Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Bigger’s Tanisha Long

Tanisha Long is bringing the laughs in her starring role as Layne in BET’s Bigger. Similar to her character, Tanisha is a larger-than-life personality who’s carving her own lane in the industry. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Tanisha about Bigger Season 2, overcoming adversity, and paving the way for the next generation of Black actresses ready to make their mark.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Tanisha: I actually discovered acting by mistake. I didn’t grow up thinking I was going to be an actress; it never crossed my mind. I was very obsessed with TV and film because I wasn’t allowed outside. I actually wanted to be a dancer because I watched a lot of ice skating as a kid. I’m a terrible dancer, so that dream would have never worked out. I see why my mom stopped me from trying to go to high school for dance. [laughs] She was like, “Look, girl. No.” [laughs]

I ended up going to college for something I didn’t like, which was marketing. Who wants to do that? Much like my character Layne on Bigger, I dropped out because I was broke and hated marketing. Then, I moved to New York and became a hostess and cocktail server at these cool places in New York, like Bryant Park Hotel, Soho Grand, and Tribeca Grand.

The whole time I was just spending money, enjoying my time with friends, eating all the amazing food in New York. New York’s an amazing city when you’re in your early twenties. I’m way too old for that now.

But I was having a blast and decided to take improv classes. I was like, “Let’s see what this is.” I fell in love with it. It was so fun. I put myself through an entire program at an improv school. I got on the house teams. I actually got found by an agent while I was performing in a basement on one of those goofy house teams. He was like, “You’re going to be a star!” I was like, “What?” Who says that, first of all? [laughs] So I was like, “All right, man. So, you’re going to sign me?” He did.

Not too long after that—I think it was two weeks—I booked a movie with Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. I was like, “I’m an actor now?” That was the turning point where I was like, “Okay. This is not a joke. I’m an actor. What else am I going to do?” I loved it. It made me feel a way I’ve never felt about anything in my entire life, other than a bowl of pasta. [laughs] I was like, “I’m going to do this,” and that’s what happened. Then, I started to pursue it seriously.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Tanisha: It’s so hard because it’s such a mashup of things, and it often changes. I grew up watching a lot of sketch comedy like In Living Color and SNL. I would sneak and watch Mr. Show on HBO and Kids in the Hall, and stuff like that. I was obsessed with Comedy Central.

Now, I look at people like Viola Davis and Kerry Washington. I look at people who are a lot younger than me—better actresses—that are coming. What’s so inspiring to me is when I see teenage Black actresses doing well in Hollywood. That’s such a beautiful thing because I know when I was their age, I would have never thought of trying to become an actress because no one looked like me on TV. If they did, they were playing something that may have been degrading. So, I’m constantly inspired by other Black women.

PC: In addition to acting, you’re also a writer. How has your work behind the scenes made you a stronger actress and vice versa?
Tanisha: The time that I spent writing, I was writing out of necessity. I was writing things that I, myself, wanted to see on TV. When I finally started auditioning for things similar to what I was writing, I was like, “Oh my goodness. This is what I wanted.” It was very easy for me to recognize and know what lane I wanted to be in. I said lane. I’m sorry. [laughs] My character’s name is Layne…that was not on purpose.

It’s funny because I don’t write as much now because I’m so fulfilled as an actor. My agent doesn’t like that; he wants me to write more. [laughs] I’m trying to write more. He’s like, “Tanisha, come on, let’s sell something.” I told him, “I’m trying, but you keep giving me so many auditions.” [laughs]

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a moment that stands out?
Tanisha: I actually think the moment that stands out to me the most right now is when I had my final callback for Bigger. Right before that, I was about to quit acting. I was so done. I told my manager this story. He was like, “I can’t believe you almost quit. You almost had a bunch of jobs.” I was like, “I’m so done. I hate this. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m tired of losing jobs to famous people. I’m not famous. I’m not related to anybody famous. I’m also broke.” I ran out of all my acting money. I was done. I was like, “If I don’t book anything or at least test for something this pilot season, I’m going to take it as a sign that I should quit.”

The stuff I was auditioning for, a lot of it had undertones to them that were not things I wanted to do as a Black woman. It was like, I don’t know if this is what I need. If this is how I have to exist within this, I don’t know if I want to exist within this—maybe I’ll go be a pastry chef or something. I was ready to leave. Then, I got the script for Bigger, and it blew every other thing I had in my inbox out of the water. I’m saying that like I had all these options. [laughs] They were all banging down my door, trying to book me. [laughs]

But I remember reading a bunch of things that day, and that was the one that I read like fifteen times. I love that pilot script so much. It was so funny. I literally emailed my agent and was like, “I want this job so bad, so I don’t know what we have to do. I know what I’ll do. I want this job.” I hadn’t felt like that in so long. I went in and I got a callback on the spot from Robi Reed. That’s only happened one another time. I was standing there like, “What is happening right now?” She was like, “Let me print you out a new script.”

It was so sweet and kind. I’m used to pilot season being a revolving door. Nothing against casting directors; they have so many people coming in at once for something that you’re just in and out. They can’t really communicate with you. This was a very, very special experience. I came back to the producer session, and they were sitting there, being so kind and laughing. It made me feel so welcome and at home. I was like, “If I don’t book this one, I’m going to cry.” But this was a very cool experience, and I was like, “Maybe I don’t need to quit acting.” I made it to the chemistry read and the network test, and I booked it. It was a really life-changing moment that made me feel like acting could be something that I fell in love with again.

