You ever talk to someone and after your conversation you feel as though you have known them your whole life? That is exactly how I felt after my interview with Edwina Findley Dickerson.
Dickerson plays everybody's best friend on OWN's hit show "Tyler Perry's If Loving You Is Wrong" and much like her character Kelly she is easy to talk to and has a sweetness about her that draws you in and puts you at ease. Yeah it was easy for me to see why Tyler Perry cast her as the best friend to everyone on the show because it appears that Dickerson has that personality in real life. We talked about that and so much more in this exclusive interview.
Candace Walker:
Thank you for agreeing to this interview! We finally made it happen (laughs).
Edwina Findley Dickerson:
Oh sure thing!
CW:
I want to let you know I caught up on your show “If Loving You is Wrong” and I am hooked now. (laughs)
EFD:
Oh good! (laughs)
CW:
Yeah I was trying my best not to get hooked on another show but I’m hooked and I got to find out what is going on next. I love it I really do.
EFD:
Oh I’m so glad you are enjoying it.
CW:
I love your character but it seems like Kelly is friends with everybody and she can’t really take sides because she’s friends with all parties involved. What is it about Kelly that makes her the go to person? It seems like when anybody has a problem they go to Kelly about it. Why is that?
EFD:
That is such a great question. You know I don’t think anyone has asked me that question although everybody on Twitter is always like ‘Kelly needs to be my best friend’. ‘She’s my best friend in my head.’ (laughs) I feel like Kelly is a thoughtful person and she does not jump to conclusions. She tries to give everyone the benefit of the doubt sometimes to a fault. Even in her own life I think that she is patient and very loving and very nurturing. She empathizes with each person’s situation and each person’s pain. Her go to place for others is one of comfort and one of compassion until it becomes a revelation to her that ok this person is not a good person or this person does not have good intention. It’s funny because in some ways I am the same way. I’m definitely the person for most of my friends that everyone calls, goes to and wants advice from, you know I have definitely been that person but the catch 22 is that sometimes it takes you longer for you to realize when a person doesn’t have the best of intentions or when it is time to let a person go from your life. I think that is where Kelly is now with Randle, she saying enough is enough with him or with Travis her love interest. It’s getting to a point where she is not willing to accept the things she accepted before. She is doing that while still trying to maintain the love and support for all these different people that are experiencing these complex relationships and conflicts.
CW: While she is there for everyone on the show it seems like she doesn't really have that go to person because she is the go to person. I think that happens a lot in our lives. Who would be your go to person and what do you think about her not having one?
EFD: Well with Kelly I think that is why that male companionship is so important to her and why she would be so idealistic in terms of her approach in her relationships. Like she went out and bought a house just sure that even after seven or eight years of them (Kelly and her boyfriend Travis) being together that he would propose. She really believed that they would have this family with the picket fence and a house and she really jumped the gun. I think when we as women do that it is because there is some kind of void that we are looking to fill. You don’t hear much about her family and her background so you only know about her girlfriends and their men and then her would be man. Now people are on the edge of their seats to see if she is about to have a love interest. So we saw Travis leaving and the other man at the door so now everyone is like wait what is happening with Kelly now? This is definitely going to be an exciting season for her and some stuff will be unpacked for her this season. As far as my personal life my go to person is my husband.
CW: You mentioned the new man and I must say I like the way Kelly has flipped the script with Travis. She seems more in charge now of their relationship. What do you think about the new guy?
EFD: Well he had a brief introduction but I can’t confirm where that is going? (he was introduced as Kelly’s neighbor’s son Ramsey, who found his mom dead and received comfort from Kelly)
CW: Can you give me just a little more…just a little?
EFD: Well I will say this, based upon what you said which I really like, when you said she definitely seems more in control of her relationships and of herself now and I think that is a place where most women have to grow to and she is doing that. There’s a point where you have to take charge of yourself and what you allow in your space. With her she said in regards to Travis, ‘I’m going to make him wait’ or even in any relationship she said she is not going in sex first. She was deciding ‘I’m going to be celibate’ and that is a huge decision for a woman. I know I made that decision personally for my life up until getting married. My husband made that decision as well so that whole time we were in courtship sex wasn't a part of it until we got married. I really just love the fact that Kelly said ‘Well I was reading this book and it talks about this and that and I think this is a decision I want to make’ I think when you embrace celibacy other elements of the relationship have to come forth. There isn’t an opportunity for you to be blinded by your sexual desires there is an opportunity to see things more clearly. She does have to confront the weaker areas of herself this season as well and that is a good thing.
