry that is
supposed to be about imagination and creativity, be surprised the
lack of both that exists.

Speaker 2 (29:13):
Yeah, isn't that something?

Speaker 1 (29:15):
And it's so funny you talk about those roles because
earlier on on this podcast season one, actually I had
Kimberly Patterson on one of my favorite people.

Speaker 4 (29:26):
Yes, I love kim oh, I adore her.

Speaker 1 (29:31):
Yes, she's the sweetest, And we were talking about that, like,
you know, her being able to be her authentic self
and you know, I'm sure you know her journey wasn't
something she planned out either, you know what I mean.
But she often would say that people would come up
to her and say, I'm so happy to see an
actual Jamaica you know, yes, because we're so tired of

(29:51):
hearing these fake Jamaican accents when we know there's so
many talented Jamaican actors and actresses that's kind of like
whin not whole from them. So it's it's just nice
to hear that they're even looking at Jamaica or Jamaican
American actors and actresses.

Speaker 2 (30:07):
It is really good to hear.

Speaker 3 (30:09):
Yes, and you know, and you know, I see being
able to either I see it as sorry, I'm jumping
ahead of myself. I see being to either use my
full authentic self accent and all, or being able to change.
I just see it as being able to use different

(30:30):
tools in my toolbox and be as an actress, not
hiding who because if it's consolutely it's one thing anybody
knows about me from day one is that I am Jamaican.
Name one, She's Jamaican.

Speaker 4 (30:47):
Right, So it's not that at all.

Speaker 3 (30:50):
I mean, I have I did a role where I
was British. I've done two roles where I was a
brit and I had up into that tool because I
do very well with accents for some reason, you know,
and that to me.

Speaker 4 (31:09):
Is a tool.

Speaker 3 (31:10):
I was like, okay, right to do that. I did
an independent film where I played a Russian, a black Russian,
because I was the woman who who did the piece.
She created the role. She said she wanted me to
do it as a Russian because she had been actually
helping me. She was an actress as well as and

(31:32):
was helping me with my accent, and because I'd studied
about there being black people in Russia and second and
third generation black Russians, and I thought, you know, I
love that, So you know, it's it's just being able
to be versatile in the industry.

Speaker 1 (31:47):
And I love that way of putting it because it's
interesting how it's funny you bring up playing a British role,
because it's interesting how persons that are British, like an
address or a melamine, they can switch their accents and
nobody really thinks about it. You get what I'm saying, Like,
nobody really thinks about them not being proud of being

(32:10):
British or anything like that. It's kind of seen as normal. However, Yeah,
when you're from the Caribbean, it's kind of like there
are some people that will think, well, is she a shade?
You know, why is she pretending to be something she's not?
So's that's really an interesting thing.

Speaker 3 (32:25):
Yeah, and I get it because here's the thing. I
get the sensitivity that some people may have with that,
because the fact of the matter is is that we
really haven't been able to be authentically represented in the
business in any great numbers. A lot of the times
it's caricatures, or it's people who are not from let's

(32:45):
say the Caribbean. Let's just spread it out to the Caribbean.
It's not people from the Greater Caribbean, English speaking Caribbean
who've been able to use their authentic accents. So they
pick up and let's say just an American and say
do this accent and with no reference. And so I
get the sensitivity of that some may have. But again

(33:10):
sometimes I just have a different use. I just use
that perspective because I think we have to see it
with different perspectives. Right, so, you know, we it's in
this day and age, in the year of our lower
twenty twenty five, we no longer have to have there's
no excuse to not have an authentic person from the Caribbean,

(33:31):
whether they are first or second generation, be able to
portray this accent because guess what, they would never do
that with any other cultures. And I say that exactly,
never allow that to happen, because there would be such
an uproart because of the numbers, because of the presence
of those communities and their voice, their collective voice, you know,

(33:55):
and the value that's maybe placed on their voice where
it hasn't been placed on the Caribbean.

Speaker 4 (34:01):
And you know, so it hasn't been you know.

Speaker 3 (34:04):
I mean people think or you know, you ask the
majority of people, they're not thinking about our history, they're
not thinking about our intelligence, they're not thinking about our
contributions to the world.

Speaker 4 (34:16):
They're thinking, Oh.

Speaker 3 (34:17):
The place to go and relax and have fun and
everything is irine, you know, that's what they think. They
think Caribbean sun beach s and oh the people just
here all the time, you know, And I'm like, hello,
we're full fledged human beings.

Speaker 1 (34:33):
Hello, right right, absolutely, And that's one of the reasons
why I have this podcast and I love talking to
just so many different persons from the Caribbean because I
feel like it's a space for people to come if
they're not familiar, to see that we are so multi dimensional,
you know what I mean. Like we're not just here

(34:55):
for the frolic and the dancing and the music. And yeah,
we do all of those things excellently, don't get me wrong.

Speaker 4 (35:02):
Yes we have that this you know.

Speaker 3 (35:05):
And thank you so much actually, you know, for for
creating this platform that you have, because I think it's
laid done, it's beautifully done. You feel the integrity and
the authenticity and wanting to give the voice and the
shine for not just our people, but then for others
to then appreciate us. So kudos to you, my girl.

Speaker 2 (35:27):
Oh, thank you. That's so sweet.

Speaker 1 (35:30):
You can't have me crying already, you know you're supposed
to wait till d.

Speaker 2 (35:36):
Oh.

Speaker 1 (35:36):
Yes, listen, they know on this podcast me love cry.
So that's fine. Yes, you have to let it know.
Oh my god, that's hilarious. Okay, So the transition from that.
My first time seeing you on screen was in Bob

(35:57):
Marley's One Love movie. Okay, And as I mentioned to
you prior to us starting to record, I thought you
did such a brilliant job. And I did read where
you said that being cast in the movie was a life.

Speaker 2 (36:12):
Changing role for you.

Speaker 1 (36:13):
So what did it mean personally and even professionally for
you to portray Diane Jobson in this movie?

Speaker 3 (36:21):
Well, first, thank you so much. I'm once, I very humble,
I am.

Speaker 4 (36:28):
I am a mabe.

Speaker 3 (36:29):
I should come up with another word for that, but
it's true, and it's it's true.

Speaker 4 (36:34):
Yes, it was.

Speaker 3 (36:35):
First of all, when I knew that this movie was greenlit,
I reached out to my reps here, my US reps,
and I said my agent and my manager and I said,
please find out who is casting this, because you know
I'm Jamaican. You know, this is the first time that

(36:57):
a biopic of this man's life icon right, who comes
from fynic contry, that they're doing biopic of his life.
He's been dead, what is it forty two years at
that point, right, And there's never been this, There's never
been a biopic done. I have to be a part
of it, even if I am just playing a waitress

(37:22):
serving coffee because because here on no, I know, I
could never play Rita for obvious reasons. And I figured
they may have Cyndi in the movie and I can't
play her, you know. So it's like I said, I
don't know who else I would be able to play.
Can't play not any of the eye trees, you know.
I just I wouldn't fit what would be needed for
that role. Right, let's be let's be just really real.

