Gabrielle Denniscannot stop laughing.
Here, Dennis talks about how she got her start, the significance of Black identity and finding yourself.
DEADLINE: You used to be a camera operator before switching to acting.
Gabrielle Dennis on ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show.‘Tina Thorpe/HBO
Tell me about that time of your life and its influence on your career.
It was just more of, How do I get to the next level?
And for me, looking around, no one looked like me behind the camera, behind the scenes.
From left: Gabrielle Dennis and Robin Thede.Tina Thorpe/HBO
The camera operators and floor directors were older, mostly white men.
I dont have that kind of time.
[Laughs] So thats when I decided [to pursue acting].
So, I am grateful to this day that that job said no to me for the promotion.
What has it been like being a part of this journey?
DENNIS: Its been amazing because Ive been able to have a front-row seat to the show growing.
Its a show thats been placed on a platform where its been nominated and has won Emmys.
And were squeezing those into a three-month shooting schedule.
So, youre really pounding the pavement, and its fun.
But part of the fun is the challenge.
There are things that youd never think in your wildest dreams, I would do.
DENNIS: I love that I get the ability to grow.
But also, as an actor and performer, our training involves everything from Shakespeare to pointe ballet.
I went to a performing arts school and was trained as a triple threat.
This season, I do a ballet-dancing character.
Where else would I get that chance on any other shows that Ive done?
Ive gotten to play this gang leader who is very passionate about quality control and a great work environment.
And where would I get a chance to practice these accents and do all of that?
I love being able to utilize all of my gifts.
DEADLINE:The Big Door Prizeis a comedy that leans into drama.
Whats that genre switch-up like?
I had an emotional connection to it.
There was something so different and magical about the process that I liked.
Also, Im trying very hard not to be boxed into just one thing.
I would say that Jamie Foxx has been the epitome of what I think an ideal artist is.
So, for me, we were not taught to put limits on ourselves.
So, I started feeling like, OK, I havent done comedy in years.
And then Robin came and snatched me out of that space to do sketch comedy.
I feel like theres not another show on TV remotely like this.
DEADLINE: Your character Cass is interesting.
How do you read her?
DENNIS: Well, for me, I feel like Cass and I are both pretty adventurous.
Shes been scatterbrained all over the place in her life, trying to find herself.
I feel like I identify with that.
Ive done restaurant management, Ive done dancing.
Ive done all these things in my background to finally get to where something really sunk in.
And I feel like we all are chasing that thing, were finding ourselves in some way or another.
And I think thats Cass quest.
And happiness really, for me, I think, is the biggest thing.
Theres this scene where Dusty just asks her, Are you happy?
But theres some beauty in that, because you want to root for her to find herself.
You want to root for her to plant her feet under herself, for herself.