CW:
I really admire you for taking that stance. We see that so many celebrity couples are doing the same thing with Meagan Good and Devon Franklin and Ciara and Russell Wilson as well. Good for you besides everyone I've talked to that has taken that stance has said it was the best decision they ever made and I’m told the sex is better after you wait too. (laughter)
EFD: (laughter) I totally agree and I feel that now that I am married there are certain things we learned about each other’s character that really enhanced our relationship and commitment.
CW: I know you have a school that you have opened Abundant LifeU. Tell me about that?
EFD: So the non-profit organization was founded ten years ago in New York City and my team and I started traveling all over the city inspiring women, artists and young adults about building strategies for life. It just started growing and we started traveling all over the country doing panels and workshops and now my husband has come on board and he’s leading the charge. We launched a school here in LA because we really saw a need among aspiring artists and millennials that desire to live out the dream but don’t know the steps to making it happen. We developed a program called Artist CEO which takes artists and entrepreneurs thorough a full course where they are able to get the hands on training on the business side of things to sustain their dream. They leave out with a life map, a business plan, with a survival plan and we are really committed to helping young adults with their lives and bring the different aspects of their lives together. They can log on towww.abundantlifeu.org or contact me at www.edwinafindley.com.
CW: What is next for you?
EFD: I have a couple of movies that are coming out, earlier this year I had a movie that came out with Kevin Hart and Will Farrell called “Get Hard”, playing Kevin’s wife, and that was fun. I also have a movie that just premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Italy and won best film and now it will have a debut next month it is called “Free Indeed” and it is based on a true story. That(Free Indeed) is definitely a very different drama from my regular show "If Loving You is Wrong" it is an emotional tale and has received critical acclaim. I have another movie called “Where are the Children Playing” that features Maci Gray, Brian White and is directed by a wonderful female African director called Leila Djansi and it is coming out at the end of the year. I’m also going out into the writing and producing part of the business as well. There is never a dull moment over here. (laughs)
Learn more about Edwina at her website or follow her on Twitter @edwinafindley
 |
| Edwina Findley talks about her plans and 'Tyler Perry's If Loving You is Wrong' |
Thank you for agreeing to this interview! We finally made it happen (laughs).
Edwina Findley Dickerson:
Oh sure thing!
CW:
I want to let you know I caught up on your show “If Loving You is Wrong” and I am hooked now. (laughs)
EFD:
Oh good! (laughs)
CW:
Yeah I was trying my best not to get hooked on another show but I’m hooked and I got to find out what is going on next. I love it I really do.
EFD:
Oh I’m so glad you are enjoying it.
CW:
I love your character but it seems like Kelly is friends with everybody and she can’t really take sides because she’s friends with all parties involved. What is it about Kelly that makes her the go to person? It seems like when anybody has a problem they go to Kelly about it. Why is that?
EFD:
That is such a great question. You know I don’t think anyone has asked me that question although everybody on Twitter is always like ‘Kelly needs to be my best friend’. ‘She’s my best friend in my head.’ (laughs) I feel like Kelly is a thoughtful person and she does not jump to conclusions. She tries to give everyone the benefit of the doubt sometimes to a fault. Even in her own life I think that she is patient and very loving and very nurturing. She empathizes with each person’s situation and each person’s pain. Her go to place for others is one of comfort and one of compassion until it becomes a revelation to her that ok this person is not a good person or this person does not have good intention. It’s funny because in some ways I am the same way. I’m definitely the person for most of my friends that everyone calls, goes to and wants advice from, you know I have definitely been that person but the catch 22 is that sometimes it takes you longer for you to realize when a person doesn’t have the best of intentions or when it is time to let a person go from your life. I think that is where Kelly is now with Randle, she saying enough is enough with him or with Travis her love interest. It’s getting to a point where she is not willing to accept the things she accepted before. She is doing that while still trying to maintain the love and support for all these different people that are experiencing these complex relationships and conflicts.
