Uinterview | U Q&A: Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith

She's the wife of Will Smith, who's making a name for herself in her hit TNT show HawthoRNe.

Q: You're one of the only African-American women to have had a leading role in a Prime Time dramatic series. What do you think about that fact in this day and age? - Erik Meers: A: Well it's definitely interesting. I think that's one of the reasons why I wanted to be in partnership with TNT because they were focusing on creating very strong leading roles for women in television shows. I think in Hollywood in general right now leading roles for women is a very difficult thing. And so it's a particular season right now. It's a particular cycle and it always comes back around. And I feel as though as far as roles for women and roles for African-American women, you know, there's always room. We definitely - we still need a lot of work in that area. But I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.
Q: You've played in a lot of ensemble casts in your career. And now you're in a very central role on HawthoRNe. How do you feel about that? - Erik Meers: A: It's interesting because I feel more comfortable now. The role is more central but it's still quite an ensemble. I'm just one who believes that, you know, ensemble is the way to go, you know? I just feel like to me that's just a very strong position. I'm enjoying it. I'm also enjoying having the opportunity to be able to come back and play the same character again. It's you learn more and more about your character when you have the opportunity live with it. I've been able to live with [my character] Christina for two years. I never really understood that when other actors would explain that to me. But I'm actually enjoying that process of being able to sit in this skin of this character for two years. And if I'm blessed enough to be able to do it for a third season as well. So I'm actually enjoying that process.
Q: You family has a lot going on this summer with HawthoRNe and the release of Karate Kid starring your son, Jaden. What will your summer be like? - Erik Meers: A: Well we're hoping that it'll be a very successful summer with the Karate Kid and with HawthoRNe. We'll be doing a lot of traveling for Karate Kid because we'll have to take it internationally. I'll also be doing some stuff internationally for HawthoRNe while I'm traveling with Jaden. And then we'll go on vacation after that. I'm going to take my little boy somewhere he wants to go to surf and relax. And then that'll be that.