(37:47):
And I said, I really don't care. So, you know,
long story short, my reps weren't able to find anything
for me. And it wasn't until I was back in
Jamaica because I'd finished filming Washington Black and I'd finished
the TV show here and I went and I went
home just to kind of chill, and I needed to

(38:09):
do something for mommy. And I called my cousin and
I said, boy, you're working on the bab movie because
she works in production locally, so you know, the community
is small there. So I said, I was casting, and
then she'd tell me the name of the Jamaica on
casting director Kareeme Blachin, who is amazing and a force

(38:29):
not just in Jamaica but in the Caribbean with casting.
And I called her immediately and pitched myself and she said,
and I told her the same thing, you know, after
giving her a little bit of who I am, so
she knows Simon, I just come off of one boss
and just start this acting. And I said, and I said,

(38:52):
and I said, I said, listen, honestly, I would. I said,
I'm sure my agents would hate for me to say this,
but I will. I'm looking for any I'll do anything
in this, you know, any small role. And she said, okay, well,
we are looking for the doctor for the night that
he was shot. Okay, great, but we're also looking for
his lawyer.

Speaker 4 (39:11):
No that part okay.

Speaker 3 (39:14):
When I heard that, I immediately remembered the documentaries and she's
in the two Bob documentaries Anti Diane, and I said,
oh my god, because aesthetically, you know, at least I
resemble her, right, you know, it means yes, because again

(39:39):
you know, aesthetically, I wouldn't be I couldn't play Rita,
of course, and I couldn't play Cindy. So it was
like yeah, man. And plus I always thought she was
so fierce, you know, just the way she spoke and
all the locks.

Speaker 4 (39:52):
So anyway.

Speaker 3 (39:55):
To get to play her, knowing how close she was
to Bob right, knowing her just her position with him.
She was his lawyer, but she was his confidante, like
he trusted her with his money, right, And he even
told me, he even told me people around him would

(40:18):
say to him, you know, said, Diana, rub from you,
I steal you, I steal your money. And he never
and he never believed them, you know, the way she
would handle things, meaning the woman that would come to
fifty six from Trench Tone Bob, many men and money
for school, feme, we need this, fay books for this
and that, and.

Speaker 4 (40:39):
He never turned and he never turned them away.

Speaker 3 (40:41):
So he would turn to Anti Diane and say, okay,
give this this you write the check. Da da da da.
I mean for a man like that, wow, to have
trusted somebody like her and she is I mean meeting her,
Oh my god.

Speaker 4 (40:57):
Oh my god, that was.

Speaker 2 (40:59):
I know that must have been.

Speaker 3 (41:01):
That was the biggest thrill because I made sure to
find her because the studio didn't arrange for me to
meet her. It's my uncle, my uncle Tommy in Kingston,
who is a lawyer who.

Speaker 4 (41:17):
I am very close with.

Speaker 2 (41:19):
Right.

Speaker 3 (41:20):
He and i'd been close from morning and we share
a love of Peter Tosh music, right because Peter want.

Speaker 4 (41:26):
To rebel, so we kind of well stick with that.

Speaker 5 (41:30):
And I told him that I was.

Speaker 3 (41:32):
Up for the part, and he said, well, you know, babes,
I haven't seen Diane in a while. Literally about a
week before I'm set to come to Jamaica to film,
he calls boy and.

Speaker 4 (41:46):
Easy my day.

Speaker 3 (41:47):
I'd gone court and who walking in as I'm walking out?
So he yes, literally I think it was nine days
before I was leaving to go to Jamaica. And so
he said he told her, you know, my niece meant oh,
he didn't tell her that I had gotten the job

(42:08):
because I hadn't told him that I had gotten the job.
By then, I just told her and told him I
was still up for it, and he said, yeah, my
niece is up for the role. You know, she won't
meet you, and and so she gave him then hear
her number and at the time, and then I called
her the next day because it was too late to
call that at that hour.

Speaker 4 (42:28):
And you know, she was she at that time.

Speaker 3 (42:32):
I said, hell, you know, hello, miss Jobson, and this
is Hugh Thompson's niece, and very ray and she was
very kind of very business like, you know. And then
I found out because you know, she'd said, well, you know,
nobody has spoken to me about this movie. And I said, whoa,
that was news to me. I said, well, I said, well,

(42:55):
miss Jobson, here's the thing. I am going to be
the one to portray you. And and I'm sorry I
have nothing to do with that, but I at least
would like for you to feel pleased and at peace
with the person who's portraying you in this movie and
to give you the respect of at least bringing whatever

(43:18):
part of your essence I can and part of your
history to this role.

Speaker 2 (43:23):
And she was, she was.

Speaker 3 (43:24):
She said, well, thank you very much. I appreciate that,
and she invited me to come and meet her at
her home in Trelawney, her where she goes on the weekends.

Speaker 4 (43:33):
And I was I was there for five hours. I
could have stayed overnight. She wanted me to stay overnight.
Actually that was the funny thing.

Speaker 3 (43:41):
My god, that's so hard, but I had to film
the next day. Otherwise, trust me, I would have stayed.

Speaker 4 (43:47):
I would have stayed. She spoke, and for five hours,
I was just in all complete alle.

Speaker 3 (43:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (43:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (43:57):
So it meant everything.

Speaker 3 (43:59):
It meant everything to be able to bring her to life,
to be a part of this movie, to be a
part of bringing an authentic Jamaican to the screen for people,
you know, because I knew that they weren't, especially with
the family involved, they weren't going to mess it up right.

Speaker 4 (44:17):
Right.

Speaker 3 (44:17):
And it was something that I had actually written down
in my journal that I wanted to be able to
play more roles.

Speaker 2 (44:24):
Oh my gosh, that's amazing.

Speaker 3 (44:26):
Washington Black came first than that, after I wrote that
down in my journal.

Speaker 1 (44:31):
So many things I want to speak to that you
spoke about. So first of all, it just shows you know,
intention matters, and writing things down matter, because I think
it kind of subconsciously or consciously whatever a person's believe
brings you to that destination because it's like something that
you've made clear that you want, you know what I mean,

(44:53):
that you want to happen. So the fact that you
wrote that down and then simultaneously it just continued to
happen for you, I think is amazing and a great
lesson for anyone listening. And then also I think that
you reaching out to her and even that just happening
where your uncle happened to see her, I think one
was just divine timing number one, and then number two.

(45:15):
I think it really speaks to your integrity because you
could have just said to yourself, you know, the studio
didn't reach out to her, puts us together, So you
know whatever, I guess I'll just play her how I
want to play her, you know what I mean. So
I really I'm sure that she appreciated the fact that
you went that extra mile and it was genuine, you
know what I mean, like you really wanted to get

(45:37):
to know her, and it's it's portrayed in the movie.
You can definitely see that, you know, you had some
type of relationship with her, because it was done so well.

