Image Source: Getty / Rich Polk
Marsai Martin and Kelly Rowland could also be separated in age by over twenty years, however the gifted stars have so much in frequent — together with their new Paramount+ film “Fantasy Football.” The trade friends fashioned a friendship years in the past and reunited for his or her heartwarming sports activities comedy after Martin — who produced the movie — sought out the former Destiny’s Child singer to play her onscreen mother.
The “Black-ish” alum stars in “Fantasy Football” as Callie A. Coleman, a teen who discovers she will magically management her father’s efficiency on the soccer subject by her Madden NFL 23 online game. The benched NFL participant (performed by Omari Hardwick) then makes an attempt to revive his profession to show to his tech-wiz daughter and spouse Keisha (Rowland) that he could be a famous person.
The film’s lighthearted plot is what attracted Martin, 18, and Rowland, 41, to the mission — they think about it “extremely obligatory” to bolster the illustration of Black ladies on this comedic area (much like the lane Lindsay Lohan carved with motion pictures like “The Parent Trap” and “Freaky Friday”). Their shared ardour for these tales is a part of what introduced them nearer throughout filming, too. Between recording their viral TikTok movies and appearing collectively onscreen, the 2 icons have cultivated a really particular bond — and their joyous vitality collectively is infectious.
Ahead of “Fantasy Football”‘s Nov. 25 launch, POPSUGAR acquired to take heed to Martin and Rowland have a spirited telephone dialog about every part from their first impressions of one another to the challenges that include being younger Black entertainers. Read forward to see what they dished about.
On How They First Met
Marsai Martin: We met some time again whenever you got here to my birthday — I used to be 14. I used to be stunned as a result of it was a shock that you simply have been coming, proper?
Kelly Rowland: That’s proper.
MM: It was a birthday dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse, and all my pals have been there. My aunts and uncles have been there. And you then pulled up, and I used to be like, “Wait, what?” [laughs]
KR: “Where’d she come from?”
MM: It was very stunning, however for me, it simply type of felt like you slot in so nicely. Immediately, I felt so snug with you. I feel nerves have been taking place after I first met you as a result of I’m simply nervous round new folks, however they instantly went away due to how candy and down-to-earth you’re.
KR: Aww, thanks for saying that.
MM: I knew from the very starting I wished to work with you as a result of I knew your vitality was one thing that I’ve by no means actually skilled earlier than with being so snug with any person.
KR: I bear in mind [you] feeling very heat and smart past [your] years. And on this explicit mission, [you don’t] know however I watched [you]. I discover [you] very fascinating as [you’re] taking a look at issues in the way in which they’re working. I’m fascinated about the “Fantasy Football” area and the way extremely observant and inventive you’re. I really feel like we want [you]. [You are] obligatory for us, for our neighborhood, for the world to see true Black lady magic at its best: inventive and assured and daring.
On Reuniting For “Fantasy Football”
MM: I knew I wished a household that felt actual, that felt like they might simply exist on the earth. And in the case of chemistry, that is the most important factor for me as nicely. With Kelly, I feel it was truly hilarious as a result of we had Omari, in fact, after which we knew we wished a mother to deliver all people collectively for certain. Keisha, she’s the principle piece for every part to be in addition to it was within the movie. We auditioned a few folks, however we knew from the very starting we wished Kelly for certain . . . So when the provide got here up that you simply wished to do it, I used to be simply bouncing up and down. I used to be so, so excited.
KR: I used to be, too.
MM: That was our expertise on our finish, however how was it for you, truthfully?
KR: I imply, I cherished each second of it as a result of it was me taking part in a mother. I used to be excited [about] how I might be with a daughter. Because I’ve two boys, it was like, “Oh, how is that this dynamic going to be?” I type of rolled off of our vitality and went from there . . . Everything type of felt like this heat area, to be sincere, for everyone to thrive and be probably the most superb model of ourselves with these characters. That course of was enjoyable.
On Starting Their Acting Careers
KR: For me to go from singing to appearing, I’ve at all times cherished appearing. I’ve at all times cherished motion pictures, at all times sat there, watched, and wished to know the entire dialogue of a film — similar to I heard you do the identical factor. That was a very long time in the past after I acquired the chance to do it — I feel it was a Jet Jackson film with Destiny’s Child; I’ll always remember. I used to be like, “This is enjoyable, [I] may do that all day.” Whenever the chance [to act] presents itself, I need to bounce and check out it.
