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It’s Cafe Mocha with Loni Love Yo-Yo, I’m Angelique. Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway is on the line. Welcome back to the show.
Hey, how are you ladies?
Good. We want to talk about your latest project, which just dropped on Netflix. It’s called Just One of Them Days, starring Kiki Palmer and Sza. Uh for people who didn’t spend the money and go see it back in January like they were supposed to. What? What’s the movie about?
Well, I think that everybody’s going to really you start, they didn’t see it first up because it became a huge hit as we all all know. But it’s a female buddy movie and that’s what I personally like about it because we’ve seen the the black male buddy movies. But this is the female version of these young women. They just having one of those days, you know, and and just watch their day. And how they get through that series of problems that they’re faced with to get through this day? It’s just really funny. And when I tell you that Kiki and Sza, the chemistry. And it’s funny, I said this when I saw the movie before it was released. I said, my God, this is did a very good job, I said. And you know, the chemistry is great. And that’s exactly what all that was being said about the chemistry and what good job did. Yeah.
It was a really good movie. I really enjoyed it and I’m happy to see Isa and her producing role in everything. You know, this was scissors acting debut. Kiki grew up in front of the camera. Tell us about the set. Was it fun? Was there a lot of improvising on the set?
You know, it was both. It was a lot of fun because when you. Shoot a movie. I think Lawrence had, I want to say like 22 days to shoot or 24 days or something crazy like that to shoot the whole movie. So it’s fast-paced, but it’s fun. In the summer time, so it was warm, but everybody was in a, you know that summer vibes going on. Every shot acts literally at in the jungle, in a house, a complex for the apartment complex in the jungle. And that’s where the movie takes place. In the jungle, in the public complex, in the jungle, in LA. So that one was that was very cool about it too. And it was a lot of. And yeah, when you improvise, what they do is. You you do it the way it’s written and then on the next next take the take after them. But I think now do this and like Easter is good for like OK say this now throw this in you know so we’ve always adjusting and just trying to make it the best it could be. And then if you. Say something something comes. Out to you and you kind of get a vibe and you want you something that you know what it and you know. It may make it, it may not, but very open to being collaborative is I like to work that way.
Now being being a a friend of different generations, how is that? Because you have you been in the game for a long time, do you feel like you need to prep or do you just go in and and give more? Receiving more for those who feel like, OK, from from from singing to theater to on the screen, do you feel like you have to give more?
Well, you know. It is really because of the project, the world, the company you keep, it varies you, but you always want to give your best. I do. I always want to give as much as I need to or more to make sure that I’m I’m doing a good job. And you know when you get there you you get a chance to meet other people and like you said generations different ages, everybody has their process, their methods. It works. They’re, you know what they have been able to accomplish up to that point. Whatever age they are. And then they have their goals beyond that, what they want to accomplish. So you getting some great conversations they, you know, sometimes ask for advice or what do you think about this? So you know, you get your bond becomes closer, you get, you have to really talk to people when you’re working, when the cameras not really get a chance to really. To get to know each other so it it just varies. You know all that all that is is different for each role is different for each. Are you are you? In the movie The whole movie or are you in the movie just something, you know? It just depends on what you’ve said, how much you’ve said to different people so it’s. A.
Very, very, Vanessa. Tell us about how you got your start and where you grew up from getting into this crazy business of Hollywood.
Well, I guess I’m from Cleveland. OH, and I got my side of the camera loss, which is the first African American regional theater in the country. The very special place to me. And that’s where I lived in very much in the inner city. Cleveland and that’s where I started. Started dancing. I’m a I was a concert dancer 1st and that was my first love. So I started taking dancing classes. And by the time I was age 16, I was in care with dance company and we did local events around Cleveland. But we also traveled, and my stepdad had to go with me because I was. Lighter, but this was my first love, so that’s how I got into the business. And then after I went to college and got my bachelors Fine Arts concentration and dance from Ohio Universe. Which I’m very mad at right now, but that’s another topic, but I got my my best house from them. And I used. To go to New York in the summer because I got awarded at Alvin Ailey scholarship after my first year of college. And since four years, every summer, I would go to Alvin early, early Christmas time because once you get a scholarship, you there. I got my first scholarship and I would literally travel to New York Christmas break. And I would travel to New York every summer, and I would dance. And I’m a native. And then when I graduated, I moved to New York, and I danced with Alvin 80s. And, like, you know, the dance company I was studying there, I didn’t dance with the company, but I was studying there. And then I started dancing with other small companies on the side. But I had to work. So I was a waitress cause I was broke and hungry. So a waitress. And then. Eventually I left 80s because it just, you know, I wanted to pursue other things and I literally would get off of work at 2:00 in the morning. I had to be a ballet at 8. And that’s started getting rough. You know, as I always tell my girls, I didn’t have Tony and Vanessa. I just have no money. I had to. I had to, like, really pay for. My own way so. We’re not let into. Well, you know, I started dancing with small companies and then I started doing Broadway, and I started doing TV. And the next thing I know I if I did all my children and they wrote my character out of the soap opera because I was messing with Debbie and Angie, which is Darnell Williams. And and Debbie Morgan, I was messing up their marriage. And that’s like. They come by the 80s when they didn’t. You know, like is is a black character with the show and you had to visit not. You had to leave the old path because they didn’t have the will for you to know. Other just just, you know, other people who just don’t mess with somebody else’s marriage, you know. But because he was black and I was messing with their marriage when they wanted to, they didn’t get back together. My character had to leave town because there was no place else for me to go, you know, because they just weren’t really that degraded on soap operas.