Speaker 4 (45:48):
Oh, thank you. That really makes that touches my heart.
Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1 (45:52):
Welcome And you mentioned that the family was involved, which
we all heard, and I know Zicki was involved in
some of the other and things like that. How was
it working on set with them being right there because
this is their life that they lived, So was that
intimidating or how was that?

Speaker 3 (46:09):
Like? It didn't feel intimidating for me. I know some
of the other cast had been working. So they first
started filming in England in London, and it was mostly
Ziggy and Sidela because they were they are executive producers

(46:30):
of the movie. Those they're the only children who are
executive producers.

Speaker 4 (46:35):
Zigg was on set every day.

Speaker 3 (46:37):
I only saw Siedela on set once, but but Ziggy
was there religiously, religiously, and it wasn't intimidating. In fact,
I took comfort in it because I took comfort in Yeah,
I took comfort in knowing that for this big studio

(46:57):
project that to have them there, they weren't going to
let no foolishness slide right. They were going to make
sure that it would be as authentic as possible, especially
with Nevill Gary Conkan never God rest his soul being there,
they were going to make sure that things were right

(47:18):
and would say no, you know. And again they had
been filming in London for about you know, was it
three months too and a half months some so, so
there was a rhythm.

Speaker 4 (47:30):
There was a rhythm. I only filmed in Jamaica, yeah,
which was cool.

Speaker 3 (47:37):
So I took comfort actually in having them there because
you remember, we're dealing with the director that's not Jamaican.

Speaker 4 (47:45):
We're dealing with some.

Speaker 3 (47:47):
You know, people who aren't Jamaican. So the the director
is the molds, the clay of a of a film, right,
so you know, but you have the nice you have
an outside eye that can be.

Speaker 4 (48:04):
Like it a lean, so okay, you know. Yeah, then
you know that you're at least in hand.

Speaker 2 (48:10):
Yeah for sure. Oh that's so true.

Speaker 1 (48:12):
And I remember I had Aston On here as well.
His dad and my dad were really good friends. Yeah,
oh my god, I love this.

Speaker 2 (48:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (48:22):
So he talked about it, and it was like right
before the movie actually came out, so he couldn't go
too much in depth, but he did talk about, you know,
how amazing it was to play his father, Like I
couldn't even imagine that, you know what I like, and
he did so good, like he did so amazing, which
is obvious that he would, but still it's just so
weird because they also look very similar.

Speaker 2 (48:45):
So it was just so weird to see that, you know.
So I love to hear it.

Speaker 1 (48:49):
Now, you guys felt you know, comfortable, and the way
you explained it makes perfect sense because you had that
balance of a person that's looking at it from just
a plane you know, directors or whatever it may be perspective,
and then someone that's looking at it from a place
of authenticity because they lived it, it's their life, you know, sure, sure,
absolutely definitely.

Speaker 2 (49:10):
I love that. I love that.

Speaker 1 (49:11):
So you talked a lot about Washington Black and you
know you're able to be authentic in that, and I
think it shows a lot about representation and how it's
so important. So I want to ask you about authenticity
in that, or guess go a little deeper into authenticity
in that. Are there ways that it served you but

(49:35):
then could have sometimes been a liability, you know, like
you were saying earlier, if someone says to you, where
are you from? You realize, oh, like it slipped, you
know what I mean? So maybe liability is not the
right word, but it may be cause someone to think
you weren't capable of doing a certain role, despite your accolades,

(49:55):
despite your education, just because they might have heard that
slip of a word or freeze. Has that ever happened
to you before?

Speaker 3 (50:03):
If it has, I can honestly say, I don't know
if I have lost a role because of it, I
honestly don't know. I've never received any kind of feedback
that said, because it's never been a big, big issue.
So if I didn't get apart because of it, I

(50:24):
honestly don't know. And thank God, I say, you know what,
Sometimes ignorance is bliss, minnie. Even know everything you know honestly, honestly, honestly,
Oh my girl, it rough, you know, just live a

(50:45):
melical ignorant bubble because when you're when you're in this industry,
you know so much already.

Speaker 1 (50:50):
Already exactly, so you just if you don't need to
know it, you don't know it.

Speaker 2 (50:54):
So I love that.

Speaker 1 (50:55):
I just thought I would ask, because I think anyone listening,
that's even if they're not interesting, didn't getting into acting,
but just any business and maybe they have an accent
or you know, they just feel like they can't be
their authentic selves, just to kind of give them both sides.
If you did have that experience, that's why I asked.
But I think that's that's brilliant.

Speaker 3 (51:14):
Well, this is what this is my recommendation, just Lcosandra's recommendation.
Always always be your authentic self. With that said, you
know a couple of things. One broaden the tools in
your toolbox. So if that means learning how to do
an American accent because you say you're working in America,

(51:39):
or learning to do a British accent because say you
go to the UK and work over there, or maybe
you say, you know what, I'm going to go the
route of Sofia Vegara and Salamahayak who have heavy Latino
Spanish accents, and just do that. Okay, maybe that maybe

(52:00):
that can serve you. Maybe that's that's your thing, you know,
and and you're in the industry and say, look, I'm
going to do my auditions with my Jamaican accent. Maybe
I'll change somebody's perception of what this role could be. Maybe,
But and I think that that could It's a very
bold it's a brave choice.

Speaker 2 (52:20):
I love it.

Speaker 3 (52:21):
Just know that. Okay, it can have some drawbacks because
maybe because more than likely somebody would say, oh, can
you do an American accent? Are you able to do
an American accent? Are you able to?

Speaker 2 (52:33):
And then I can't bother, you know, because I'm trying
to tame my very Jamaica laugh. But I'm struggling.

Speaker 4 (52:43):
Don't worry, I do the same thing.

Speaker 2 (52:47):
Oh my gosh. But it's true though, it's true.

Speaker 3 (52:50):
But you know, I say, look, if you're going to
go into this business, yes, go with your full authentic self,
go boldly with your with your full chest right, and
maybe that's how you do your auditions, and maybe you
might be the one to turn the minds of somebody
who they said they only wanted this person to be

(53:11):
one way, and then they hear you and see your
audition and think, you know what, I'll do it this way.

Speaker 4 (53:16):
So that's fine.

Speaker 3 (53:17):
But also we as actors, we want to have tools
in our toolbox in which to draw from. If those
of us who went to acting schools or conservatories, we
got different tools. We did voice training, we did movement training,
we learned different styles from different playwrights.

Speaker 4 (53:38):
Those were all tools. So I see being.

Speaker 3 (53:41):
Able to be able to do other accents, especially if
you're coming to a heavily American market or UK market. Okay,
so if you see the pool it has this, then
at least try to do that. Not to say that
you have to cover up who you are, but at

(54:03):
least work on it. And I understand for accents it's
not as easy for some as others, but at least
to work on it so that you have this and
that right. And that is what my upbringing, being brought
up in both countries has afforded me. Right, maybe not
for everybody, but for me. And so I said, just

(54:25):
change the perspective of how you look at it. Don't
look at it as oh I have to erase my
Jamaican identity. Absolutely not, because there's one thing. It's where
for you are Jamaica and jacket right right yellow?

