The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) welcomes several fresh new faces for it’s fall season in this new-age soap opera.
The fall season on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) kicks off with Tyler Perry’s new series, If Loving You Is Wrong. The show follows the lives of five women with a myriad of personal and professional issues and the men in their lives who are oftentimes the source of their problems. Think ABC’s hit series Desperate Housewives but with a younger, more diverse cast.
Perry took a refreshing approach in casting actors who will be relatively new faces to viewers. This includes first time actor Denzel Wells. The former football player and Texas State University graduate student was pursuing a career in real estate when a photographer asked him to model. Subsequently, he auditioned for Tyra Banks’ reality series, America’s Next Top Model. Wells shared this story, “The Top Model producers called me and asked was I familiar with Tyler Perry? They said ‘Tyra passed him your name, is it ok if we give him your number?’ I said you didn’t even have to ask me! Tyler called me and said he was working on a new show that he wanted me to read for and Tyra had given me a great referral so I flew out for an audition and left with the role. God is good!”
Edwina Findley-Dickerson plays Wells’ love interest “Kelly”. Dickerson whose acting credits includes the HBO series, The Wire and Treme shares this advice for aspiring actors, “Some people feel like ‘my passion is to act but I’m flipping burgers so that must mean I’m not operating in my purpose.’ I believe that purpose is something higher than your job and your career, it’s your calling. My purpose is connecting to people, whether it’s on camera or behind the scenes. If you need direction, ask yourself, in what way can you add value to society?”
Heather Hemmens who plays “Marcie” tells how her life experiences make her relate to her character. “Things you wish had never happened in your life can really prepare you as an actor. For example, I was cheated on and I would never want to go through that again. But years later, I was able to channel that with my character, Marcie when she experiences infidelity on the show. I believe I was able to bring a very honest and truthful moment to the viewers through her.”
April Parker Jones, was a full time nanny prior to booking the role of “Natalie” on the series. However, her story is quite unique as she didn’t initially get the role. She tells, “At the audition, Tyler Perry told me, ‘April, when you walked in I already knew you weren’t who I envisioned for the character but, you just blew me away.’ When I left the room I was immediately told that I didn’t get the part. I was okay because I had the opportunity to read for a recurring guest spot. I went in for a third audition and afterwards, Tyler said, “You’re her”. I know this role was my destiny. I’m so grateful to bring life to Natalie. I pray that this role will be a blessing to women.”
The show may look familiar to some as If Loving You Is Wrong is the episodic version of Perry’s 2014 Film, The Single Mom’s Club In the show, Zulay Henao is reprising her role as Esperanza, a divorcee with a young daughter who’s ready to date, but is controlled financially and emotionally by her unrelenting ex-husband. Prior to acting, Henao was in the military and also an office manager for a hedge fund company.
When asked how she realized that acting was her purpose she commented, “It’s our duty as children of God to recognize, develop our gifts and use them for the glory of God. It’s our job to commit to our gifts so we can become the people that God meant for us to be. It saddens me when people give up to soon and don’t fully commit to reaching their goals. I’m proud of my cast members and I’m proud of myself because it’s a beautiful thing to be able to live your dreams.”
(Photo credit by Jeremy Cowart and Courtesy of OWN)
Additional Photos By Zon D’Amour
