'Insecure' and 'Diarra From Detroit' star DomiNque Perry tells THR why this is the year for Usher, talks New Edition being inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame and calls Regina Hall and Issa Rae her two favorite leading ladies at the NAACP Image Awards.
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00:00 What does it mean to be here today?
00:02 Oh, it means everything. I've always wanted to be a part of a show like this.
00:06 Watching it on TV, you never in a million years, you always hope that you're going to be here
00:10 because you're striving hard and you're taking the steps to get here.
00:13 But to actually be here and know that God has me, it's just an amazing feeling.
00:17 And to be around greatness, like this is awesome. This is awesome.
00:21 Like I'm walking by people that I've watched on TV for years that I want to act beside by. It's amazing.
00:27 Now, you did your thing in Insecure and now you are the leading lady in your new show.
00:32 What does it mean to step back into this comedy drama space?
00:35 It is amazing because my character on DR from Detroit, because Asha has so many layers,
00:40 I get a chance to show that and flex that. It's a beautiful thing.
00:44 Comedy is always second nature to me because I'm just naturally that girl that kind of could get it.
00:49 But it's just a beautiful thing to be a part of a show that I feel like is going to have longevity.
00:54 It's going to be great and it's going to be relatable. And I love my character.
00:57 She's so different than anything I've ever played.
00:59 Anything you can tease for us when they come see your character?
01:02 You know what? She is Detroit's finest. She is Detroit's 35 under 35.
01:08 She is a salon owner. She is a boss. She is celibate.
01:12 She is DR's best friend, mainly best friend. Don't tell nobody else.
01:16 She is the cousin of Suave played by Morris Chestnut. And she is that girl.
01:21 I actually want to be like her. But I see similarities of myself in her.
01:25 I love that. And this is a really big year for us when it comes to music, when it comes to TV and movies.
01:31 Who is your favorite leading lady or leading man?
01:34 With movies, I love Regina Hall. I think when people say that I kind of remind them of her as far as comedy,
01:42 it's the ultimate compliment. I love Regina Hall. Of course I love Issa Rae.
01:47 It's just amazing. I'm loving Dior Kilpatrick, who is now my boss.
01:51 So it's an amazing feeling. I love everybody, but those are my main people that I always name.
01:57 And a few greats are being honored tonight in the music space, like Usher.
02:02 How do you feel about the Usher-Raymond being honored?
02:06 You know, as I said before, Usher is actually a friend of mine that he was a fan of Insecure.
02:11 So to be in his space, the times that I have, it has been amazing. I always get nervous when I'm around him.
02:17 Don't let him know that. But he's just a great talent. He's great. And he's so deserving of this.
02:23 He's been entertaining us since we were like kids, since he was a kid.
02:26 So this is his year. It's his time. It's done.
02:30 There's slightly an older generation, but New Edition, they have classics on classics.
02:35 And the fact that they are being inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame, what does that mean for the culture?
02:40 It was supposed to have been happening, but it's okay because it's God's timing. You know what I'm saying?
02:45 I think that it's great. The world knows New Edition. Everybody knows New Edition songs.
02:50 Even kids, I literally saw an Instagram video of little elementary school kids singing, I forgot which one, "Can You Stand the Rain."
02:59 I said, "How do they know anything about 'Can You Stand the Rain?'"
03:02 These kids are little. It's amazing. That just let me know you're dealing with some legends.
03:07 [BLANK_AUDIO]