Actress Tanisha Long chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos about starring in “Bigger” on BET+.
“It has been exciting to get to lead a brand-new show on a brand new app,” she exclaimed. “Since our show isn’t on a normal network, we get to be a bit more edgy and experimental with our storytelling and I’m just so thankful to be given that opportunity for two seasons!”
“At its core, ‘Bigger’ is a dramedy about what it means to hit your mid-30s without all the things society says you should have in your mid-30s. My only hope is that you see yourself and your friends in Layne and her friends,” she elaborated.
On her favorite part filming bigger, she said, “I love how challenging playing a character like Layne can be. Every time I would get a new script I’d yell “LAYNE NO!” but I still love her and I want the audience to love her despite her flaws. She can be a bit selfish and irresponsible, but my job as an actor is to still make her lovable and human and I hope that comes across in my work.”
Regarding her daily motivations as an actress, Long said, “At this point in my career, I try to let joy and authenticity be my only motivators”.
For young and aspiring actors, Long said, “Focus on your craft and your voice as an artist because those two things will guide you on your journey. All the other stuff is just icing on the cake.”
On being an actress in the digital age, she said, “My last two big roles were for streaming projects and I think I’m not alone when I say I’m lucky to be working during this streaming content boom. It really feels like there’s an abundance of quality projects in development at all times and I’m not sure if that was the case ten years ago.”
She listed Kerry Washington as her dream collaboration choice in acting. “I adore Kerry Washington and I hope the stars align and I get to work with her one day,” she exclaimed.
Long defined the word success as follows: “To me, success is when you can look back at what you’ve created and who you’ve worked with and have nothing but admiration for those projects and people.”
To learn more about Tanisha Long, follow her on Instagram.
