We first really fell in love with Tasha Smith from the moment she hit the screen in Tyler Perry's mega-hit movie, "Why Did I Get Married." Playing the loud, yet lovable, Angela, she reminded us of the bold girlfriends we all love to have around because she can fight, or served as a silver screen reflection of the woman in the mirror. So when Tyler Perry decided to bring the characters of Marcus and Angela into our living rooms with the weekly sitcom, "For Better or Worse," fans were more than excited to see what crazy antics she would resort to "keep Marcus in line." And they didn't disappoint. Tonight, the second season returns, offering more "comedy than drama," says Tasha via telephone. Here, the recently married New Jersey native, shares the secret to living life on her terms, why obstacles are something she welcomes, and why when it comes to doing laundry, only she can clean her husband's underwear.
AMBERmag.com: How did the show originally come to fruition? Did you pitch it to Tyler or did he pitch it to you?
Tasha Smith: Tyler wanted to extend the life of Marcus and Angela and he was like 'What do you think about extending the show?' This is why I always say God hears what we ask for. I wrote down in my dream book that I wanted to get back into television. It was my dream to go back to television, then about six months later Tyler asked me to do the show. He asked me did I think Michael [Jai White] will be able to do it, and I was like, 'Oh, he is going to do it. We work well together, it’s like working with my brother, so the opportunity to work with each other every day would be great fun.
AMBERmag.com: With the extension of your character from film to television, was there any concern about being 1) the characters not being able to come back on film as we would have seen so much of them on television and 2) being typecasted?
TS: I have to be honest. I didn’t. I believe that if me and my team continue to find other platforms like "Jumping the Broom," where my character was nothing like Angela, and as long as I keep myself relevant in other movies, I don’t believe people won't see me in another light. And with regard to any sequels of "Why Did I Get Married," in the television show Angela and Marcus's world on television is different from their world on film. They have whole new group of friends and a whole new situations to bring out different emotions and different experiences. But I believe that we have to create opportunities and create them for ourselves.
AMBERmag.com: Tell me about your dream book?
TS: My husband [Keith Douglas] has a book called the "Power to Get Wealth, No Money Required" (available on Keithdouglas.org), which emphasizes that if you have a vision, you have money because everything that is created starts with a vision or a dream. The power is based on the vision in your heart. But in the book he discusses how you have to write down the vision, your dreams and your desires and begin to act toward them. If you have a vision, you have money. And he and I write down our dreams and move toward accomplishing them.
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