February 2008 | blackfilm.com | TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL

February 2009

TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL | An Interview with Keisha Knight Pulliam

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TYLER PERRY'S MADEA GOES TO JAIL
An Interview with Keisha Knight Pulliam
By Wilson Morales

February 16, 2009

Being a child star can be daunting for some. We’ve seen plenty of stories, and documentaries on those who couldn’t get a life beyond the notoriety. No one wants their name associated with disappointment. For Keisha Knight Pulliam, she’s one of the few who’s managed to carve out one goal after another, to a successful degree.

Before the influx of cable TV and it’s enormous amount of TV shows, there was just Big 4 (ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX) and on NBC, there was the Cosby show where Pulliam played Rudy Huxtable for 8 years. Since then, she went on and got a degree from Spellman College and periodically made a few films.

Now, in full force, she’s working hard as an actress on the big and small screen. Besides a recurring role of TV’s House of Payne, Pulliam has landed her first big role in Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail. In playing Prostitute Candy, she’s paired with Derek Luke, and Perry’s Madea.

Blackfilm.com spoke exclusively with Pulliam as she talked about her role and playing something out of the box.

When did you get the call for this film?

Keisha Knight Pulliam: I was out looking at houses with a friend of mine and my phone rang and it was Tyler (Perry). He was telling me he was in the process of writing this new movie and that he had me in mind for a role. I said ok. It was actually for the role of Linda, the young district attorney and Derek’s fiancé. I told him that I loved the concept of the film; however, I really want to play of the role of Candy. I told him that Candy is the role for me. I’m ready to do a challenge. I want to do something out the box that people will completely not expect, and I know I can do this role. There is no doubt in my mind. He listened and told me that he believed in me.

What did you do to get into character?

KKP: I spoke with women who had addiction to heroin and went through the prosecution process and so on. I really just brought in honest emotions within myself to Candy. I think her story is actually a universal one in terms of making life decisions and how one decision can change your life and can take you down a whole different path. The emotions are real. Whether I’ve experienced drug abuse or prostitution is irrelevant, but her feelings of loneliness, her feelings of what’s happening in her life and trying to erase that memory, those are feelings that everyone can relate to. So, I just brought that from me to her.

Was it important for you to shed that Rudy image you’ve lived with for so long?

KKP: That’s the thing. It’s not about what other people think of me. It was about me taking a challenge for myself and for my career; and wanting to do something out the box. Of course, everyone is always going to remember me as Rudy. I played the role for 8 years and reruns are on 5 different channels any time of the day in every continent of the world. I understand that and for me, it’s not about making a conscious decision to distance myself from that. I feel great and honored that I was able to be part of history. Not just television history, but history. I embraced my character as Rudy, but at the end of the day it is up to me to do the work and build upon that legacy which I have. I think when you to walk away from it, you get into trouble. Rudy was a part of me, but so is Candy.

How was filming in Atlanta?

KKP: It’s wonderful to film in Atlanta. I lived there and we film ‘House of Payne’ there as well. I like to work outside of LA.

These few years, you have been working steadily on TV and now on films. How do you balance it?

KKP: I’m trying to do it all. Right now, it’s time to focus on my career and that’s what I’m doing. I’m enjoying it and just working.

How’s working with Tyler as your director and as your fellow actor?

KKP: It’s my first time working with him as an actor with him playing Madea. Tyler is about his business. He gets it in and gets all done and I wonder when he gets sleep because he does so much. It’s inspirational. If you want it, you have to go out and make it happen. I think he’s a definite testament to that.

How was working with Derek Luke?

KKP: It was so much fun working with Derek. He definitely made my job easy.

I hear that you started a production company.

KKP: Yes, PullPenn Productions. We are developing a website and bring some programs direct to the web and some for television. Very soon, you will see something.

What’s next for you?

KKP: One thing about me is that it’s not about doing one specific genre. I like a great story, great character, and something that tells a wonderful story at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter what the medium is; if it’s on film or television, or someone’s backyard. I don’t have to be a certain type of actor. Those are the labels that other people impose on us.

Why should anyone see ‘Madea Goes to Jail?’

KKP: Because it’s a great movie. I think there is something in it for everybody. I think people will be able to relate to it. All age ranges can go and enjoy it. There’s definitely something to take away. There’s the laughter. There’s the fun, but there’s also a message, and I think it will be inspirational.

MADEA GOES TO JAIL OPENS ON FEBRUARY 20, 2009

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