Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Talking with Tia: The Tia Dionne Hodge Interview, Part One

Not many African-American actresses on soaps get their start by playing the ghost of a dead white man.  But as I learned in this interview, Tia Dionne Hodge has a history of trail blazing her own career path, on her own terms.  Please read on to learn more about how this inspiring talent started on ONE LIFE TO LIVE, what it's like to play Robin Strasser's "wife," and how she approaches political stories in her work.

We Love Soaps: I remember when you started on ONE LIFE TO LIVE it was a little unclear of you were supposed to be.  We didn’t know if you were a living embodiment of Mel, or Dorian’s vision.  How did that role come about for you? 
Tia Dionne Hodge: I actually went in and auditioned for my friend January’s character (Noelle).  I went in for that, they put me on tape, I heard nothing.  Then my agent called and said, “They’d like to see you play a nurse.”  Because they liked what I did on tape I didn’t have to audition for it.  That was my first meeting with Frank [Valentini] and everybody.  I went in, did my, job and I left.  My agent called back, “They really like what you did, so you’re now going to be Angel Mel.”  And that’s how I became Angel Mel. 

We Love Soaps: Had you ever watched ONE LIFE TO LIVE before?
Tia Dionne Hodge: I can’t say that I had watched it.  I’d say as a kid my baby-sitter would watch it, especially in the summer.  As a working actor, I’m rarely ever home.  I’m always off on auditions in the afternoon hours. 

We Love Soaps: So you hadn’t seen Stephen Markle play Mel before?
Tia Dionne Hodge: No I hadn’t.  But I was made aware of who Mel was.  I went online and found out that he was the love of Dorian’s life. 

We Love Soaps: Have you ever met Stephen Markle?
Tia Dionne Hodge: No, I haven’t to this day.  I would love to.  Robin [Strasser] says he’s incredible. 

We Love Soaps: And you knew it would be a finite role?
Tia Dionne Hodge: I had no idea how long it was going to run.  Which is really funny because I think the last Angel Mel appeared sometime around New Year’s, when Dorian was trying to take over Buchanan.  I thought that gig was over.  I was actually teaching this summer when my agent called, “Okay, they want you back.”  I said, “Great! I love Angel Mel!”  He said, “Nope, it’s a different character.”  And I suddenly became Amelia Bennett. 

We Love Soaps: How was that role initially explained to you? 
Tia Dionne Hodge: I got  a script [laughs].  I was very flattered, there wasn’t a lot of explanation.  I got fitted, because she wears a lot of suits. I got my script, I got fitted, then I found out I was playing a lesbian.  I guess they really trusted me to get in there and do the work.  But it wasn’t a sit down and talk or anything like that.  

We Love Soaps: Did you know that Amelia was going to be an out lesbian activist?
Tia Dionne Hodge: When I read those first three scripts, yes. 

We Love Soaps: In both of these roles, you’ve had to go toe to toe with a veteran of soap operas, Robin Strasser.
Tia Dionne Hodge: She’s amazing! The woman has energy.  I remember the first day I was there as a nurse, when we were running lines, I just thought, “Wow, I’m with Robin Strasser, I actually get to be in the same scene with this woman.”  We were just running lines and I remember she commented on the way I said a line.  She said, “That was really good.”  From then on, I was a fan.  Not that I wasn’t a fan before.  But she wasn’t trying to direct me in anyway, she was just being kind and I really appreciated that.  It helped my confidence.  It was my very first time being on a soap.  They move so fast! Friends of mine say yeah, it’s like being in boot camp.  It’s amazing how much she can just keep it going and steady.  I realized I had to step up my game to keep up with these people, especially Robin. 

So what it is like working with her?  Robin is no joke! She wants you to be as good as you can possibly be.  When you’re working really fast you have to step up your game.  No ifs ands or buts about it.  She wants you to be your best.  She has become a mentor to me, even if she doesn’t know it.  I’ve had to come in with my “A” game.  Now, was I always great? No.

We Love Soaps: Why do you say that?
Tia Dionne Hodge: There are times that you watch yourself and say, “I could have done this...” I’m not afraid of watching myself on TV, to see what I can do better, it’s the only way you’re going to learn.  But I’m human, I’m not perfect.  Nobody makes me laugh like Robin does.  She is funny! I’m sure other people have told you this, she is really freakin’ funny. 

We Love Soaps: What does “stepping up to your ‘A’ game” mean to you as an actress?
Tia Dionne Hodge: It’s energy, it’s pacing, it’s listening.  I appreciate Robin for that because she listens, she really listens.  Especially in the scenes with Tuc [Watkins] as well, the way those two work off each other, sometimes I’ll just step back and watch.  There’s a comfortability there, that’s what I want to strive for, that comfort and ease.  Tuc is hysterical. 

We Love Soaps: I’d say from a viewer’s standpoint you are accomplishing that.  I am very entertained with the marriage of Amelia and Dorian.  I also realize that for American audiences this is a very political storyline.  Was that important to you?
Tia Dionne Hodge: Politics, or actually playing the truth?

We Love Soaps: Well let’s talk about the difference between those two.
Tia Dionne Hodge: There is a difference.  Playing the truth is always paramount.  But politics is taking a side of an issue.  My character took a side.  And to play the truth of that character, that’s the side I chose to play it to the best of my ability.  An actor can’t play a politic.  I can play a politician.  And I can play Amelia Bennett from her point-of-view.  But I can’t judge her.  That is not acting.  Then that’s Tia Dionne Hodge judging the writing, judging the direction, and judging the character.  This is how she was written, this is how it needs to happen, these are the outcomes. I’m in an environment where I’ve got the character of Dorian Lord and all these people who are 100% committed to the scene.  You have to play the truth, not the politics.  Then I’m letting down the other actors because I’m judging it.  Then I’m letting down the writers because I’m judging their work.  I was hired to do the job.  And I do the job to the best of my ability. 

We Love Soaps: What does it look like to play a political story without truth?
Tia Dionne Hodge: It would be a farce.  I’m looking at it specifically from an actor’s point-of-view.  I even said this when  I was playing Angel Mel.  That character is the incarnation of a dead white man.  And I’m a living black woman.  Politics or no politics, the truth is I’m saying these works, believing what I am a portraying, and I’m in a scene with someone who believes this as well.  In this story, the belief is, there needs to be change.  How do we go about doing that? And how as Amelia do I get what I want for the people I love?  I believe that’s the heart of Amelia.  There are no real politics.  Just her power in her convictions.  Just her power in the people she loves and wants to be of service to.  It looks like politics because someone has said, “You can’t do that.”  Don’t piss Amelia off.  You say, “You can’t do that,” and she’ll say, “Yes I can, and this is how I’m going to go about doing it!”  That’s the “opera” in soap opera.  The big gestures, the loud voices, making the points.  There is a lot of hope and opportunity played out in this storyline.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Please press here for Part Two when Tia shares how she's similar and different to Amelia, as well as more about her teaching career, and the role of mentors.

Damon L. Jacobs is a Marriage Family Therapist practicing in New York City, and the author of "Absolutely Should-less: The Secret to Living the Stress-Free Life You Deserve". He is blogging about surviving the holidays at www.shouldless.com.

1 comment:

  1. Tia sounds wonderfully enthusiastic & articulate in how she expresses herself in playing her character. What a super-cool young lady she is! :)

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