Right.
So, but that was kind of like, you know, you just have to go on. God bless you, Mr. That was a huge blessing because what it did is the baby come out to California because I would like to get y’all. I’m gonna go. I’m gonna follow my character because she moved out to California. So I’m gonna move out there with her too and see what I can do. And I bought a one way ticket and came out here.
Wow.
And the rest is history. Really took off when I came out here to bed. I got soap operas, commercials. So when I got out here, I had a pretty decent resume, you know, for somebody my age. I especially my Broadway resume, they were very interested in my theater work and I was a professional dancer. And I said good enough, you know, so I was able to, you know, come out here. Just really expand and and grow, and let’s see if that was started.
It’s Cafe Mocha we’re talking to. Vanessa Bell Calloway. Her latest project is currently streaming on Netflix. It’s called one of them days. Cafe Mocha. Angelique Loni Love. I’m doing it backwards. Cafe Mocha, Loni Love. Yo-Yo, I’m Angelique on the line. Vanessa Bell Calloway, we’re talking a bit about your career. And you mentioned soap operas. I mean, you can decline to answer, but have you seen the new black soap opera Beyond the Gates?
I have not. I have not. Once, I just have not had time yet, but yeah.
All black cast wealthy generational wealth. Which brings me to the black Hamptons. Do you know if that’s coming back or?
That’s great. Good. Well, yeah, I would say that when I saw the commercial, I said, oh, this reminds me, the black BT, you know that the first one we we got caught up in that DT sale or whatever was going on over there. We got part of the shopping plot. But that’s OK. I got this season 2 coming out in October. We just finished shooting that and that is his there though. That is going to be, I mean I can’t wait for season 2 if they can come out because I think people don’t love it.
You know, I want to ask you about the Coming to America and that iconic part. That you had and that feeling of having that iconic, hilarious part, can you can you give us a little flavor of what it was like shooting that?
Well, I’ll tell you this one thing I learned from that is like you never know what God has in store for you. So when you just follow your path and just do, you know, be obedient and stop trying to. Be and do and be in places that you ain’t supposed to be. Good things happen. The reason I say that is because I’ve. Been audition for. I might. I don’t want that part. I wanted to meet the well, everybody that wanted to lease the role because the bigger role we all auditioned for that part and that will get the chance to director they, you know, have me meet John Landis. He wanted me to leave. Money. And I was a little disappointed in that meet and he said that you don’t read this. And I was like, I don’t want to meet Lisa, you know. So I went out into the hallway and I had to, you know, just on my seat. I could come back in and read that part for him. And then I was invited to meet Eddie Murphy and all the producers and I had to read that part. And like, you know, I got the job and I was like, OK, I’m gonna do this part, but I really don’t want to do the role, you know, because you would, you know, and years later to get that keeps on giving. You know, I’m so happy that I did that part and that that was. That was to me, that was my part. They got it said.
MHM.
Like I wanted to what I thought was the bigger, better part, but to me that ended up being the bigger, better part. You know what I’m saying? So so that’s what I’m saying. And sometimes you you you can’t control everything. You just gotta go with it and just trust it. And that and that experience taught me that lesson. Just, just just to have faith and know the guy that you just don’t don’t go with it, you know. Control everything.
Is Cafe Mocha. We are talking to Vanessa Bell Calloway. I want to talk about the Vince Staples show for the people who haven’t seen it yet. That’s on Netflix as well. He’s a rapper. Hey.
Where’s the charge?
Yeah, that’s what makes it so funny. Is he’s a rapper who’s very famous in his right and people know him, know him. But people that don’t know don’t know it’s funny because he’s got he’s, like, kind of famous, really famous. You kind of, you know, what you may not know. You know what I mean? You got exactly a household. But people turned out for him. So that’s what’s interesting. And that’s part of what the show is about. He plays himself. It’s hysterical. This season, last season was funny, but this season, I mean, I can’t wait for people to see it because it’s bigger. I was laughing out loud when he was doing and laughing when I was ready.
