Salli Richardson-Whitfield’s mid-career pivot has paid off.
The actress-turned-producer/director earned her first-ever Emmy nomination for her work on a critically acclaimed HBO series this year, casually making history as the first Black woman to be nominated in the category of Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series. Ironically, it was for her work on a show that was criminally cut short before its time, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
But before she was dominating in the director’s seat, Richardson-Whitfield was a staple beauty of 90’s era film and TV. From Mo’ Money and A Low Down Dirty Shame to The Jamie Foxx Show, ROC, and even voicing the classic animated drama Gargoyles.
We caught up with Richardson-Whitfield just after news of her historic nomination dropped to learn what led to her transition from in front of to behind the lens, finding success in overlooked spaces, and finally getting invited to the party of a lifetime three decades into her Hollywood journey.
ESSENCE: Despite a career spanning nearly 35 years, 65 acting credits to your name, and 37 turns in the director’s seat, these two Emmy nominations are your first. What did you feel like when you heard you were nominated in not just one, but two categories?
Richardson-Whitfield: Completely blindsided! I was on set, and I was actually more focused on The Gilded Age because I know that HBO had been doing a push for the show, and so I hoping that they would get a nod, and when they did, I was like, “Great, I get to go to the party.” But nothing in my wildest dream said Winning Time was going to get several nominations, let alone for me as a directing nominee. So I’m very,…
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