Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Sistas’ KJ Smith

For over a decade, KJ Smith has made poignant statements with her performances in projects including Queen Sugar, The Fix, and Family Business.

This January, she reprises her role as the high-powered attorney Andi Barnes in BET’s Sistas. Now in its fourth season, Andi must navigate her complicated past in a fast-paced, high-stakes industry with the help of her close-knit girlfriends.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with KJ about her career, how failure has led her to success, and what’s ahead for Andi in Season 4 of Sistas.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting and storytelling?
KJ: It’s always been in me. I remember being a child and performing in my room by myself. I would watch my favorite TV shows and emulate the people that I saw on TV. It’s always been so exciting to go into this other world.

I’ve always had it in me, but it wasn’t until I failed at everything else that I went into it. [laughs] I went the traditional route: went to college and graduate school. I went to corporate America, and I was unsatisfied and unhappy. I was like, “What else can I do?”

It was literally when I decided to stop being scared of myself and my potential that I was like, “This is what you used to do. This is what you love to do.” Because at the time, it was preached that you should do what you need to do, do what you got to do. I was like, “No, I should do what I love to do. Everything else follows.” But my parents weren’t from that school of thought. Naturally, that’s not what they told me. They told me, “You’ve got to go where the money is!” Ironically, that was unsatisfying. Money certainly does not make you happy.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
KJ: Hands down, my mom. She’s believed in me my entire life. If I said I wanted to go to the moon, she was like, “Let me help you get there. Let me help you pack. Let’s figure out how to do it.” She was my biggest supporter. She always believed in me. Most of the time, it was me getting out of my own way because I definitely had the love and support of my parents.

Professionally, Tyler Perry, hands down. He’s changed my life a few times. I’m so grateful for that man. He’s a genius. He’s an icon. He has changed the industry single-handedly, and a part of that change was adding me to one of his shows. That has really impacted my life and the world. Our show came on last night and we’re now getting messages from fans from all over the world. I’m pinching myself. It’s so surreal. So definitely Tyler Perry. Sometimes it just takes that one person to believe in you for other people to even see you. He allowed me to be seen. I’ve been blessed to do movies and other television shows since then. I’m so grateful for that human being.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
KJ: The moments that stand out are the ones that were unsuccessful. Those moments stand out to me. I remember I did background for several years. It feels like it was a short time, but I remember counting up the years that I did background work. It was six years. I was a background artist for six years. Every moment on set as a background artist really shaped who I was going to decide to be as an artist. In the background, you’re able to see all these different leads and how they lead a show, how they study their lines, how they act on set, how they treat the crew, and how they talk to the director. If it had not been for my background experience when I started, I wouldn’t be as professional as I feel like I am today.

When you jump into it, no one tells you that you do more than act. You have to manage people. You have to engage with your cast. You have to make people feel seen, special, loved, and appreciated because everyone makes this thing run. Every single person is important. Because I was able to see how people treated the people that were “unseen,” I was like, “I can’t be that way.” That was very important to me. I try to learn people’s names. I try to ask people what they do. That little moment can change their day.

When people are on set and they’re like, “My mom loves you. Can you call her and tell her, ‘Thank you for watching the show?’” I’m like, “Yes. Call her right now.” I never turn down that opportunity because that is the thing that makes people really feel as important as they are. It’s like, “You’re important to this production. You’re important to me.”

I definitely think my background work really, really helped shape the person I was going to be. There are actors who are like, “Don’t talk to me. Nobody talk to me, ever.” I respect that too, but I was determined what person I was going to be based on who I am as a person. I’m gregarious. I’m outgoing. I love people. I could take my passionate and emotional self and be a tyrant or I can take it and love on the people who make this work and who literally made me who I am.

Sistas

PC: You’re one of the stars of Sistas and the series has been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences?
KJ: As with so many great shows before us, people see themselves in us. In addition to audiences being able to see themselves reflected on the screen, the through-line of our series is relationships. Oftentimes we talk about the romantic relationship, but the through-line is relationships in general: how you interact with your best friends, how you interact with your coworkers, how you interact with your loved ones, how you interact with your lover. Our show shows so many different relationships. Everyone feels included in some capacity. You know how music is? Music is the thing that brings us all together. When people can see relationships on television and in film, it makes you feel more connected. I love that people have fallen in love with our characters or hate our characters. They have a strong emotional reaction, and it’s exciting that we can make people feel those emotions. That makes me happy. I feel like that’s the thing that makes us a dynamic show, cast, and crew.