Mm-hmm.
So I feel like if it transfers over to the television the way we did it, it’s going to be it’s, it’s hysterical. I know people gonna love it.
Well, for the people who haven’t seen it and don’t know who he is, what is season 1 about? Why should we? Why should they, TuneIn. It’s hilarious.
Like I said, you you kind of have. It’s it’s different, it’s a different vibe. It’s not like your typical, you know, it’s it’s not like it’s a comedy, but it’s not like shot, like comedy, you know, it’s it’s humor, but you just gotta you got to get to humor, and they should watch it just because of the black shows. You black should watch it. That’s, you know, we know we got, we got we gotta support each other these days. Y’all y’all know what’s going on in this country but it it’s just a different style of. That’s. Company and like I said, it’s funny if you don’t only get back and that’s even when we were watching. If you’re fan of it, you gonna watch it because he’s famous, but he’s got 8 famous, almost famous, but not really. And also something he goes through and and he’s from the hood. He’s from. He’s from Long Beach originally. So all the stuff that goes on. That and the family members and you know somebody after making everybody wants it, wants your money and so so it’s it’s a lot of elements. So I think they just. And then when you see check out season 1. So when season 2 drops you really you’ll know what’s going on.
How how do you keep yourself so into the game, like knowing all the lingo and what’s going on today. Being in this game for almost what, 4 decades or more.
OK. Thank you.
I said, how do you how how do you learn the lingo? I mean, I know you have kids. Do you take that in consideration when you’re working with this new generation? I mean, that’s four generation sometimes. I don’t know who someone is, what they’re talking about. And I have to ask many questions.
Well, I just you know, I do have kids and I just speak to them and I mean I, you know, I like being around young people and my kids are great, and they have a lot of friends, lot houses, that house and everybody comes to their party here. They come over here at dinner. We just hang out. So I’m around a lot of young adults and they they. Current, but also just you know, I like life. I like being out of being in and. I don’t know how I’m supposed to ask for my age, so it’s just confusing everything you know, you you feel like that really is because you feel like that’s like I’m like maybe early 50s. You know, I don’t know. And then I look at myself, I go. Yeah, you look at me longer than that, but, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to act because I just do me and.
Listen, Angelique.
You know what? Yo-Yo and Angelina. I’ve hung out with Vanessa Bell Calloway. Many, many, many a times. And when I say she is the life of the party, everybody knows her. You don’t hear? Not one bad thing about her. It’s it just. It’s just, yeah, I.
Sweetest.
It just it just gives you that feeling of, you know, this is what Hollywood, especially Black Hollywood be about, you know, and being in that season.
Thank you.
Right.
Thank you. I just you know, I just try to, you know, treat people like I want to be treated and just I think that my mother told me something years ago when I was little and I couldn’t let her say that. But she said you could get more. You get more flies with honey than you can. We should, you know, and you know.
Yeah, yeah.
She also taught me that it takes a lot of energy to be nasty. You know you when you get older, you understand it takes a lot of energy to be mean and.
Hmm.
And contagious and annoyed with everybody. You know, that takes a lot of energy to like. We got every day mad about something or mad at someone and call yourself and gossiping about this and you never happy. That takes a lot of it, is just so much easier just to choose happiness and and all who gets you gets, you know, why don’t you pray for me. Keep it moving. You know, I I go for the easier loop.
It looks like you’re sleeping in the lap of happiness. Your land with love, and you’re living with joy I. OK. Saw this big celebration in Los Angeles months back for your birthday. Happy belated birthday. You look amazing. Amazing. I saw your. Pictures with deep blank. Oh my God, I mean.
Yeah, I did that in January. I thought that in January when I was in town to load the one in the days. But I love them I.
You’re a new influencer. You’re you’re a new influencer.
Always like to get first you.
I mean you you the top of the line. I see you on Instagram and I’m looking at your pictures and then I just went to just check your age, I said. No way. No way. No way.
Yeah, that’s a lot. They told me I can’t. That’s a lie. They told me they. Told me I. Was born on March 20, 1957.
Because can I tell you? Something you will come. You look gorgeous.
In this industry, you got to stay young anyway, but I also, you know, I want to know how do you balance the industry? And your personal life with your family? Give us a little give. Give us a few Nuggets about that.
