An Interview with Jil Wilson-Robinson

What's been your most challenging role to date?

My most challenging role to date was Rita, a waitress in a production named Two Trains Running, by the wonderful writer, August Wilson.  I absolutely loved the entire play Rita.  Plus, she is the only female in this 6 member cast.  She’s a soul who’s a little lost and probably needs some therapy (and dare I say, some good lovin’)!  I felt sorry for her, but I personally wanted her to have strength and really not to be so subservient, as I felt the director wanted her to be.  I felt that she had so much to stand for.

The reason why she was the most challenging is as the play is written Rita doesn’t have many lines at all.  You could probably put all of her lines in the 3+ hour play on 1-2 typewritten pages.  That required more activity as an actor to make her an “equal” force on that stage.  Also, Rita had to be someone who was so familiar with the (stage) diner, that it was if she actually owned it instead of just being an unfortunate waitress there.  That required a lot of work on my part as an actor and for Rita.  I was constantly on the move!!!  It was a very emotionally and physically challenging role.  It was wonderful when an audience member actually came to me at the end of the performance and said that she felt that I was the only one on the stage who was acting while everyone else ran lines.  Wow!  That’s a great confidence booster for an artist.  Plus, my work actually gave Rita a new ending without changing one word of script.   I learned lots in that production!

On a scale of 1(the least) to 10(being the most) how would you rate your ticklishness?
Okay, all I’m going to say is don’t touch the feet.  The feet are a 10+.  I might pee on myself!

Do you remember having any idols, or anybody's career that you admired growing up?
Well, I loved anyone on TV or in the movies because they were doing what I truly felt that I was destined to do.  I say ANYONE, but especially, Ruby Dee and the late Ozzie Davis.  I assumed they figured the formula out.  They were successfully achieving their dreams and working together. I figured that was so ideal.  What a wonderful life!  What wonderful actors!  They have contributed so much to not only the African-American communities, but also to America’s heritage/history. 

I’ll never forget seeing young Ruby Dee in A Raisin in the Sun with Sidney Poitier.    Although I was a child, I empathized so much with her character, Ruth.  The funny part is as actors, we all have default personalities that we resort to and Ruby Dee is mine.  I love her, but I try not to have her “default” appear often. 

There are many artists/actors that continue to contribute to my drive to this day and new ones may appear on my list for their own special qualities.

 How long have you been acting? 
I was introduced to acting in high school and regrettably stopped there until I did a production with Tony Cosby in probably 1994.  That production was a story about the late Sam Cooke entitled Living in a Suitcase.  I didn’t do any more theater work until 2002 when I joined The Living Word Stage Company under the direction of Derome Scott Smith.

What is the most challenge thing you find in working with an independent?
I guess it is difficult in scheduling all of the production staff and on-camera talent to be available at the same time. As actors, many times gigs or opportunities pop up at any time and having to choose the priority can be quite a choice sometimes.

How much of you is in the Rachelle Character?
Well, considering that a part of the reason why the director, Greg Daye, cast me as Rachelle because he said I was just like Rachelle, I guess we’re a lot alike.  Greg says that I’m an approachable, likable and pleasant person.  Do you think Rachelle is?  I hope so!  We’ll see as the plot thickens!

If you meet Rachelle face-to-face what would you say to her?
“Ain’t life grand!”

If you could have any super power what would it be?
To have this statement be a reality to anyone who desires it:

“I have the power to make you realize you purpose in life, to have strong relationship with God, to realize and fulfill your dreams and live them everyday!” Then I would pull my ear lobe or wiggle my ears or nose to make it happen instantaneously.

What caught your interest in doing this series?
To have Greg realize his dreams!  I love working on independent films also.  I love the spirit of an independent filmmaker in sometimes introducing us to new storylines and interesting characters that are not from the cookie cutter stereotypes that “Hollywood”, Hollywood types and traditional writers want to crank out and sell to the public.  How boring!  Working with independent filmmakers and playwrights tend to tell the story from a different perspective.  So does Adjourned. 

Where do you see the show in 5 years?
Hopefully as a successful national TV show in which I am one of the principal characters.  It’s possible!!! Let’s just hope that Greg has the same desire!

What is your Favorite Color?