When Tracee Ellis Ross looks to the future, she’s encouraged

While most probably know Tracee Ellis Ross as Rainbow on the hit “Black-ish,� others see Joan Clayton of “Girlfriends� — the early 2000s show fans would love to see earn the revival or reunion treatment.

Regardless of her career experiences, Ross is just beginning to get her due recognition. In addition to nabbing a Golden Globe earlier this year, she’s earned her second consecutive Emmy nomination. Some might say she has all the makings of a comedic superstar.

But when she takes a moment to ponder other black women who fit the bill she’s forced to think hard.

“Regina Hall … Issa Rae ... Jessica Williams,� she said after a moment, “but I shouldn't have to search to come up with those names. The difficulty is, and I think what happens is, you might see somebody in a role and you’re like, ‘Holy ...! She is so funny.’ Then she doesn’t get another opportunity, but she needs those roles because they help you build a career so everybody knows your name and knows what you’re capable of.

“And it’s not just black comedic women. There are, I’m sure, a lot of very funny Asian women and Latina women, and we know some of them, but it's not because the talent doesn't exist. The other thing is, the talent exists, but [performers] need the experience to keep getting better and have more depth.�

Ross is encouraged, however, by the likes of Rae.

“I think Issa is a beautiful example of ‘You’re not going to give me any real estate? Fine. I’m going to make it,’� she said. “There is revolution going on.�

How did you settle into comedic acting?

I loved making people laugh when I was younger. It was frowned upon during dinner time but I thought it was hilarious to make my sister laugh. It was often the thing that got me kicked out of class because I was always silly. It was one of the ways my shyness manifested and the way I protected myself and kept people at bay. And I’ve always been a very physical person so when I experience a feeling, I experience it in my entire body.

As I look back, it was a natural progression into the physical comedy and the ways I use my body. In terms of my career, I don’t know that it was a conscious choice that I moved into comedy, but it was an authentic choice. I don't consider myself funny. I consider myself silly. I just tell the truth and my truth comes out in a way that makes people laugh. My goal isn't to make people laugh, but I enjoy that exchange.

Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson appear in a scene from “black-ish.� (Nicole Wilder / Associated Press)

(Nicole Wilder / AP)

Who are some of your comedic inspirations?

I was a Carol Burnett, Lucy [Ball], Lily Tomlin type of girl. They were the three women that etched it in for me. I remember looking back and seeing Goldie Hawn in “Private Benjamin.� I was drawn to all of that growing up. Those were the women that defined freedom and courage [for me]. From there so many funny women like Julia Louis-Dreyfus — I don't even understand [how she does it].

And then Whoopi Goldberg did the Moms Mabley documentary, and I was so grateful that she did that because it really showed me that Moms Mabley is specifically one of the reasons I can do what I do. She carved something out and did something so consciously that allows me to be a black woman in comedy.

We seem to be reaching a moment where black women in comedy are getting some long-sought-after attention.

I’m thinking of the freedom and the different kinds of opportunities we’re experiencing right now as opposed to what I experienced growing up. This may seem trivial, but just the difference in the choice in wearing my hair natural. It wasn’t even on the map when I started. I remember someone coming up to me when I was doing “Girlfriends,� saying, “Girl why don’t you do your hair?�

But now you see newscasters with natural hair. And it could be considered trivial, but if you compare the journey of black women being able to experience their natural and pure and gorgeous textures in all of its glory, I feel like black women in comedy are also experiencing that revolution of being able to be all of the different kinds of funny and looks we have.

If you think of how, in general in the industry, women are meant to be one thing and they're not meant to be funny. Black women have had an even larger burden around that in terms of how we are defined and the real estate others give us. I think we have blown that open in a way. “I don’t care what real estate you’re giving me. This is what I’m capable of.�

We know that many black women have to play the sassy best friend before they progress. Was that the same experience for you?

I’m not going to be people's immediate choice for the sassy black girl. [laughs] That's not where I'm going to get typecast. I’m game and I’m an actor but that's not people's immediate thought of me. But I do think it's changed a lot.

In my career, it’s been interesting because “Girlfriends� was eight years and I played one character for a really long time. Then I went to “Reed Between the Lines� and now “black-ish.� I always play the same kind of woman and truthfully it's the kind of woman I’m interested in playing — and even that woman varies. I just have never played into the stereotypes. I’ve been blessed enough that when I started my career, the roles I got afforded me the freedom to choose other roles that match me.

I think the difficulty for all of us, for actors of any kind, is when you get stuck with what other people assume is who you are. We’re actors and we can do anything and want to play in all those areas. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the sassy black girl or those stereotypes because my job as an actor, I believe, is to breathe humanity into those roles because there are actually people that exist in that.

But what we want is to have the roles that are seen express the breadth of who were are as people, as women, as black women. We’re all different kinds of people, not defined by our gender or the color of our skin, yet those are very big parts of our identities.

What advice do you have for black women coming behind you who would like to do what you do?

Instead of what I’m doing, I would suggest people ask themselves what they want to be doing. What do you want to be sharing? Stay connected to that, because even if I wasn't getting jobs, I would be doing this. Perhaps I wouldn’t be paying my bills, but I’d be doing this.

The best thing I’ve learned at 44 is things take way longer than they’re supposed to take. But it doesn't mean you're not moving in the right direction. You've just got to keep doing the next indicated thing moving you in the direction of your dream. Posting on Instagram is not necessarily the thing that’s going to move you forward, but creating content for yourself is.

If you look at the next generation, it gives me courage. Our current administration does not, but the Yara [Shahidi]s and Amandla [Stenberg]s and Willow [Smith]s give me courage. I see them and I think, “We’re OK.�

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