CW: While she is there for everyone on the show it seems like she doesn't really have that go to person because she is the go to person. I think that happens a lot in our lives. Who would be your go to person and what do you think about her not having one?
EFD: Well with Kelly I think that is why that male companionship is so important to her and why she would be so idealistic in terms of her approach in her relationships. Like she went out and bought a house just sure that even after seven or eight years of them (Kelly and her boyfriend Travis) being together that he would propose. She really believed that they would have this family with the picket fence and a house and she really jumped the gun. I think when we as women do that it is because there is some kind of void that we are looking to fill. You don’t hear much about her family and her background so you only know about her girlfriends and their men and then her would be man. Now people are on the edge of their seats to see if she is about to have a love interest. So we saw Travis leaving and the other man at the door so now everyone is like wait what is happening with Kelly now? This is definitely going to be an exciting season for her and some stuff will be unpacked for her this season. As far as my personal life my go to person is my husband.
CW: You mentioned the new man and I must say I like the way Kelly has flipped the script with Travis. She seems more in charge now of their relationship. What do you think about the new guy?
EFD: Well he had a brief introduction but I can’t confirm where that is going? (he was introduced as Kelly’s neighbor’s son Ramsey, who found his mom dead and received comfort from Kelly)
CW: Can you give me just a little more…just a little?
EFD: Well I will say this, based upon what you said which I really like, when you said she definitely seems more in control of her relationships and of herself now and I think that is a place where most women have to grow to and she is doing that. There’s a point where you have to take charge of yourself and what you allow in your space. With her she said in regards to Travis, ‘I’m going to make him wait’ or even in any relationship she said she is not going in sex first. She was deciding ‘I’m going to be celibate’ and that is a huge decision for a woman. I know I made that decision personally for my life up until getting married. My husband made that decision as well so that whole time we were in courtship sex wasn't a part of it until we got married. I really just love the fact that Kelly said ‘Well I was reading this book and it talks about this and that and I think this is a decision I want to make’ I think when you embrace celibacy other elements of the relationship have to come forth. There isn’t an opportunity for you to be blinded by your sexual desires there is an opportunity to see things more clearly. She does have to confront the weaker areas of herself this season as well and that is a good thing.
CW:
I really admire you for taking that stance. We see that so many celebrity couples are doing the same thing with Meagan Good and Devon Franklin and Ciara and Russell Wilson as well. Good for you besides everyone I've talked to that has taken that stance has said it was the best decision they ever made and I’m told the sex is better after you wait too. (laughter)
EFD: (laughter) I totally agree and I feel that now that I am married there are certain things we learned about each other’s character that really enhanced our relationship and commitment.
CW: I know you have a school that you have opened Abundant LifeU. Tell me about that?
EFD: So the non-profit organization was founded ten years ago in New York City and my team and I started traveling all over the city inspiring women, artists and young adults about building strategies for life. It just started growing and we started traveling all over the country doing panels and workshops and now my husband has come on board and he’s leading the charge. We launched a school here in LA because we really saw a need among aspiring artists and millennials that desire to live out the dream but don’t know the steps to making it happen. We developed a program called Artist CEO which takes artists and entrepreneurs thorough a full course where they are able to get the hands on training on the business side of things to sustain their dream. They leave out with a life map, a business plan, with a survival plan and we are really committed to helping young adults with their lives and bring the different aspects of their lives together. They can log on towww.abundantlifeu.org or contact me at www.edwinafindley.com.
CW: What is next for you?
EFD: I have a couple of movies that are coming out, earlier this year I had a movie that came out with Kevin Hart and Will Farrell called “Get Hard”, playing Kevin’s wife, and that was fun. I also have a movie that just premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Italy and won best film and now it will have a debut next month it is called “Free Indeed” and it is based on a true story. That(Free Indeed) is definitely a very different drama from my regular show "If Loving You is Wrong" it is an emotional tale and has received critical acclaim. I have another movie called “Where are the Children Playing” that features Maci Gray, Brian White and is directed by a wonderful female African director called Leila Djansi and it is coming out at the end of the year. I’m also going out into the writing and producing part of the business as well. There is never a dull moment over here. (laughs)
Learn more about Edwina at her website or follow her on Twitter @edwinafindley
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