Speaker 4 (54:41):
Look? And I have this one have this one hoodie.

Speaker 3 (54:44):
Every time I wear this bright yellow hoodie with the
green sleeve and the black thing, and everywhere in Paris
people are like Jamaica Jamaie, Hey mom, like really you know?
But you know so it's like, look, I You're people
know me, have known this since if they know me
they know that about me. Second, right, if they know

(55:05):
they know Jamaican and second.

Speaker 4 (55:07):
But all I would encourage any actor is like.

Speaker 3 (55:10):
Let's change the perspective instead of thinking, hey, I have
to not show up fully authentically me. No, show up
fully authentically you. It may work in certain instances, it
may not. But in the meantime, why not also get
some more skills so that, hey, let me work on

(55:30):
this American accent. Let me work on this British accent
which is closer to our Jamaican accent. So the British
might be easier, It might be easier. Do that so
that you can have flexibility. Use it as that. Right
in this day and age, people want more. I think

(55:51):
now authenticity in terms of representation is welcomed and wanted,
and which is great. So listen, they may have there
may be a role in this show that they were
never even considering making Jamaica. But you give an audition
with your Jamaican accent and they said, you know what,
let's say yea be you. But that's it's just a

(56:14):
perspective change, I would say. I would say, but I
get it. I get it because it's it hasn't traditionally
always been that way, so I understand why people would
feel would feel sensitive.

Speaker 1 (56:26):
I get it right, right, No, absolutely, But I love
the way you thoroughly explained it and just to look
at it differently because I think just in life, you know,
anything that happens to you, I don't really think happens
to you. I think it happens for you, right Like
I love that saying because I think in the moment,
you think it's happening to you, but it's really happening

(56:50):
for you in that if you go for a role
and you know you're so worried about your being your
authentic self that you don't get it, well, that was
happening for you because maybe there's another role that you're
supposed to get that if you would have gotten that role,
you wouldn't even be able to audition for the other role.
But you wouldn't know that yet until you've gotten that role.

Speaker 2 (57:10):
You see what I'm saying.

Speaker 4 (57:11):
So I think.

Speaker 1 (57:12):
Perspective is definitely definitely everything. And it's so funny you
say about just when you go to other countries and
you wear anything Jamaica, and I will never forget. I
tell people this story all the time.

Speaker 2 (57:22):
When I was.

Speaker 1 (57:22):
Younger, we went on a family trip to Egypt, to Cairo,
and I remember we were on a tour and my
mom said something and the person said where you know,
where are you from? And she said Jamaica and the
person could not speak any English but kept saying Bob Marley, Bob.

Speaker 5 (57:40):
Marry, yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (57:42):
And it's so funny because.

Speaker 1 (57:44):
I remember my mom thinking because they said Bob Marley,
like oh, like okay, like they can have a conversation,
and she said, oh, where are you from and she
just kept saying Bob Marley, Jameica, Bob Marley, and my mom.

Speaker 2 (57:54):
Just was like, okay, well thank you.

Speaker 1 (57:58):
Yeah, but it's just so funny, like all the way
in Egypt, you say Jamaica and that's instantly what they say,
Bob Marley. Yeah, they even know Jamaica. You know what
I'm like, So you you should definitely be proud.

Speaker 2 (58:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (58:10):
I always say you could go to the most remote
village in Mongolia and go to one like a yurt
where people live in if you say Jamaica, then said
Bob Marley.

Speaker 1 (58:22):
Yes, yeah, which is so incredible, which is amazing. You know,
I'm always talking about that with my parents, Like the
short life that he lived. The impact that one man
has been able to have needs to be studied like that.
It's it's beyond comprehension. It's like you said, you can

(58:43):
literally go in a rural village and they will know
who he is.

Speaker 4 (58:47):
That's crazy, so true, it's so true.

Speaker 3 (58:49):
In fact, at one of the ends of one of
the documentaries, I think it's the one that's just called Marley, Yeah,
that one. I think that one is on Amazon. I think,
if I'm not mistaken, at the end of that documentary,
they actually go during the credits while the credits are rolling,
they different of different countries because they put their country

(59:11):
and the flag at the bottom, and you see people singing,
whether street performers or things where they have either murals
of Bob Marley or what have you, just to show
his global impact, you know, and these people can't even
you know, can't say more.

Speaker 1 (59:29):
And that's the part for me, that's what just blows
my mind. Like even when you know he was going
on tour and things like that, you're in front of
audiences that some of them don't even speak English, but
they're there and they're feeling the music.

Speaker 2 (59:46):
And that's just one thing that's why.

Speaker 1 (59:48):
I love music so much. Obviously, you know, I grew
up in the industry, but I just love music because
it can translate to people like it's not about words,
you know what I mean. I think that's so amazing.

Speaker 2 (59:59):
Yeah know it is.

Speaker 3 (01:00:01):
It's beautiful, and you know that to have been a
part of that movie, Like I said, it's something that
I treasure as an artist, as an actor, as a Jamaican,
as a woman, you know, I mean to be able
to portray as a woman as anti Diane, even as

(01:00:24):
I at my age am still settling in defining my
woman ness.

Speaker 4 (01:00:33):
Or saying to her.

Speaker 3 (01:00:35):
If I, as a child knew a Jamaican woman like
you existed, things could have been very different from me
because I would have felt I didn't have to follow
a certain trajectory that I felt I had to, you know,
to see her be so unapologetically her, and because I always,
even as a child, felt that I was kind of

(01:00:58):
meant to deviate off of the main world. And it's
one thing that as a grown woman, and even more
so in recent years, because look, I can't sit here
and would never sit here and try to pretend as if,
oh I have it all figured out and I'm so
this and I know, listen, I am so sure of myself,

(01:01:22):
you know, I think anybody who does that is kind
of lying to you. Yeah, because we all have our
we all have our doubts, we all have our insecurities,
and we all have our growth. I mean one of
the and lo I had a therapist one time who
said one of the most prolific things to me, and
I think it was a quote from Roomy the poet,

(01:01:43):
and she said, we are born twice, once from our mothers,
the second time.

Speaker 4 (01:01:47):
For ourselves, from ourselves.

Speaker 3 (01:01:49):
And yeah, and it's when you come to define who
you are, right, who you want to be, not maybe
exactly who what you were groomed and nurtured to be
in your home, in your culture, in your country, in
your environment, but who you like you ash you know

(01:02:11):
me some you want to be That is given birth
to ourselves, right. That is something that I have. I
have one worked very hard on. I continue to work
very hard. Oh my god, I have.

Speaker 4 (01:02:27):
I have an existential crisis at least once a quarter,
you know.

Speaker 3 (01:02:31):
And I think that's a.