Well, you know, you start that early on like that was very blessed to have the perfect partner for me. You know, when my I met my husband, I mean, it was just we just fell right as a kid. Immediately a year, eight months later, we were married. We went on one date and a year later and eight months later we were married. And then two years after that, we had our first child. So it’s just that was the first thing. And I I chose the right partner for me, and together we built our world and he’s always been so encouraging and supportive. And I know sometimes with my little one, my youngest daughter, who was very she was my koala baby bear. And I would cry, and I had to leave out of town to leave her. And she cried. We’d both be crying. I’ll be crying. And she crying, right? Because I grab you and look at your **** on that place. Not like because I had to work, you know, because I didn’t. I chose to work. You better get your bill on that plane because he wanted to have a life. You know, he wanted me to be happy. And when you start like that, like I was on Broadway for six months last year, but my family was so supportive. And my daughters now obvious. Your girls, even though they don’t live with us anymore, it still affected them that I was gone for six months and my daughter got married. My other daughter. So I came home to the wedding obviously, but I literally was gone. Not home and that it it it affects everybody would I’m gone because I’m the mother, you know, I’m the one that brings everybody together. And especially for my husband, it was a huge sacrifice. But my family’s willing to make that sacrifice because they know I love what I do and they love me and they want me to be happy. So that’s about. You just, you get every, you know we got Team Ashley Team Ally Team 20 teams in the US. If whoever’s turn it is, we all go and support that person for whatever it is they’re trying to accomplish, you know? And it was my turn. And everybody, really. My family showed up. They showed up to me 100% and it was a great great time.
It’s Cafe Mocha on the line, Vanessa Bell Calloway the movie Just One of Them Days. Well, that’s the Monica song, right? That’s the Monica song. Do they play the Monica song in the movie?
I don’t know. I don’t remember. They had some original music.
Yeah.
Just One of Them Days is currently streaming on Netflix and I wanted to ask you about your husband cause we over here, Google and Google and he’s an anesthesiologist. He’s like a. Doctor.
Yes. Yes, yes, he’s the anesthesiologist and a business man. We have businesses as well.
You suck.
So, so many Hollywood people link up with the other Hollywood people. Were you tempted to do that? Did you ever have, like, little brushes?
I’m a lot more nothing. But you finish it. Not a never wanting to date an actor. Not at all. Was never tempting, didn’t look for him, didn’t want him. No.
Smart, smart, smart.
I thought you were asking was she the life of the party? Like Loni said? Of course she is. She is this.
No excuse to ask if I ever wanted. If I ever dated the actor, just getting to would I ever want to hook up with actor and then I just say something positive.
You know that’s.
That’s all nosey Angelique. That’s nosey Angelique. That’s her.
But that’s just that’s really what I wanted. Wasn’t for me.
Oh my goodness. That’s why she stayed married.
Right.
Exactly, exactly. The very I. You know, I have a very regular life, you guys. I mean, my house is nice, but it’s very humble. It’s a nice house. It’s just regular. It’s not a mansion or on the state behind gates. And it’s, you know, I live in the neighborhood. I have regular friends who have.
Do your kids.
No connection to the industry and that I have a lot of my industry friends and we have parties and dinner parties and and some a little bit of some everybody in my bed at my house. But I live a very regular life. I go to the grocery store, I go to my cleaners, I go downtown to get my own flowers and go shopping and do what I need to do for me. I go here, I go to. You know, it’s very regular and my neighborhood. People know me and they they know like, Oh my God, you know who in the line at the grocery store. And somebody asked me, we will talk track of a conversation. All the cashiers at their house know me. The deeper the cleaners, knowing me, you know if I live a very regular life, I promise you nothing like get some blame about my everyday life. You should see how I look right now.
But to me, that’s the best way to. I mean, it’s a great balance of, you know, you’re not getting all caught up in Hollywood, but you still live.
Yeah.
A good life. You, you know. You know how many people wish that they had that type of life where they had the family, where they had the career and you were able to find what fit you instead of, you know, like ohh, I have to live in a mansion because I’m on TV. You know, you don’t have to do that. You found your happiness.
Yes, I did. And I love my house. I love my house. I have the best backyard ever, you know? So. But you’re right. You you do. You put in what makes you happy. And that’s why I’ve been able to find.
Well, you make us happy, Miss Vanessa Bell Calloway, this is.
Thank you. Next time to drink, call me. They’re gonna do something different than the drinks on me next time.
Wait, you said Lonnie saved your life. Tell me about that.
Girl, we was at the screening and I was about to. I was so parsed. I was about to pass out and I had taken an Uber and I just said that, you know, just thirsty. And the line, it was slow. And she was up there. And I finally kind of got close and she just got my drink and pay for it and and save me next time. Call me. We gotta do something a little stronger.
OK, no problem. Thank you so much for joining us today. Thank you, ladies.
Catcher and one of these days on Netflix and the Vince Staples show, also on Netflix.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Yes, ladies have a great day. I love that you guys have a good time, OK?
Thank you. Bye bye.