MM: For me, I began after I was 5, so I can not even actually bear in mind or inform you the entire story, however I do know for a truth it got here naturally and I stumbled upon it, consider it or not — which is a loopy story as a result of again within the day, I used to imitate all of those motion pictures from the again of my head, so I knew this was destined for me . . . [I remember] I went into a photograph shoot area in a mall down in Dallas and took vacation images only for my grandparents to have for the vacations. And then subsequent factor you recognize, the photographer was like, “She takes path rather well. I’ll offer you a reduction should you go to this appearing class.” And then the remaining was historical past.
KR: Wow. Have you gone again to see that photographer?
MM: No, I do not know the place he is at. But thanks!
Image Source: Paramount+
On Transitioning From Child Stars to Adult Actors
KR: I feel that when folks develop up with you, they really feel like, with all due respect, they’ve an opinion. I feel that it is vital to be very cognizant [of how] you are taking a look at somebody. It’s a selected lens . . . I feel that it is vital to recollect how previous you’re at that age. You do not know what the dynamics are as you’re rising and moving into this leisure area the place all people’s taking a look at you — permitting folks to have these moments the place they’re human — as a result of the reality is, I bear in mind being 17 and any person’s like, “You cannot do that, you possibly can’t do this, you possibly can’t do that. You must at all times do such and such.” It’s like, “Oh, so that you’re by no means alleged to do something fallacious? That’s real looking” [laughs]. I’m grateful that I had nice folks round me who have been pouring into me so far as morals have been involved, being a girl, doing every part with grace, being grateful for the place you’re within the second, at all times being goodhearted, and having pleasure and zeal for what it’s that you simply do. I feel that grace acquired me by for certain.
MM: I agree. I’m going by this proper now, so I [don’t have] no recommendation or [anything], however I feel it is very important let folks exist and discover their very own ups and downs and their very own errors. It’s a bit of bit tougher for us as nicely as a result of we’re within the public eye, and persons are watching us whereas doing it, so it does really feel like there’s strain coming into that.
KR: There is, yeah.
MM: My mother and father, my sister, my grandma, and my great-grandparents — they’re throughout me at all times. And I really feel like so long as I’ve that assist system, I’ll be OK. I really feel like folks do assume they’ve a way of say and want to guard you, and with the world of social media, it isn’t getting any higher. People simply have to simply accept that individuals develop up and ladies develop up, and you have to settle for that and allow them to do what they do.
On Peer Support within the Entertainment Industry
KR: It is dependent upon what you are snug with. If you need to be round your loved ones and that is your grounding and secure area, that is the place you are alleged to be. If you meet different ladies or younger ladies alongside the way in which and also you bond, you click on, that is nice. That’s truly what occurred with me and Serena [Williams] or me and Ciara — we turned pals and moms. Outside, in fact, of Bey and Michelle for me. I used to be like, “Oh, these [women] simply got here alongside the way in which.” But I used to be very a lot so proud of my household and it being simply us. It felt good. I used to be secure, I used to be protected.
MM: With me, I like my household, I like my pals. My [two best] pals will not be within the trade in anyway, so they do not actually care nothing about [my] work. They simply need me to have enjoyable and play with them, which is cool. But I feel it is vital to seek out individuals who have been by the identical issues as you or any person you possibly can relate to inside this area, like [you], Kelly. But I do assume it is an vitality factor. I’m huge on vitality and making an attempt to attach with folks in that approach. So I really feel like no matter occurs, occurs. I feel you possibly can really feel your approach by the BS and all the opposite issues round that. It’s straightforward to seek out your approach should you simply persist with your floor and what you care about.
On the Secret to a Long-Lasting Career
KR: Being humble — continuously stretching your self and never being afraid to attempt new issues creatively. It’s additionally with the ability to join with nice folks as nicely, for tasks like [“Fantasy Football”]. You nonetheless must have enjoyable. [Work] continues to be enjoyable to me. Here I’m years later, and I’m simply actually grateful to nonetheless be having enjoyable. That’s the key of all of it to me.
MM: I feel in my world, there are quite a lot of hardships in the case of doing issues that you simply’re captivated with and the ups and downs with that. But what my dad at all times says is, “The hardest factor that is ever going to knock you down is life, and everybody acquired to undergo that.” So I really feel like so long as you retain every part lighthearted, enjoyable, and thrilling — to the place you’re looking ahead to the subsequent chapter in your life — that is crucial. Because all people around the globe seems like they’ve some kind of strain on themselves to be one thing, particularly being a younger Black lady. So I feel [the secret is] hold bringing your self first. Self-care is every part. Mental well being is every part.
“Fantasy Football” is now streaming on Paramount+.