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She's best known as Layla Williamson on the ABC soap 'One Life to Live,' but actress Tika Sumpter is branching out into film with a starring role in the anticipated sequel to 'Stomp the Yard.'
The New York native, who is currently featured alongside 'America's Next Top Model' finalist Bre Scullark in a national television campaign for the Ambi skin care line, also appeared in feature films like 'Brooklyn's Finest' and 'Saw.'
BV Buzz caught up with the daytime diva on the Atlanta set of 'Stomp the Yard 2: The Homecoming.' She talked about working on the film and living in the fictitious town of Llanview on 'One Life to Live.'
How do you balance shooting this film and also taping 'One Life to Live?'
ABC has been so amazing, flexible and accommodating in a major way. I am just excited that they allowed me to do this project. I am just so happy that it all worked out.
Do the producers of 'One Life to Live' like for you to branch out and do other things?
Do they think that's good for the overall brand of the show?You usually have to ask for vacation. You can't just say, "I'm leaving." You have to see if it's okay in advance. Usually they are really flexible and they work with you. They don't want you to be just work, work, work, but they do have to get their shows done. They're so good with that stuff that if you want to go away, they're great with it. I have gone away so many times.
'Stomp the Yard' is set at a historically black college. Did you attend one?
I went to a private college for two years, and it was so expensive. They hit me with a bill for $10,000 when I was 19, and I couldn't afford it and had to stop going to school. I think education is so important and one of the things I really want to finish. I was a communications major so it was important to me. When it happened, nobody in my family could help me out, so I just had to work my butt off. I knew I wanted to be in entertainment; I just didn't know how I was going to get there. That was what my degree was going to be in, and I hope to finish one day.
The environment on the 'Stomp the Yard' set seems almost like a real college.
It really feels like a college campus for real because there are different sororities and fraternities, and it's a young group. It's fun, and everybody is just kickin' it.
Let's talk 'One Life to Live.' Your character's storyline has been getting good, but your character has a colorful past.
She started out as an actress, then a lingerie designer and now she's works in the police office. On the show, I dated Vincent, who is African American, and now I'm dating Christian, played by David Fumero, who is Latino.
Have you dated outside of your race in real life?
I have dated interracially. I am an equal-opportunity dater. If you're a great man, you're amazing, you treat me good and we have amazing chemistry then why not? I am happily dating now.
Now on the show, you're dating Christian Vega, who was dating your sister before she went into a coma.
She hasn't woken up yet! We're starting our new love life with Christian, who is her ex and past love. It's going to be interesting. There are a lot of fans who are for it and some who are like "What? How are you going to take your sister's man?" I didn't write it, though. I'm just excited that I'm working and that I'm here. I'm grateful to ABC.
I call my fans loyalists. They are loyal and they will fight you for your character. I am grateful because the show has been on for 40 years and without the fans where would we be? They keep us on TV, and I am grateful for them. There are some great stories.
What else would you like to do on television? Any other shows that you would love to work on?
I would love to do a prime-time show like 'Mad Men' or 'Nip-Tuck.' I want to do something edgy and something fun. I love 'True Blood.' I would be down for anything on HBO. I just want to work and do good work; that's what matters the most. I want to do some kind of series, and then during the off-season do film.