Speaker 6 (01:02:34):
And I think that's a good same yeah, same, you know,
life life be life in life be life right, you know,
and and.

Speaker 3 (01:02:46):
You know, and and to see somebody like an anti
Diane who's so unabashedly her, where I for a long
time had struggled to find even my voice to be
unabashedly me. To then kind of channel and midwife her
on screen was so very healing in a sense, you know,

(01:03:09):
because it was like what I had been searching for
kind of came via this role, through this project, of
all things, you know. So it's for many reasons that
I hold it dear to my heart. And in a way,

(01:03:30):
even the character that I play in Washington Black is
very similar because she has a little she has a
lot of anti Diane qualities in her even though I
played her before I played Anti Diane.

Speaker 1 (01:03:41):
That's something I'm still taken aback by that, Like, that's
just so amazing how that worked out, because it would
seem like the opposite for.

Speaker 2 (01:03:49):
Someone like me on the outside.

Speaker 3 (01:03:51):
No, you know, No, in fact, we thought, do you
remember when I told you I wrote in my journal
at the top of it was twenty twenty two. Yeah,
because I filmed Washington Black twenty twenty two, and I
wrote out, I like to do that because since my
birthday is the second of January and the New Year
is the first. It's like a double renewal. So I
like to at the top of the year, I write

(01:04:13):
out my goals and my vision, you know, what I
want to manifest. And I wrote, wanting to let's play
more characters where I get to be Jamaica and get
to be fully Jamaica. And I wrote I wanted to
play women who were different, who advocated for the voice
and the marginalized, those who couldn't speak for themselves, but

(01:04:38):
who but who had a heart. And those two roles
came to me.

Speaker 2 (01:04:46):
Oh, I love that.

Speaker 1 (01:04:47):
Wow, that's that's amazing. I'm very inspiring.

Speaker 3 (01:04:52):
And because it's a film in Jamaica and I filmed
right really yeah, because I had never filmed in Jamaica
prior to the Marley movie. And what was there was
there was, yeah, there was that and being around I said,
international casts that are talented, top of their game, but kind,

(01:05:12):
collaborative and appreciate me and what I bring to the table.
And both of those projects was like usually international cast.

Speaker 2 (01:05:19):
Oh my goodness.

Speaker 1 (01:05:22):
Well, Sandra, at this point, you need to write down
I want to be a multi millionaire.

Speaker 4 (01:05:26):
Listen that many for I still I'm gonna write that down.
Still many forgot to that still listen.

Speaker 1 (01:05:36):
Because every time you put them to paper, it comes
to life. So we just write that down, my girl,
why I will come in your suitcase to travel and needs.

Speaker 3 (01:05:51):
Can I tell you one other one that I did.
I wrote that I wanted to visit Morocco and Senegal.
Those are two countries that I said I want to visit.
And twenty twenty two, No, twenty twenty two or twenty
twenty three. I booked this movie that was on Netflix
called Lonely Planet. It came out last year, had Laura

(01:06:14):
Dern and Chris Hemsworth.

Speaker 4 (01:06:16):
Okay, and where did I film that? Morocco?

Speaker 2 (01:06:20):
Stop it? Geez?

Speaker 4 (01:06:24):
Also Morocco I was working and I was flown there.

Speaker 1 (01:06:29):
That is insane. That's insane. No, you have to you
have to start writing other things because this the way
that this okay, the way that these things are coming
to fruition is absolutely incredible. But I love that because
you know, when you believe that you're going to get something.

(01:06:49):
I think that has a lot to do with it, too.

Speaker 3 (01:06:51):
Yeah, I believe and let go because that's also been
a very hard thing for me is also to and
that was the thing is because sometimes we can hold
on to it so tightly that we don't give it
the proverbial oxygen to grow.

Speaker 4 (01:07:08):
And become.

Speaker 3 (01:07:10):
And that is the hardest thing, you know, Like it's
like being a parent. You know. I have two boys,
and one of the hardest things, you know, is to
being able to just let go and let them find
their way right, And it's hard.

Speaker 1 (01:07:27):
Sometimes I can't imagine my parents just let us out
in the world, like yes, because my mother too.

Speaker 3 (01:07:35):
I mean, and I'm my mother's only one. So sometimes
I'm like, god, you know, I mean it's a different
type of it's a different type of love. But going
back to you have to learning to let go. So yes,
holding on to that vision, writing it down, believing in it,
but also having that balance of believing and visualizing it,
but letting it go.

Speaker 1 (01:07:57):
And that I love that I believe and like, oh,
that's beautiful to put that on a T shirt. Yeah, yeah,
I like that because it's so true. Like my brother
always he has this saying forgive and remember, and it
rehinds me of that because he always is explaining to
me it's important to recognize who people are and you

(01:08:18):
know what they have done if it's you know, in
the sense of betrayal, and you have to forgive them,
but always remember not in a way where it's like
taking up your thoughts, but don't forget so that you
end up back in that situation.

Speaker 2 (01:08:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:08:34):
Yeah, that's a good one. That's a good one.

Speaker 5 (01:08:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (01:08:39):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:08:39):
So it's all you know, Look, I I am a
I am a combination of a lot of work, belief
put in too by others, and all the grace of God,

(01:09:01):
because God knows, there have been some certain there have
been some circumstances. I'm like, God, you really favor me,
you know, because boy, was I supposed to be here?

Speaker 2 (01:09:11):
Listen, I supposed to be here.

Speaker 4 (01:09:14):
Was I supposed to be so you know, So it's
it's it's a lot.

Speaker 3 (01:09:19):
So you know, I don't And this is why, going
back to what I said earlier, that I am so
grateful that I did not get the success that I
thought I so greatly wanted and would get when I
was just freshly out of NYU many years ago, because
that Sundra could not have appreciated and really reveled and

(01:09:42):
marinated in the gift of having the opportunities such as
now back then as I could right now at this moment,
you know, so you know, tell actors as like, look,
there's no such thing as a time limit or anything
on and in this game, like just disavoyd yourself of

(01:10:03):
all that you know, we I'm sure in our culture
we're so used to hearing you need to get.

Speaker 2 (01:10:08):
This by this age, you know, by.

Speaker 4 (01:10:11):
And you know, then you really have to wonder where
the hell did these numbers come from?

Speaker 1 (01:10:15):
Exactly so true, so true, so true, you know, but
like you said, and let go. You have to let
go of those stipulations that are put on you, you know,
just from everywhere you know, whether it's culturally, whether it's
from being a woman. Just you have to live for

(01:10:37):
yourself because this is not a dress rehearsal.

Speaker 2 (01:10:40):
It's a one like a life. It gets, you know, one.

Speaker 4 (01:10:44):
And preach.

Speaker 3 (01:10:45):
I mean, you know, in one of my workshops in Jamaica,
there is a gener to a local Jamaican actor, and
I think he's about maybiness. I want to say, you know,
it's hard to tell.

Speaker 2 (01:10:55):
What I was.

