Mara Hall Talks New Role on Ambitions on OWN - Interview

I had such a great time sitting down with the multi-talented actress Mara Hall for a Studio Q interview. We discussed the debut of her character, Darcia Lancaster, on the new hit TV series, “Ambitions,” which airs every Tuesday at 10/9C on OWN. "Ambitions" is a multigenerational family saga that explores love, power and politics in Atlanta. The series centers around the intense rivalry between formidable legal eagles Stephanie Lancaster (Robin Givens) and Amara Hughes (Essence Atkins), former best friends from college who find themselves adversaries in both their personal and professional lives. Mara portrays ‘Darcia Lancaster,’ a mysterious relative that comes into town in the middle of chaos, with unclear intentions.

Check out my interview with Mara below. Not only was she funny and transparent, but she shared noteworthy advice about the industry that you don’t want to miss. Watch below!

Check out some photos from my interview.

Check Out OWN 's New Docu-Series, 'Black Love'

According to Vibe, Oprah Winfrey and the OWN Network will premiere new docu-series, Black Love. Created by married couple and filmmakers Tommy and Codie Oliver, the duo interviewed several African-American couples—some in Hollywood some not–about how they met and how they keep it together.  The show, which will premiere Aug. 29 examines the intricacies and delicacies of love from black couples.

Some couples have been together for eight, 10 and even 17 years while other couples are still in the newlywed phase. The extended clip opens with Academy-Award winner Viola Davis speaking candidly about how nervous she was when she first met her husband, but then being flattered by his zeal.  

“I was terrified because he told me exactly who he was, he was absolutely honest about his past and then he brought me home and then said ‘you are a very beautiful and a nice woman and it was a pleasure spending time with you’ and he shook my hand and then I went in the house. Twenty minutes later he called again and I said ‘You got home already?’ and he said ‘No, I’m at the Ralph’s down the street, but I just wanted to tell you again what a great time I had and what a beautiful woman you are’ and I said ‘oh, ok.’  Twenty minutes later he called again and said ‘I just want to say I got home, but you’re a beautiful woman and I’m about to go to sleep and just wanted to tell you to have a good night.”

With interviews from Tia and Cory Hardwick, Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin as well as Flex and Shanice who have been married 17 years, these couples get real about what makes their relationship work. Check out the extended trailer below.

And if you are in the LA on the premiere date RSVP today for an exclusive first look at #OWN Network's new series, #BLACKLOVE! Happening August 29th, 2017 at 7pm. This Clips & Conversation based event is hosted by #HollywoodConfidential's brand new screening series. And will feature select cast members from #BlackLoveDoc and the show creators!

Quencie Interviews Dondré T. Whitfield

In interviewed three-time Emmy nominee Dondré T. Whitfield who plays irrigation specialist Remy Newell on OWN's hit show, Queen Sugar.  I remember Dondré from his recurring roles on The Cosby Show.  He was also on daytime drama Another World before landing his long-running role as Terence Frye on the hit daytime drama All My Children. For that role, Dondré was nominated for the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series three years in a row. 

Dondré is no stranger to big-screen audiences either, starring opposite Vivica A. Fox in The Salon and in a wide range of major studio and independent films, including director Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere with David Oyelowo, White Man’s Burden, Homeboyz II: Crack City, Two Can Play That Game, Pastor Brown, 35 and Ticking and the Helen Mirren–directed film Happy Birthday. A former semipro baseball player, Dondré was tapped to co-star as Skillet alongside Bernie Mac in Mr. 3000.  Check out my red carpet interview with at The Merge Summit. Watch below

Quencie Interviews Peter Parros of The Haves and Have Nots

It was so exciting to interview Peter Parros of Tyler Perry's The Have and Haves Nots on the red carpet of the NAACP Theater Awards.  What really surprised me about Peter was that his voice sounds nothing like his character David on The Haves and Have Nots. Now I know he is Peter and not David but I thought his voice would at least sound like his character.  This is how you know he is a good actor.  Find out what he says about what it is like to work with Tyler Perry on The Oprah Winfrey Network.  Watch our interview below.