Da’Vine Joy Randolph doesn’t need Hollywood’s affirmation: ‘If you’re on board, cool’

In the latest episode of The Times’ TV podcast, “Can’t Stop Watching,� host and staff writer Yvonne Villarreal asks “High Fidelity� and “Dolemite Is My Name� star Da’Vine Joy Randolph if she feels a greater sense of determination in light of demands that Hollywood address its role in reproducing systemic inequality:

It may, but I don’t think it will change anything for me. Like I said before, it’s more of affirmation that I’m like, “OK, cool. There’s something that I was thinking about a year ago is spot on with the times. We’ll see how they digest it.� “They� being the industry. “They� being the execs, the studios that sign off for these projects. But at the end of the day, I have a level of confidence. Like, you know your people. You know who you are, and when you know who you are and where you come from, it’s a polite offer: “I would like to do this with you. If you’re on board, cool. If you’re not, then, OK. Go somewhere else.� You know what I mean? Because it’s kind of like, I’m used to being told no. And rejection.

Listen to the full episode to hear Randolph discuss her movie-watching habits since the pandemic started, her hopes for a Season 2 spotlight episode focused on her “High Fidelity� character and how she stays humble even after scoring a major role. Plus, listen to previous episodes with “The Late Late Show� host James Corden, “Curb Your Enthusiasm’s� J.B. Smoove and more.