Actress Finally `Loosed’ to Starring Role

c. 2004 Newhouse News Service NEW YORK _ In her new film, “Woman Thou Art Loosed,” actress Kimberly Elise plays a woman who’s in the fight of her life _ for respect, for dignity, for her own future. A victim of childhood abuse who’s grown up only to fall into a repetitious cycle of destructive […]

c. 2004 Newhouse News Service

NEW YORK _ In her new film, “Woman Thou Art Loosed,” actress Kimberly Elise plays a woman who’s in the fight of her life _ for respect, for dignity, for her own future. A victim of childhood abuse who’s grown up only to fall into a repetitious cycle of destructive behavior, the character finds a redemption of sorts in the church, but it’s a punishing journey.

Elise’s own journey has been nothing of the sort. A 33-year-old native of Minneapolis, she is a movie star, sharing the screen with the likes of Meryl Streep and Denzel Washington. But it isn’t easy for an African-American actress to break through, and it can be argued that Elise has yet to do that. In Hollywood’s limited star structure, there is room for only so many Halle Berrys, Jada Pinkett-Smiths and Vivica A. Foxes.


“I don’t fit the profile of people who find success and continually work,” said Elise during a recent interview in a Midtown Manhattan hotel lounge, who is nonetheless doing that. “I’m not like a sex symbol, I’m just a good actor and that’s my secret weapon, and that’s like the weakest weapon in Hollywood.” She laughed.

“And that’s very frustrating. So I have to say it’s a continual fight. People will still ask me to come in and audition for a three-line part because I don’t fit that whatever.”

The makers of “Woman Thou Art Loosed,” which finished at No. 7 in box office receipts in its first weekend despite opening on only 408 screens nationwide, approached Elise for the part of Michelle Jordan, the film’s lead. It turned out to be the actress’s “first lead role in 10 years in Hollywood.”

“It’s funny because I didn’t even realize it until the movie was over and we screened it somewhere in Santa Barbara (Calif.) and someone came up and asked that question,” she said.

“Woman” is based on the best-selling book by Bishop T.D. Jakes, a well-known pastor in evangelical circles. Jakes also stars in the film, as himself, and conducts a revival, complete with sermons and altar calls, for one crucial scene. But Elise doesn’t consider this a church-oriented film.

“I don’t consider it a religious experience. It doesn’t care what religion you are or what you believe,” she said.

“People will say it’s a black film. Well, no, it’s not. It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just black people telling it. I’ve heard people say they thought it was an anti-violence film, all kinds of things. I don’t want it to get boxed in, and then people think it’s not for them.”


What the movie is, without a doubt, is unflinching. As a girl, Michelle Jordan is sexually molested by her mother’s boyfriend. As a woman, she leads a life of drugs, prostitution and prison, an environment the movie isn’t afraid to show.

“If you’re representing a group of people who have been through this, tell it honestly and people are going to listen. Let’s not sugarcoat it,” said Elise.

“And I thought, what a great opportunity to put a face and a body and a voice to so many people who have been silenced, and to put it out there, and to hopefully in some way help in a healing process.

“Bishop did say that if you go back to the Bible and read many of its stories it would be R-rated,” she added. “There’s all kinds of murders and incest, and all kinds of horrible things happen.”

Elise plays the lead in her next film as well, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”

“I wouldn’t do the lead just to do the lead, no way. You can be challenged in one day of work and grow tremendously, and stagnate working every day for three months,” she said.


Until now Elise has primarily been known for her supporting work in high-profile movies like last summer’s “Manchurian Candidate” remake with Streep and Washington and “John Q,” a 2002 film that also starred Washington.

“Actors, especially that caliber of actor, they’re very respectful of others, and the people I’ve worked with at least, they don’t walk in with their Oscars on their shoulders,” said Elise. “Before you can say something nice to Meryl Streep, she’s complimenting you.”

Elise, who’s married to a photographer and has two daughters, ages 5 and 14, first fell into acting in the fourth grade. She paid for her college tuition with a national Wendy’s commercial, worked on some industrial films, and then got into theater. She also studied filmmaking.

While actors often talk about the attraction of directing, Elise appears to be serious about it. On one level, the lack of control every actor experiences is frustrating for her.

“You go and you give and give, and the deal is you give it to them to do however they feel is best,” she said. “And I know they don’t care what I think. I’m going to say something, but I know they don’t care. So that’s very difficult.”

But Elise, as an African-American woman, also wants to express herself in ways that go beyond speaking somebody else’s words.


“There are so many stories I want to tell that aren’t told at all,” she said. “Somebody has to do it and I would love to.”

(OPTIONAL TRIM FOLLOWS)

“I think there are so many talented people who aren’t utilized because they don’t make those kinds of films, and there’s just not quality material that matches their talent level. You can be told you’re too good. You can actually be told that you’re too good. Can you imagine that?”

By the tone of Elise’s voice, it’s apparent that the imagining hasn’t always been necessary.

MO/JL/PH END HILL

(Todd Hill is the film critic for the Staten Island Advance in New York.)

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