Speaker 4 (01:10:55):
Black people still melon and b melon, you know.

Speaker 3 (01:11:02):
But I think I want to say's early sixties and.

Speaker 4 (01:11:07):
It's it's I love.

Speaker 3 (01:11:11):
His essence and I love his spirit, and it seeing
him gave me such joy and speaking with him because
he is still going after his dream of acting, and
I love that so much for him because you know,
you listen to other people who it's usually the ones
who don't have a dream that will try to dampen

(01:11:34):
yours to be like, no, man, you're too old for
them things. Yet you know, well, no, go and do that.

Speaker 2 (01:11:41):
Yeah, go for it.

Speaker 4 (01:11:44):
And I love that.

Speaker 3 (01:11:44):
I mean see, first of all, the fact that he
took my workshop, I was, you know, I was like
whoa you know, I mean I had such a what
I had sixteen year olds and I had sixty some
year olds, you know, which was great. And to see
him going after his and have the excitement to go
after his dream, oh man, I might cry just thinking

(01:12:05):
about it, just because I'm like, that's what we need.

Speaker 4 (01:12:08):
That's what we need.

Speaker 3 (01:12:09):
We need more people living fully and truthfully, because then
I think the world would be such a better place.
And if people were happy going after what they wanted,
even in some small capacity.

Speaker 2 (01:12:21):
Sundra, that is a word. It's so true.

Speaker 1 (01:12:24):
It's back to kind of what we're talking about in
that and a sound safe right like the gossiping. I
personally feel like people that are always talking people's business
is because they're not fulfilled. They made certain decisions and
they cannot.

Speaker 2 (01:12:37):
Live like their full truth.

Speaker 1 (01:12:40):
And so no one's going to come up to you
and say, you know, Sandra, when I see you getting
these roles, it makes me feel insecure. So I'm just
going to talk about you instead.

Speaker 3 (01:12:49):
No, you know, because you know what that would mean
them having to be vulnerable. People don't want to be
vulnerable because I said before, vulnerable and leave you open
to being hurt. And so you know, it's easier to
put on the fake armor than to just say you
know what it makes you know, like you said, seeing

(01:13:12):
you doing this or flourishing, I have to admit, but
it makes me feel away, you know.

Speaker 4 (01:13:19):
And that's fine because well, you know, because it's human.

Speaker 3 (01:13:23):
But people don't really want to do that because being
seen as vulnerable has almost not almost it's looked down
upon in certain senses, right, it's upon you know, you
must tough enough and be stoic and tough and all that,
and I'm like, no, I want to see your veins.

(01:13:45):
I want to see your blood, meaning I want to
see you. I want to see who you are and
flaws and all. And if we try to act as
if we just have ice in our veins all the
time and we're so calm, cool and collected under every circumstance,
what are you a robot?

Speaker 4 (01:14:02):
Give me human, Give me a human.

Speaker 3 (01:14:04):
There's no to me, there is no value and no
praise to be given in shielding your humanity, right, And
I get it. Maybe in previous times we've had to
do that, especially our people that come from that have
as part of our history aside that it's tragic and

(01:14:28):
we had to do certain things, meaning our ancestors had
to do certain things for our actual safety and lives.
But guess what, we don't have that anymore. We don't
have to live with that constant trauma. So we can
afford especially those of us who perhaps grow up in
certain times or at certain places. I'm not saying everybody

(01:14:49):
has the same upbringing. I fully acknowledge that, but to
go and you know, when I see people acting as
if they have it all together and they don't want
to show any flaws, and you know, you know, I'm calm,
cool and collected and I'm this and that, and I'm like,
I want to see the again. Let me see the veins,
let me see the blood, let me see the artery,

(01:15:11):
let me see you know, the fluids. Let me just
see the humanity. Because by doing that, you don't realize
how you probably are helping somebody else who's probably feeling
too scared to then oh their humanity because oh I
don't want to look.

Speaker 4 (01:15:26):
I don't well.

Speaker 3 (01:15:28):
Ash has it together and Sundra has it together. I
show that I'm dying on the inside when maybe you
just need to if Ash and Sandra show that, Hey,
we don't always have it together. Sometimes we're hot hot
mess right, but then we but then but but it's
because of others. It's because of either what we have learned.

(01:15:49):
It's because of either we have people that we can
call and vent to Andy and they tell us okay, Vent,
Like I have friends like that. I will say okay, Vent,
and then I'm gonna smack you across the face, tell
you to fix your crown and then remember who you are.
You know, and and we need and that's what going
back to community. We need that in our lives, right,
even if it's too have a big crowd of people,

(01:16:09):
you know, who we call friends. I smile with people,
I am cordial, but it's very few people that know
that I can call and say it's my friend.

Speaker 4 (01:16:19):
Yes right, you're amazed, Yes, yes.

Speaker 3 (01:16:23):
But look look at you with your education, with your poise,
with your with all that you bring, you know, and
and someone you know like me, you know, we'll say,
look at we're human, you know. Let's see that all
the side, all the sides of who we are. Right,
So give me that any day, give me that any even,

(01:16:45):
you know, even with anti Diane portraying her being with
Diane Jobs and the woman you know, I yes, she's
a tough cookie. She's a tough cookie. But then I
also see the woman that is that is eaten kind,
you know, And.

Speaker 2 (01:17:02):
That's the thing.

Speaker 1 (01:17:03):
She probably had to be a tough cookie, you get
what I'm saying. So sometimes people don't look at it
from that. Again, as you said earlier perspective, I'm sure
she would love to have been soft and sweet and kind,
but in that industry, especially back then, she couldn't be
soft and sweet, you crazy, She had to be like that,
you know. So the fact that she was able to

(01:17:25):
be vulnerable with you. I think just also shows that
she picked up on your genuine want of knowing, you know,
want to know who she is, because again, you could
have just been looking at it from a perspective of, oh,
you know, I'm trying to win an award, so I
want to make sure I play you correctly. But it's
so genuine that she probably that's probably why she wanted
you to stay, because it's like, Wow, you really care

(01:17:47):
about me as a person.

Speaker 3 (01:17:49):
You know, Yeah, I mean it's I hope. So I mean,
you know, now she you know, she's no my auntie Diane,
and yeah, you know, and I check upon her and
when I go to that, she said, okay, you come
in by the house and you know, and we do that.
So it's you know, it's really sweet and she my

(01:18:11):
family and you know, you know that. So it's it's
I do feel very very honored to have that, you know,
because she is special and I and I you know,
very humble. She doesn't feel she needs to be awarded
any kind of accolades or mentioned.

Speaker 4 (01:18:31):
And I'm like to Diane, you need people need to
know about you.

Speaker 3 (01:18:34):
You are, you know, like to me, you know, if
we're going to talk about amazing Jamaica and women. This
woman is still is still practicing law at seventy nine
years old.

Speaker 2 (01:18:45):
Oh really, I didn't realize that.