I think our show has the perfect amount of everything. It’s a little bit funny. It’s a little bit dramatic. It has action. It’s a bit of everything. You can’t really go wrong when you include everything in one show.

PC: Speaking of those relationships, which has been your favorite to explore? Has that changed from season to season?
KJ: It changes every season. In the first season, my character Andi was really focused on her romantic relationship. She neglected her friends. We see her evolve. Unfortunately, she’s not romantically committed to anyone right now. She’s focusing on her friends. What’s next for her is to be able to do both. I think it’s going to be nice for everyone to see her balance that because it’s very hard to balance.

I was telling someone the other day that a friend called me and she was like, “We used to hang out every day.” I was like, “Sweetie, I got a man now. I can’t hang out every day. I can hang out like once a month.” [laughs] Finding that balance is hard. You have to work on every relationship and friendship.

That’s the thing that we have watched Andi try to figure out every season: “How much time do I give to work? How much time do I give to my person? How much time do I give to my friendships?” It’s been nice to see her struggle with that. It makes a lot of our viewers upset because they’re like, “She needs to be spending time with her friends.” There are plenty of women like this. There’s a season for everyone like this, where they’re focusing a hundred percent on one thing and they neglect certain things in their lives.

PC: With Season 4 airing now, what can you tease about what’s ahead for Andi this season? What can fans expect?
KJ: People are going to see this woman evolve and stand in her power and understand what friendship really means. I can’t wait for people to see the true Andi come out. She has been in this cloud of love and manipulation for a very long time. The rose-colored glasses are coming off. When you can see, you can go in a better direction. I feel like Andi is going in a better direction and making better choices for herself and the people she loves. Everyone’s going to start to see the true Andi. It’s interesting when you’re with someone and you have a codependent situation. You lose yourself in that person. Andi definitely lost herself in her relationship. Now she’s finding herself again. I think people are going to freaking love it.

PC: In addition to the work you’ve done on screen, you’ve also used your platform to give back to your community. How did you discover your voice as an advocate and as a mentor?
KJ: I do the things that pull at my heartstrings. That’s what I’m going to lend my heart, resources, and time to. Advocacy is very important to me because of my lineage and because of my place on this planet. Advocacy is always going to be number one. I’m speaking out for the people who can’t speak for themselves. That’s very important to me. Not saying anything is not serving anyone, so I use my voice the best way I can to help any way I can.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
KJ: First, it’s my show. I watched it three times each week. I’m not kidding you. I watch the East Coast, Central, and West Coast runs because I live-tweet. That’s my guilty pleasure. People are like, “You watch your own show?” I’m like, “Absolutely. 100%.” That first and foremost.

I also just started watching Euphoria. I’m like, “What? This is a world I know nothing about, but wow.” I feel guilty for watching it because they’re children but they’re going through really traumatic situations and it makes me uncomfortable to watch, but it’s got my attention.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
KJ: Step Brothers. If I’m ever in a bad mood, I can put it on. I know it’s so silly and obnoxious, but Will Ferrell makes me laugh. That guy is so freaking funny. Any movie he is in is going to be my guilty pleasure because he’s fantastic. The way I laugh at him is quite embarrassing. I have all his gifs in my phone. [laughs] I can quote him verbatim.

PC: Favorite book?
KJ: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. It was the first time that I visualized Black people in a sci-fi world. It was my first time. It opened up my imagination. I don’t really watch sci-fi like that, but it was my first time reading a sci-fi book where they described the characters as having “chocolate skin” and things like that. I’ve read Harry Potter and similar books, which are great, but this was the first time I visualized Black people in those kinds of stories. It’s opened up my imagination and now I see it on film and television all the time. It’s very exciting.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
KJ: It’s a tie between Moulin Rouge! and Chicago. I saw the 25th anniversary of Chicago on Broadway. Nevermind, it’s Moulin Rouge! It was insane. My senses were on fire. It was so beautiful. The performers were incredible. The dance numbers were so good. I love, love, love that musical.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
KJ: John Mayer. I have Taylor [Swift] on my playlist.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
KJ: I love Tessa Thompson. I love her. I’m a huge fan of her. I would be so honored if she played me because she’s so great.

To keep up with KJ, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Sistas every Wednesday at 9/8c on BET.

Photo Credit: Leigh Keily