PC: That’s an incredible and inspiring story. Speaking of Bigger, what can fans expect from Season 2?
Tanisha: This season, the gang has grown up. Without spoiling too much, everybody is in a different space. They’re a little bit more emotionally equipped to handle it, but also, they find new ways to create problems for themselves. Layne’s store is doing fantastic, but can she handle it? Now she needs bigger goals because we all know once you get the thing you want, you want the next thing that’s bigger and harder to get.

We’re also in a pandemic world. The group hadn’t seen each other for six months, and this is the first time they’re all getting together. It’s what I imagine is happening with a lot of friends right now that had a lot of drama. The pandemic stopped them from seeing each other. Now they’re like, “Oh, hi!”

PC: With this being a comedy, how much of it is written and how much of it is improv?
Tanisha: A lot of it’s written. But Felischa Marye, our creator, and our directors are really amazing; they let us do whatever we want. We’re doing what’s on the page, and then they’re like, “Hey, you guys improvise for a bit.” All the producers are cool with it…until we get out of hand. [laughs] Then, they’re like, “All right, stop it.” That would happen a lot because we would just start making fun of each other in character. They’d be like, “We don’t need all this for every scene.” [laughs]

PC: Which of Layne’s relationships has been your favorite to explore? Has that changed from Season 1 into Season 2?
Tanisha: My favorite relationship of Layne’s is the relationship with her mother. It has changed—in Season 1, they surprised me with the Deon thing. I was like, “Wait, what is this?” Like, I knew there was a chance of it happening, but I didn’t know how deep it was going to be. The level of that was insane, especially having to create it in such a small period of time. I hadn’t even met Chase [Anthony] before. It was nuts to have to create that emotional history for a character. It was so much fun to do.

Now, there’s the relationship with her mother. We touched on it in the first season, but in the second season, there’s so much more of it. I had so much fun pulling from my actual relationship with my own mother and how it can sometimes be challenging when you have a mother who’s overbearing, and very much loves you, but won’t let you be your own person sometimes. How do you communicate with them? You came out of their body. They often tell you that they brought you in and they can take you out. [laughs] I was so lucky they cast Debi Morgan as my mother. She’s incredible, so talented, and a legend. I had the most fun shooting with her.

PC: If you had to describe Season 2 in a hashtag, what would it be?
Tanisha: #MessyBoots. Messy boots all day.

PC: In addition to the incredible work you’re doing on screen, you’re also using your platform to bring awareness to causes that you’re passionate about. How did you discover your voice as an advocate?
Tanisha: I feel like I have such a small voice as an advocate. I try to uplift the voices of actual advocates. I think there could be a lot of confusion with public figures. I’m an entertainer. I’m sober. I suffered from anorexia. I’m happy to talk about those things. I’m a Black woman. I’m happy to talk about gender and race, when it’s appropriate, and when I feel comfortable lending my voice to it. That’s the other thing, too. It’s great for me to be able to lend my voice, but sometimes I don’t have the emotional capacity to lend my voice, just like anybody else. Sometimes I just want to post a selfie on my Instagram instead of posting a video about a Black person being shot. It’s a lot. It’s a lot to take on.

I have a really amazing friend. Her name is Pia Glenn, and she works for Safe Place for Youth. It’s a place in Los Angeles that helps provide housing for young people experiencing homelessness. She’s someone who I’m always like, “Check out this org and check out my friend Pia and what she’s doing.” She knows exactly what she’s doing. I don’t want to piggyback on what other people are doing; I try to make sure I’m supporting the actual advocates.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Tanisha: This also relates to Pia Glenn. It’s her fault that I started watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I watched every season of that show in, like, a month. I was so upset when it ended. I watched all of the reunions. I was yelling at my TV. I was so embarrassed, but I couldn’t stop. I loved it. I can’t wait for it to come back.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Tanisha: I don’t feel guilty about this at all, but people try to make me feel guilty. I love all the ’90s Robocop movies, and I’m not ashamed. You can try to make me feel guilty, but I don’t.

PC: Favorite book?
Tanisha: The last book I read was called I’m Lying to You, but I’m Telling You the Truth by Bassey Ikpi. She’s this incredibly talented Black writer. I interact with her a lot on Twitter. She’s very funny, but the book is about her struggles with her own mental health. She’s very open about that on Twitter, too. It’s brilliantly written because dealing with sobriety and anorexia, it’s like you experience life like you have two different brains. You’re being told a lie by your brain to get you through what you’re going through—that’s what her book is about. It’s her entire childhood into adulthood. It’s very heavy, but very well-written.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Tanisha: My favorite band is Beach House. I love Shoegaze music, Shoegaze-y sounding, especially. But Beach House sounds like Los Angeles to me. I already loved them before I moved here.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Tanisha: This isn’t possible, I guess, but I want Tracee Ellis Ross to play me in the story of my life. That would be like them making it now and pretending we know what happens later, and I’m fine with it. I don’t care because I love her.

To keep up with Tanisha, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Bigger on BET+.

Photo Credit: Jessica Castro