Speaker 1 (01:18:48):
Yeah, goodness, I didn't.

Speaker 3 (01:18:51):
Yes, she told me, she said, she said, look, I
have more cases then I can then I can keep
track of I am in fact having to turn down cases.

Speaker 2 (01:19:00):
That's amazing. Wow, Wow, that's incredible, beautiful.

Speaker 1 (01:19:05):
Well, I'm so glad that you were able to portray
Anti Diane in that way and you were able to
you know, really get to know her, and like I said,
it showed on the screen. I think that the movie
came out so well. I know there was some talk about,
you know, different parts getting taken out, but I think
overall it sent the message that it was supposed to send.

(01:19:27):
And I really love the fact that they had Ziggy
and Sedella at the helm of it, because again, it's
not fiction, like, it's their lives.

Speaker 2 (01:19:37):
So you know, I'm sure for.

Speaker 1 (01:19:39):
Them it may have even been difficult to like relive
certain moments, you know what I mean. So the fact
that they were involved and you know, at least were
able to try to direct it in a certain way
to make sure their dad's legacy continues to be respected
and things of that nature. I think that's beautiful for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:19:56):
Yeahutely, I'm glad you liked it.

Speaker 4 (01:19:58):
I'm glad you liked it.

Speaker 1 (01:20:02):
Okay, So for our last segment, I am going to
ask you a few rapid fire questions and I just
want you to answer with the first thing that comes
to mind. Okay, cool, all right? What is a scent
that always makes you think of home?

Speaker 4 (01:20:21):
My grandma's closet?

Speaker 2 (01:20:24):
Can you describe what scent?

Speaker 3 (01:20:26):
That is?

Speaker 4 (01:20:27):
So funny?

Speaker 3 (01:20:27):
I have one of her kerchiefs that from when she passed,
and I still sniff it. It's that's wow. How do
I describe it? Anybody knows like when you open up
a suitcase from Jamaica, But it was like her, her closet,
her draws, you know, like her chest of draws. God,

(01:20:49):
it's like I can I can tap into that smell.

Speaker 4 (01:20:52):
I'm sitting here and I can smell it. How do
I just scrib Yeah?

Speaker 1 (01:20:57):
I think I know what you're talking about. But for
the eye answer, I was just trying to I know,
I know what you're talking like.

Speaker 4 (01:21:04):
That helps me? That helps me, not not one backside Sondra.
That helps me?

Speaker 1 (01:21:09):
Not No, but that's fine. You answered the question, so
that's fine, no worries. Oh gosh, Okay, next question. What
is one Jamaican proverb that guides you daily?

Speaker 4 (01:21:24):
What is for your cam beyond for you?

Speaker 1 (01:21:26):
I love that, that's my favorite one. What is your
go to ritual before you get on a set.

Speaker 2 (01:21:32):
Or start a role?

Speaker 4 (01:21:34):
M go to rituals.

Speaker 1 (01:21:38):
Like do you drink a little ginger tea? You know,
something like that, But.

Speaker 3 (01:21:43):
Well, I always have coffee. I always have coffee, especially
if I'm if I'm on set in the morning, I
have to have coffee, okay, being a tea purely tea
drinker to mostly purely coffee drinker. Okay, Like say I
go to my train, know I you know, I unpacked
my bag because I usually bring, like, you know, my

(01:22:04):
chargers and you know, anything like to make my room
smell nice, like a spray, and just kind of just
to feel a little grounded.

Speaker 4 (01:22:13):
And have my coffee.

Speaker 3 (01:22:15):
And I usually just take a minute to look around
and kind of say a silent moment of have a
silent moment of gratitude that I'm working, because working is
a is a blessing.

Speaker 4 (01:22:26):
So I usually do that.

Speaker 1 (01:22:27):
Okay, So that's yeah, that's a ritual.

Speaker 3 (01:22:29):
I like that.

Speaker 2 (01:22:30):
Nice.

Speaker 1 (01:22:31):
Okay, three more.

Speaker 2 (01:22:33):
If you're acting, what would you be doing?

Speaker 4 (01:22:39):
Wow, that's such a good question.

Speaker 3 (01:22:44):
If I wasn't acting, what would I be doing as
of today?

Speaker 4 (01:22:48):
As of right now?

Speaker 3 (01:22:50):
Okay, I would probably be a full time yoga teacher
because I teach yoga. You know I teach yoga. I
didn't know that.

Speaker 4 (01:22:59):
Yeah, I teach yoga.

Speaker 3 (01:23:01):
Something that came to me in twenty twenty two as well,
funny enough, And yeah, and I got certified and I
teach here and I teach anywhere actually, and I really
really love it, really love it. I've done so many
different things, my god. Yeah, I've done so many different things.

Speaker 4 (01:23:26):
It's hilarious. But that as of today, I would I
would be doing that full time.

Speaker 5 (01:23:32):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (01:23:33):
And I have to tell you a quick funny story.
So I'm very close to my dad. So for Father's Day,
we went to Half Moon and we used to go
there when I was little, and I remember we were
trying to figure out like stuff to do because my
dad and I are very similar in that we like
like quiet and a lot of my family members call

(01:23:54):
me old people pick me because.

Speaker 2 (01:23:55):
I just I don't. I just like being around older people.

Speaker 1 (01:24:00):
So anyway, we just decided like, oh, half Moon would
be nice because you know, we can ride bikes, do this,
do that.

Speaker 2 (01:24:05):
So I was like, oh, Dad, let's do yoga.

Speaker 1 (01:24:08):
So He's like, ash, I don't know about the yoga thing.

Speaker 4 (01:24:11):
You know WHOA.

Speaker 1 (01:24:12):
My dad's very fit, but he is in his seventies, right, yes,
So I'm like, no, you know, you'll really like it.
So we ended up doing I think it was a
mix of pilates and yoga. Oh, it was just me
and my dad, and he loved it. He loved it
so much.

Speaker 4 (01:24:28):
Oh my god, I love yes.

Speaker 2 (01:24:32):
So that's incredible.

Speaker 3 (01:24:34):
You know what. Okay, we're going to have to connect
afterwards because I will to give you guys a lesson,
a private lesson.

Speaker 4 (01:24:41):
That would be so cool. I would love to just
have you job. Yes, yes, we'll have to make it happen.

Speaker 1 (01:24:49):
Yes, definitely, We'll definitely talk after. That was so amazing.
It just made me think of it because I remember
everybody at the hotel was looking like, wait, you're really
gonna do yoga? But my I mean, like I said,
my dad is fit, like he works out every day.

Speaker 2 (01:25:01):
He does plan. I love that.

Speaker 1 (01:25:04):
Yeah, it was all right. So final two questions, what
is a how would I phrase this, like a cultural
truth that you wish the world understood about Caribbean women?

Speaker 4 (01:25:21):
Oooh, nice question. A cultural truth.

Speaker 1 (01:25:26):
That you wish the world understood about Caribbean women since
there's so many, you know, stereotypes like we were talking.

