by Cyrus Webb
I first had the chance to
interview Luenell in 2019, and it was definitely one of the highlights of the
year. The talented comedian/actress has made a name for herself on the stage, on
television and in film---but it is in LIFE that she really shines. In essence
what you see is what you get, and her fans wouldn’t have it any other way.
Luenell has been recognized
for her work literally around the world, and at the beginning of 2020 she was
honored at City Hall in Los Angeles as part of the city’s Black History Month
celebrations. Even the Coronavirus pandemic
hasn’t stopped her. Luenell started her own show on Youtube called “Hey Luenell”
where she has been able to talk about current events and all things going on
with pop culture and the world.
In this conversation we talk
about her success, her realness and the importance of being you.
Luenell, thank you so much
for the time. What has that been like for you to do something that you love and
to see the type of response you have gotten, especially online?
Well, it's very beautiful for
me, because with all the things that can go wrong with social media, there's a
lot of things that have gone right with it. The fact that I can get emails and
stuff from people in Amsterdam, from people in Sweden and from people in
Zimbabwe has been amazing to me. I wouldn't even think that my brand of comedy
or way of thinking would translate to those other countries when in all
actuality it has!
I guess like you stated it’s my
realness. I've lived long enough to see
the social and moral compass of our country go straight in the toilet. And I
think that the fact that I have been literally the same person since I left the
streets of East Oakland in California and moved to Los Angeles and incorporated
myself into Hollywood and Beverly Hills, I think that's refreshing to a lot of
people. You do see people change as they climb up the ladder, but I have not. I've
not been affected like [some] people are when they have access to excess, you
know what I mean?
Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Luenell,
you said something I want to go back to, because I think it is an important
point. There are those who have not had a quarter of the success that you've
been able to have and have changed. Do you think that realness is one of the
reasons you have not been affected by the spotlight like others have?
The family that I have and
the friends that I have would never allow that. If they saw me slipping into a ‘Me,
me, me, look at me. I'm so great’ type of category I would be quickly slapped
back down to reality. So there is no chance of me ever, ever, ever, going
Hollywood as they say. I'm just such a regular chick that, you know, I'll curse
out an executive in a meeting just like I'll cuss out a person on the street.
That’s just me.
Well, again, that goes to why
people love you so much. I mentioned there are so many different platforms
you’ve been on: stage, television and film. Do you find that stage is where
you're the most at home?
Yes, I do. I like the
immediate interaction with people. I like to see the people. I like to be able
to feel the laughter. It doesn't translate as well through film and television
for me, unless you're shooting a television show that has a live studio
audience.
I grew up in church choir,
which had that immediate response. I went into theater and did a lot of theater
when I lived in Oakland and performing in San Francisco. People in LA don't
even know about my theatrical chops. I just enjoy people, and I enjoy the vibe
of people. I enjoy the immediate reaction of people. That's why movies are such
a hard thing for me, because you get excited about it, you build a family and a
relationship, then it's over. They're gone, You're gone… and the movie doesn't
come out for another year. For someone who doesn't have a lot of patience like
me, that's a real ball-buster.
You have also embraced the
things that sometimes people run from. Right. You're not afraid to go there. I
noticed even when I was prepping for this segment and you know, am thinking
about not only the special but just in your, you know, in your life you've been
able to kind of just go in on these things. Do you find yourself kind of
capturing or keeping your power by attacking things that some people might try
to use as negatives?
Well, as far as age, weight, relationships
and all that, these are obvious things. It's like there's nothing more pitiful
to me than somebody who tries to be younger than they are. You know, you can be
hip, you can be with it, you can be knowledgeable and up on some of the
terminology and the slang and the culture, but c’mon. Have some class and
maturity about yourself.
I think that it's cool to
talk about the obvious. If you’re chubby, then you can't erase that away. You
can't embarrass that away. You can't pretend like it's not there. Address it. If
you have one arm, you wouldn't come out on stage and pretend like you have two
arms. You don't. We can see that. So let's talk about that. You know, I'm not
sure where I got this boldness from, but I know that it has been very
liberating for me to just come clean about the obvious, you know?
I don't aim my humor for anybody that I'm not.
I aim my humor towards people like me. And those are ticket buyers, movie watchers.
I appreciate the love that is reciprocated, because I definitely am talking to
you about all these subjects with love in my heart.
Stay connected with Luenell’s
journey at her website www.heyluenell.com,
Instagram at www.instagram.com/luenell
and her Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/heyluenell.
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