New Kid on the Cell Block
Fall 2016 | By Angie Lewis听 麻豆精品 S�03听
Sitting in the audience of a Theatre UCF performance of A Chorus Line, Amanda Stephen 麻豆精品 S�08 had an epiphany. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 what I 麻豆精品 S檓 supposed to be doing, 麻豆精品 S� she thought. The next day, she added a theatre studies major to her interpersonal/organizational communication major.
麻豆精品 S淓very semester was packed, 麻豆精品 S� she explains. 麻豆精品 S淏ut I wouldn 麻豆精品 S檛 have had it any other way. I 麻豆精品 S檓 glad I did it because it helped me push to do more than just what 麻豆精品 S檚 required, and I think that helped me in life. 麻豆精品 S�
And push she did. Since graduating, Stephen landed the role of Alison Abdullah in season four of Orange Is the New Black, the Netflix original series that has won four Emmy Awards and been nominated for 17.
麻豆精品 S淲hen I auditioned, the breakdown read: 麻豆精品 S楢frican American Muslim, late 20s/early 30s, has a sense of humor, 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 honored to be playing Alison as a black Muslim, and I don 麻豆精品 S檛 take it lightly. At the same time, my job is to make her relatable and show that she 麻豆精品 S檚 not so different from everybody else. 麻豆精品 S�
Amanda Stephen 麻豆精品 S�08 (second from left) as Alison Abdullah with Uzo Aduba as Crazy Eyes, Danielle Brooks as Taystee, and Adrienne C. Moore as Black Cindy in Orange Is the New Black.听
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
Q&A
How do you feel your education has helped you in your career?
The communication [major] has helped me navigate different personalities, different ways of thinking and different views. The arts side and acting prepared me with a lot of tough love.
How did you get the role of Alison Abdullah?
My manager called me on a Friday and told me I had an audition on Monday, which was a blessing because you usually don 麻豆精品 S檛 get a weekend to prep for an audition like that. 麻豆精品 S� I formed Alison 麻豆精品 S� who she is and how she fit into the world in Orange. Monday, I went into the offices and auditioned. I heard back on Friday from my manager that I got the role. I started to scream and jump around the house and gashed my bum on the side of a table.
What was your favorite scene to film this season?
My favorite scene has to be when Crazy Eyes, Black Cindy and I are trying to get a picture of Judy King [a Martha Stewart-like character] coming out of the shower. We block her exit without her knowing, and Black Cindy 麻豆精品 S檚 trying to get a picture with her.
Who 麻豆精品 S檚 your favorite character on the show and why?
Oh, I love them all. I can 麻豆精品 S檛. I will say I 麻豆精品 S檓 a big Red fan. Kate Mulgrew is great. 麻豆精品 S� I was a big [Star Trek:] Voyager fan, so I can 麻豆精品 S檛 help myself. This year 麻豆精品 S檚 Oscars received a lot of criticism for not including African American actors and directors.
How do you feel the industry has treated you so far in your career?
I 麻豆精品 S檓 fortunate to have a manager who has the same views as I do, where we go after roles that I feel I can play, not just because it says late 20s, African American girl, medium to large build. We look at a character and see the details in the character that she feels that I can pull out. 麻豆精品 S� It takes open minds on the casting end, on the producing end, and on the actor 麻豆精品 S檚 end to look beyond that. Thankfully we have a lot of people in the industry now who are more open to that. It 麻豆精品 S檚 still a struggle, don 麻豆精品 S檛 get me wrong. But I look toward what 麻豆精品 S檚 possible and what I can do on my end rather than submitting to what the industry standards are.
What 麻豆精品 S檚 your dream role?
I 麻豆精品 S檇 love to play Titania from A Midsummer Night 麻豆精品 S檚 Dream. When I get older, I would love to play Ma Rainey from August Wilson 麻豆精品 S檚 Ma Rainey 麻豆精品 S檚 Black Bottom. But I think a role that I feel so connected to, that I feel like I was made to play, I don 麻豆精品 S檛 know if it 麻豆精品 S檚 been written yet.
If someone were to make a TV show or movie about your life, what would the title be?
The Most Ambitious Hot Mess There Ever Was
What causes are you passionate about?
Women 麻豆精品 S檚 rights, changing systemic racism, and ending police brutality toward the black community and people of color
What 麻豆精品 S檚 something most people don 麻豆精品 S檛 know about you?
I 麻豆精品 S檓 originally from Montreal and have dual citizenship.
Amanda Stephen 麻豆精品 S�08 (right) as Clemma in a 2005 Theatre UCF production of Neil Simon 麻豆精品 S檚 Proposals.
Portraits by Geoff Levy 麻豆精品 S�11.