Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Respect’s Lodric D. Collins

Actor-producer Lodric D. Collins has unquestionably earned the respect of his peers and audiences with the diverse range of characters he’s brought to life in film, television, and on the stage. Whether he’s starring as the Chief of Staff in Tyler Perry’s The Oval or as Lieutenant Marshall in Grimm, Lodric has quickly emerged as one to watch in Hollywood.

This August, he stars opposite Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, and Marlon Wayans in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, playing the iconic Smokey Robinson.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Lodric about his career, Respect, and stepping into the shoes of Smokey Robinson.

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting and storytelling?
Lodric: I was a really rambunctious, loud kid that would never sit down. One day, my grandmother took me to see a play when I was in elementary school. It was The Adventures of Oliver Twist. It was at this warehouse that was in the hood, not too far away from our house. She described it as the first time that I sat still and was quiet. It was a complete escape. I remember it like it was yesterday. I walked into an adventure that I didn’t want to leave. I understood all the details and the aspects that went into it.

I remember paying attention to the light that followed the actor across the stage. I remember hearing the sound that this person made on stage and that bounced off the wall behind me. I could hear it in the back of my head. I remember the escapism and the story that was being told in the escape the play provided. I remember leaving the theater and telling my grandmother, “I want to do that. I want to be a part of something like that.”

In true grandmother fashion, she goes to the person at the box office and says, “My grandson wants to do that. You got any flyers or pamphlets?” Before I knew it, we were walking out with a handful of flyers and pamphlets. A couple of weeks later, there was an audition at the same place for The Wizard of Oz. I went and I auditioned. I got the role of the scarecrow, and here we are.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Lodric: My brothers and my uncles. I grew up in a really big family. I have four brothers and seven uncles. That’s just on my dad’s side. I always paid attention. I would pay attention to my uncles. I would pay attention to my brothers. I idolized each one of their specific characteristics. I remember that I had a picture of two of my uncles who had these big afros. I had their picture by my bed. I wanted to be those guys.

When afros became out of date, I was still growing out an afro, so I could look like my uncles. I wanted to be them. I wanted to be like my brothers. When I think about characters that I have played, the foundation always starts with those men in my life. The idea that I can escape into the pathology of one of those people who means the world to me is a huge blessing.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Lodric: Respect is definitely the moment for me. I got to work with people that I idolized. I don’t talk about it much but Forest Whitaker is like gold to me. He’s the epitome of everything that I strive to be in this career. I had to remind myself when I worked with him that I was his colleague that day. That was the only way I could get through it. I have a motto for myself. I say, “I’m a student always,” which means that whatever environment that I’m in, I’m continuously attempting to learn.

With that said, there were moments when we’d shoot and I’d get an opportunity to sit on the side and watch him work. I remember thinking, “I would pay y’all for this right now.” [laughs] I’ve been working in the industry for a while and you see egos. You see all these things and then you get to a point where you see someone who you idolize and you see humility, you see professionalism, you see them applying the things that you’ve been trained to do. You see them professionally applying it. It tells you that you’re doing the right thing and on the right track. If I apply the humility, the gratitude, the charisma, I’ll be all right. I mean, I’m watching my idol do that in front of me!

PC: Tell us about the film and playing the iconic Smokey Robinson.
Lodric: It was great. He’s an icon to me. I grew up with this guy. The idea of playing a living legend is icing on the cake.

In terms of finding the character, it started with playing a whole bunch of Smokey Robinson songs. You realize in playing the songs that they’re an extension of the artist who wrote them.

He’s telling you something about his life through these words, which I never paid too much attention to. In the past, I was like, “These artists wrote these words. They’re telling a story. It may not be their story, but you realize at some point, this man may be telling his story.” He says, “My smile is my make up I wear since my break up with you.”He’s saying that he has a smile on his face, but it’s hiding something much deeper. That’s what I came to understand about him. That’s when you start to fall in love with the human being because that’s where humanity lies.

PC: Is there a different type of pressure when you’re playing a legend like Smokey Robinson?
Lodric: Hell yes. [laughs] I’m sorry for saying that, but that’s the only way I can describe it. I try not to seek validation in my work from other people, but I would love to hear Smokey Robinson say, “I really enjoyed what you did.”I would love to hear that. I hope when he sees it, he smiles or he’s proud to see it because he’s not just an icon and legend for me, but he’s a living legend.

When you’re gone, you don’t really have an opinion, but when you’re here, you do. I hope he sees something that he enjoys, respects, and loves. I thought about that for a long time when I got presented with the role. At some point, you have to let it go and trust that you’ve done the work.

PC: What do you hope audiences take away after they see the film?
Lodric: They’re going to be blown away. It’s no coincidence that Aretha Franklin chose Jennifer Hudson to do this job before she passed away. Audiences are going to come to have a better understanding of a legend—and I’m talking about Aretha Franklin. They’ll come to understand the humanity behind this legend—the struggle, the voyage, and the perseverance. Jennifer does it brilliantly in this project. I hope audiences will get a better understanding of this woman who existed and who gave us so much.

PC: You’re also one of the stars of The Oval. Is there anything you can tease about what’s ahead?
Lodric: Bombs will be dropped. This show is a ride. This season is going to be a ride like no other. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen on television. This season is crazy. I enjoyed shooting this season more than I have enjoyed shooting any series I’ve ever worked on. I remember reading the script and being like, “No way.” Then I read the next episode and I was like, “No way.” [laughs] It’s a constant build that doesn’t stop going. When it finally drops, you’ll be like, “Whoa.”

PC: You guys were just recently picked up for a third season. Congratulations, by the way. If you could write a storyline for your character, what would it be and why?
Lodric: I grew up idolizing James Bond as 007. I would love for my character to go on some 007 mission. He does it all right now within the White House. He already has a very James Bond-esque persona.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Lodric: The Real World.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Lodric: Coming to America. I don’t feel guilty about it. I am the biggest Coming to America fan. Oh, I can watch that all day, every day. That and Forrest Gump.

PC: Favorite book?
Lodric: The Five People You Meet in Heaven. It’s by the same author who wrote Tuesdays with Morrie. It’s about this man who works as a ferris wheel conductor. He dies and comes into contact with five people who were pivotal in his life and who guided him to where he was supposed to be. It makes me think of the important people in my life and how pivotal they’ve been.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Lodric: My favorite play is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. They did blind casting and had an African American cast of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It’s my absolute favorite play that I’ve seen. I remember when I started my career, I started at a theater called Lee Strasberg Theatre. I was one of the few African Americans there. They did a really good job of trying to help me find where I fit in. They were like, “Let’s find some August Wilson material for you to work on, pull from, and study from.” I studied Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, all these greats.

I loved and took pride in working on August Wilson’s material. I saw a lot of opportunities where I could fit in in the world of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or A Streetcar Named Desire. I saw these individuals as humans. Watching that play showed me that we can do blind casting and that there’s a link in humanity and a commonality that we all share.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Lodric: Tim McGraw.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Lodric: That’s a good one. I would hope that Harry Belafonte would get into a time machine.

To keep up with Lodric, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Respect is in theaters now.

Photo Credit: Storm Santos