Tiffany Haddish has learned a lot working alongside some of Hollywood's biggest actors and the rising star is well on her way to making a name for herself. On March 13, the comedienne and actress returns to her co-starring role as Nakeisha in the break out NBC comedy The Carmichael Show, a sitcom that that blends the ups and downs of family life while covering the hard hitting issues taken from real life headlines. We can also catch Haddish on the big screen in the movie 'Keanu' with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in theaters on April 29.
TheCelebrityCafe.com's Jade Anderson caught up with the budding star to learn more about The Carmichael Show's returning season as well as how she first got her start in comedy.
Jade: How did you first get into comedy?
Tiffany: 20 years ago my social worker gave me two choices. She said you can either go to the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp or you can go to psychiatric therapy. I chose the comedy camp obviously, and here I am now.
J: Is there anything that sticks out in your mind from that comedy camp?
T: I’ll never forget the day that Richard Prior came. He said, "When you go on stage have fun, it doesn't matter what you talk about, just have a good time," and I have taken that philosophy with me in everything that I do in life. I credit a lot of my success to trying to find the fun. If I can’t find anything fun about it, then I probably shouldn’t be involved in it.
J: Can you tell me about your character Nakeisha in The Carmichael Show?
T: The Carmichael Show is about a family that loves to be together and we talk about real issues and my character, Nakeisha, is just a truth sayer. She comes through and says what she thinks and she's not afraid to offend anyone. She’s married to Bobby, Jerrod’s brother, but Nakeisha and Bobby are in the middle of getting a divorce. She hasn’t fully divorced him yet because she doesn't want to pay alimony.
J: What similarities do you and Nakeisha share and what differences do you have?
T: Well, Nakeshia and I definitely have a difference in wardrobe; we do not dress the same, that’s for sure, but what we do have in common is that we both speak our minds. Even if we’re not educated on a subject we’re still going to speak on it because we think we know.
J: Your show covered some pretty controversial topics in the first season including gun control, gender identity and religion. What topics can we expect to see in season 2?
T: We’re going to cover fallen heroes like people that we looked up to back in the '80s and '90s in particular and how now they are not who we thought they were. Also we’re talking about abortion, religion and [racial] profiling.
J: Is the fallen hero you're referring to Bill Cosby?
T: Yes girl, you know we’re talking about Bill Cosby and Nakeisha loves her some Bill Cosby.
J: How did it feel to create an episode about his controversy?
T: Creating it at first was a little scary because you think, 'Is Bill Cosby going to kill us?', but it was also super exciting because this is something that my family and friends have all sat around and had heated arguments about. [Cosby] was my perception of what a father was supposed to be, so it's like do you turn your back on your 'dad'? When Cosby sees it, I don't think he'll be mad, but I don't think he'll be happy either. I can’t wait to see what everyone's responses are to the episode. I wish I could be a fly on the wall in their living rooms to hear what they’re saying because I know it’s going to be a huge conversation piece.
J: What has it been like working with big names such as David Allen Grier and Loretta Devine?
T: It has been so much fun working with them. I have learned more in the few months that we have been working together than I have learned in my entire career of acting. David Allen Grier teaches me [comedic] timing and Loretta teaches me a lot of different techniques. I just feel so blessed, and coming from where I come from, I would never have even imagined that I’d end up working with the guy that I would watch on In Living Color.
J: So when you say technique, what techniques has Loretta Devine taught you?
She shows me different ways to memorize lines, as well as how to break down a script really quick so you understand what’s going on in a situation. When she's having a hard time memorizing lines, she'll actually sing it. She says that everything has a rhythm so I try to do that too.
J: Can you tell me about your role in Keanu with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele?
T: In that movie I play a gangster named Hi-C who's Method Man’s right hand woman and it’s hilarious. It’s basically all these gangsters trying to get this cat because the cat has something special about it.
J: How was the auditioning process to get this role?
T: I almost didn't make it to the audition because my car broke down on my way there. I got a flat tire and I was border line losing my mind because it was so hot and I had on all these gang banger clothes on. I left my car, got in an Uber and rushed to the audition. As soon as I got there something clicked in my mind. I became a "thug" and they bought it.
J: What do you think you’ve learned from working with Key and Peele?
T: They would say some of the craziest things on set, but they are really good at making you feel like it’s really happening. When they believe what they were saying, we believe it, so whenever I’m acting, I’m not acting, I’m living it so it's real.
J: Where do see yourself five years from now?
T: Five years from now, I hope I have at least 20 movies under my belt while producing products that are life changing to young women and young men and inspiring them not only to laugh, but to think.