Speaker 2 (01:25:34):
About earlier, that we are.

Speaker 4 (01:25:39):
We're not a monolith.

Speaker 2 (01:25:41):
We are.

Speaker 4 (01:25:43):
A diverse.

Speaker 3 (01:25:46):
Group of women with so much depth and soul that
I don't think is really afforded to us in general.
That we bring so much more depth to us as
human beings then I think the average person really gives

(01:26:07):
us credit.

Speaker 1 (01:26:08):
For so beautifully said. I don't even want to say
anything after that.

Speaker 2 (01:26:12):
That's so oh.

Speaker 1 (01:26:14):
I felt every word of that because it's like a
passion of mine to teach people, especially about Jamaica, because
obviously that's what I know, but to educate people on
the fact that we are very intelligent, we are very
big on religion. We pray before everything. Even Dancehall shows

(01:26:34):
their praying in like, we're so much more than what
the media portrays. And it's just again, it's just a
passion of mine for persons to know that.

Speaker 2 (01:26:44):
So you said that so beautifully.

Speaker 1 (01:26:45):
Whoa perfect, perfect, perfect answer. All right, And the last question,
if you could speak to younger Sondra, what truth from
today would you tell her? Will end up lighting her path?

Speaker 3 (01:27:03):
You don't have to be afraid to be you. In fact,
embracing you and everything that you thought was maybe odd
about you or wrong about you was actually very right
and is what need.

Speaker 4 (01:27:20):
To serve you. So embrace it.

Speaker 3 (01:27:25):
Embrace everything that you are, all the different ways that
you think, and that is what's going to carry you.

Speaker 1 (01:27:36):
Oh oh man, my eyes full of water. That it's
so beautiful. Oh my gosh, wow, wow, that's beautiful. That's beautiful,
and it's something that I think a lot of us
just need to hear because, like you said, we all
go through that phase where you think, am I weird?

(01:27:56):
Like you know, it's something wrong with me? But I
love that you said everything is right. That's so beautifully said. Wow, wow, incredible. Okay, Well,
it's kind of my thing to thank my guest. And
typically I would say, at this moment it would tell
you not to cry, but I'm already in tears, So
yess a purpose. So Sandra, thank you so much for

(01:28:23):
coming to talk things with me today. I think that
your journey is really a great example of authenticity and
how your authenticity illuminates what we have always yearned for,
I think as Caribbean women, which is realism that's clothed
in hope and determination. And I think that you are

(01:28:46):
a mirror for Caribbean women, especially for Jamaica and women
who really maybe said to themselves, I can't exist in
this way, you know, as how I am. I think
that's important to see those kind of pictures reflected, whether
it's on television or just in media in general, you know,

(01:29:06):
because there is that saying we cannot be who we
don't see, you know. So I think just by virtue
of you living your truth and doing what God has
called you to do, you're helping so many of us
feel empowered and like we can manifest anything. And I
think you've shown us that you've told us that with
you know, writing in your journals and things coming true.

(01:29:28):
I think person's hearing that it just encourages you to
believe in yourself and that just because something doesn't happen
in a moment doesn't mean that it won't happen for you.
So thank you. Thank you for making us feel seen,
and thank you for giving vision to those who thought
that they may not have had none. So thank you

(01:29:49):
so much.

Speaker 4 (01:29:50):
How are you going to make me cry? Met me?
Ballall thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:29:58):
I You're so welcome.

Speaker 3 (01:30:00):
I really appreciate that so very much. And I do
I take it to heart. I don't say that flippantly.
And you know, I've always hoped that if, like I said,
me creating something, it was in the hopes of giving
to what I wish I had had during the time.

(01:30:20):
And that's how I hope to do or what I
hope to do in all areas of my life. And
so to hear that from you, I'm very grateful and
and be you know, I do it for not just
those who are beside me and coming up under me,
but for my ancestors who didn't have the ability to

(01:30:44):
speak as I did and to live as I did.
And I hope that they are looking down on me
and seeing that their willingness to not just survive but
thrive in whichever way they could was worth it. And yeah,
now I'm really gonna start crying, but I thank you.

(01:31:05):
I thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:31:09):
Because all right, really quick, before I stop, this is
there anything you want the audience to know, like any
upcoming projects or just anything like that that you want
to share.

Speaker 3 (01:31:21):
Well, I would love for the audience if you're to
please tune in to Washington Black. All the episodes are
available on Hulu if you're in America. If you're not
in America, you can watch it on Disney Plus worldwide.
Please watch it. Please go on their Instagram page and
find all the Because I play a Jamaican pirate woman,

(01:31:43):
please go and you know, look for our Yes, I
play a Jamaican pirate woman, tatted.

Speaker 4 (01:31:50):
Up and all. And you comment on the page.

Speaker 3 (01:31:54):
Yeah, I comment on the page because you know, that's
how it works in this business. Because some people would
really love to see the pirate It's come back for
their own thing.

Speaker 4 (01:32:03):
I have. There's a movie that I.

Speaker 3 (01:32:05):
Did local Jamaican produced called Love Offside. We don't have
a distributor yet, but I got wonderful reviews at American
Black Film Festival.

Speaker 4 (01:32:15):
Really great story.

Speaker 3 (01:32:17):
I play a car, I play a real witch, which
was funny, it was it was it was hilarious to
play somebody for me and it was really great and wow,
I it's it's it's Oh. Also if you go on
if you listen to books to Audible, I there was.
I was a part last year. I came out this

(01:32:40):
year of a wonderful short story anthology called Lover's Rock
and it's a set of Jamaican short short stories, love stories,
and I actually narrated four out of the seven stories
on there.

Speaker 1 (01:32:59):
I love that and me love to read, you know,
so audiobook is even better because I'm also on the goal.

Speaker 3 (01:33:06):
So it's not audible because it's an audible original, So
please go and support that. But you know, they see
Jamaican stories are being supported and that there's an appetite
for the breath of stories available there, and yeah, that's
those are those are the main things right now.

Speaker 2 (01:33:26):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (01:33:27):
I definitely have to write that down on my list
of things to do. Yeah, I have to catch up
on Washington Black and I have to listen to that
audible that sounds amazing. And by virtue of it even
being called Lover's Rock, because I'm an old people pickny. Yes,
that's like my favorite genre of music. So if it's
anything related to that, that's my thing.

Speaker 2 (01:33:48):
You know. I love that.

Speaker 4 (01:33:50):
It's the other updates that I have.

Speaker 3 (01:33:52):
It's you usually find it on my Instagram at Sondra
Oakley and me. I try to do TikTok thing, but
choose send me.

Speaker 1 (01:33:59):
I try to learn of do it, but don't ask
me as a as an old people person, I don't
even know what to take or talk, so I.

Speaker 4 (01:34:11):
In fact, in my TikTok bio it says how you
do this again?

Speaker 2 (01:34:14):
No, that's actually hilarious

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Believe and Let Go | Ft. Sundra Oakley

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