For related stories, read: 'Pooch Hall: Talks 'Stomp The Yard 2' & Whether 'The Game' Will Air On BET'
& 'Cornelius Smith Jr: From Motown To Pine Valley.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Black Soap Stars: An Intimate Look
Believe it or not, soap operas can be a good breeding ground for some of the greatest actors in Hollywood. From Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman to three-time Emmy Award winning thespian Cicely Tyson, many great black actors have cut their teeth on daytime dramas. While Shemar Moore, Victoria Rowell, Tichina Arnold, Tonya Pinkins, Debbi Morgan and Vivica A. Fox were beloved characters on popular serials, they've done well beyond them. Check them out.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Kevin Mambo
'Guiding Light' (CBS)
This Zimbabwean-Canadian actor is best known for his role on 'Guiding Light' in the role of Marcus Williams. Williams is a saxophone player who loves his music and a beautiful singer Dahlia Creed, played by Sharon Leal. The actor arrived on the series in August of 1995 and picked up his first Emmy eight months later. He received another Emmy the following year. Mambo left the series three years later and appeared on various TV shows before returning to the world of soaps in 2003, when he took on the role of Dr. Jordan Kingsley on 'One Life to Live.' Between 2003 and 2005, he was a regular on 'Law & Order' franchise. Mambo is currently on Broadway in Lynn Nottage's play 'Ruined' and picked up a 2009 Pulitzer prize for drama.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Victoria Rowell
'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)
Speculation continues about whether the Portland, Maine, native will come back to the role that she's played on daytime's number-one rated soap opera, 'The Young and the Restless,' for over 15 years. As Drucilla Winters, Rowell has occupied the longest-running African American female soap character in daytime television. She won 11 NAACP Image Awards. Rowell's first run as Drucilla was from 1990 to 1998. She briefly returned in 2000, and then returned on a regular basis from 2002 until early 2007. Rowell also played Dr. Amanda Bentley on the CBS series 'Diagnosis: Murder,' opposite Dick Van Dyke, and starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson in 2007's 'Home of the Brave.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Shemar Moore
'The Young and the Restless' (CBS)
A former fashion model, the Oakland native began portraying Malcolm Winters on 'The Young and the Restless' in 1994. Once estranged from his brother, Neil (played by Kristoff St. John), Malcolm morphed into one of the most beloved characters on the long-running soap opera -- even garnering a prestigious Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in 2000. Since leaving the soap opera, the hunky University of Santa Clara alum has hosted 'Soul Train' and starred in movies such as 'Motives,' 'The Seat Filler' and Tyler Perry's hit 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman.' He currently plays detective Derek Morgan on the CBS prime-time drama 'Criminal Minds.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Tamara Tunie
'As the World Turns' (CBS)
This McKeesport, Pa., native is one of the few actors who's able to hold a daytime and nighttime job at the same time. She plays lawyer Jessica Griffin McKechnie Harris on 'As the World Turns' and medical examiner Melinda Warner on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.' Tunie has also appeared in a number of theater productions and produced the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 'Spring Awakening.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Charles Divins
'Passions' (NBC)
Prior to acting, Divins was a model who worked for Tommy Hilfiger and appeared in GQ, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Gear. When his attention turned to acting, he took on the role of Chad Harris-Crane on the soap 'Passions,' from 2002 to 2007. The Dallas native left the show when it moved from NBC to DirecTV.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Cicely Tyson
'Guiding Light' (CBS)
A veteran of film and TV, this New York native had a stint on daytime television nearly 40 years ago. During 1966, Tyson also had a recurring role in the daytime soap opera, 'Guiding Light,' which ended its run this month after 72 years. Her character's name was Martha Frazier. Tyson soon went on star in 1972's 'Sounder,' for which she was nominated for an Oscar for best actress. After working with Tyler Perry in 2005's 'Diary of a Mad Black Woman' and 'Madea's Family Reunion,' Perry mention her name as part of his dream cast for his film adaptation of 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.'
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Darnell Williams
'All My Children' (ABC)
The London actor was one-half of the first African American supercouple on 'All My Children' (along with Debbie Morgan) for his portrayal of Jesse Hubbard, from 1981 to 1988. Before he left the show, Williams won two Emmys. He returned to the soaps as Jesse's look-alike, Jacob Foster, on 'Loving' and 'The City.' In May 2007, Williams joined the cast of 'Guiding Light' in the recurring role of the villainous Griggs. After a 20-year absence, he returned to the role of Jesse on 'Children' in 2008.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Vivica A. Fox
'Generations' (NBC)
Although we've seen the South Bend, Ind., actress make it big in roles in 'Independence Day,' 'Set it Off,' and 'Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2,' many may remember that she headline the first daytime black soap opera, 'Generations,' when it aired on NBC from 1989 to1991. She played Maya Reubens, opposite Debbie Morgan and Kristoff St. John. Fox later had roles on 'Days of Our Lives,' and 'The Young and the Restless.' In September 2007, she appeared in the sixth season of HBO's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' as the mother of a family displaced by a hurricane and taken in by Larry and Cheryl. Fox last hosted her own VH1 reality series, titled 'Glam God,' in 2008.
Black Actors & Their Daytime Jobs
Debbie Morgan
'All My Children' (ABC)
In addition to appearing in films such as 'Eve's Bayou' and 'Love and Basketball,' the Dunn, N.C., actress is best known for her role as Dr. Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap opera 'All My Children.' Her role on the show during the '80s was as one-half of the first African American supercouple on the American soap opera (along with Darnell Williams). In 1989, Morgan, in a tie with Santa Barbara actress Nancy Lee Grahn, won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series. After leaving 'Children,' she had roles on NBC's 'Generations' and ABC's 'Loving' before returning in 2008 to play Angie again on 'Children.'
