The Year of Brely Evans: Our Exclusive Interview with the Rising Star of 'Ambitions'

You may have watched actress, singer and entertainer Brely Evans in films like Sparkle, Just Wright or The Man in 3B. You might have enjoyed her work on TV shows like Last Call, Family Business or Being Mary Jane. Perhaps you her loved her music with R&B trio Emage. Or all of the above. But no matter where you might have seen her before, chances are she made a huge impression. Brely Evans is a star. And she's currently starring in Ambitions on OWN as the scene-stealing Rondell Lancaster, the sister of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster and manager of the Thelma’s Place restaurant. She is fighting to keep her neighborhood from being taken over by corporate developers and discovering new strengths along the way.

We Love Soaps recently spoke with the talented multihyphenate about her career ambitions and her work on Ambitions. Check out our exclusive interview with Brely Evans below.

We Love Soaps: I'm calling 2019 "The Year of Brely Evans" because you're everywhere.
Brely Evans: Oh my God. I love that.

We Love Soaps: Can you give our readers a quick summary of your journey from the "pookie-pie" Twix commercial to starring this year in three primetime shows at the same time?
Brely Evans: Wow, you have done your homework. So that's where I started. I didn't know that I was an actor. I came to LA because music is my life, I love to sing. I was like, "Beyoncé who? It's all about Breloncé, okay?" So a friend of the neighbor said, "Oh, my God, I thought you were an actor. I would tell people that I live next door to this famous actress." And I said, "Well, you lied to a lot of people, because, no, I've never acted in my life." And he said, "Hey, I'm on my way to my agent's office, why don't you ride with me?"

And it was a commercial agent, and she signed me on the spot saying, "You should be on television," after one conversation. In that conversation she would say, "Hey, by the way, count the no's. That's a little game we play in the office, see how many no's you get before you get a yes." Oh, okay. So I went on, 10 auditions, no training, no head shot, no nothing, just walking in these doors. On my 10th audition I got my first yes. That was the Twix commercial. "Pookie-pie, do I look fat in these?" [laughs]

We Love Soaps: I think that pays a lot, so that's a good yes.
Brely Evans: It was an amazing moment for me. And when I got my first check for one 12-hour day of work I said, "Oh my God. I'm an actor. Where do I sign up for classes?" So that's when I began ...

'Greenleaf' Season 2 Premieres March 15 on OWN

The second season of Greenleaf debuts March 15 on OWN.

The season two premiere date for OWN's latest hit primetime drama has been set. The first eight episodes of the new season of Greenleaf will debut on Wednesday, March 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The remaining eight episodes will air in summer 2017.

In the second season, the Greenleaf family tree will split at the root as Jacob (Lamman Rucker) ventures off to begin his new career with long-time rival church Triumph Ministries, breaking faith with his father, Bishop James Greenleaf (Emmy winner Keith David) while his mother, Lady Mae Greenleaf (Golden Globe nominee and Emmy winner Lynn Whitfield), struggles with Jacob's decision to abandon the family. Meanwhile, after exposing her Uncle Mac's (GregAlan Williams) crimes, but failing to bring him to justice, Grace "Gigi" Greenleaf (Merle Dandridge) finds herself intrigued with someone new, Darius Nash (guest star Rick Fox), a local journalist who's been closely following the ongoing threats plaguing the Greenleaf empire.

Oprah Winfrey also returns in her guest starring role as Mavis McCready, the sister of Lady Mae Greenleaf and a close confidante to Grace Greenleaf.

PHOTOS: 14th Biennial National Black Theatre Festival, Co-Chaired by Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan

Emmy-winning All My Children stars Darnell Williams and Debbi Morgan served as co-shares for the National Black Theatre Festival. Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

The 14th Biennial National Black Theatre Festival, an international celebration and reunion of spirit, was held August 3-8, 2015 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, produced by The North Carolina Black Repertory Comapny, Inc. NBTF co-chairs (and All My Children legends) Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams led the celebrity procession on opening night, which included a gala dinner and awards presentation, followed by a week filled with plays, workshops and much more with.

The star-studded festival included participation from many familiar faces from the world of daytime soap operas, including Taurean Blacque (Henry Marshall, Generations), Norm Lewis (Keith McLean, All My Children), Andre De Shields (Marshall Lincoln Kramer III, Another World), Micki Grant (Peggy Harris Nolan, Another World – one of first black contract players - along with roles in All My Children, Guiding Light, Somerset and The Edge of Night), Lamman Rucker (T. Marshall Travers, As the World Turns - along with roles on All My Children and The Young and the Restless); Chrystee Pharris (Simone Russell, Passions - currently starring in Queens of Drama), Ted Lange (Love Boat star who played a judge on General Hospital), Timothy Stickney (RJ Gannon, One Life to Live), Jackee Harry (Lily Mason, Another World); Count Stovall (Roy Franklin, As the World Turns; Cal Cummings, All My Children; Hank Chambers, The Doctors) and Roscoe Orman (Sesame Street's Gordon who once played Tyrone on All My Children).

Check out photos from the festival below:

'The Undershepherd' To Premiere March 30, Stars Isaiah Washington, Lamman Rucker

TV One presents the world television premiere of Russ Parr’s award-winning film The Undershepherd, starring Isaiah Washington (GREY'S ANATOMY), Lamman Rucker (AS THE WORLD TURNS), Malinda Williams (SOUL FOOD), Elise Neal (BELLES), Vanessa Bell Calloway (SHAMELESS), Clifton Powell (Ray), Bill Cobb (GO ON), Robinne Lee (Hitch), Keith David (Cloud Atlas) and Academy Award winner Louis Gossett, Jr. The thought-provoking film exploring the underbelly of power and corruption in the church premieres Saturday, March 30 at 8 p.m. ET and Sunday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m. ET exclusively on TV One.

Written, directed and executive produced by nationally syndicated radio personality and filmmaker Russ Parr, The Undershepherd tells the controversial tale of two ministers, who, although originally best friends and brothers in Christ, find their relationship tested by access to power, money and greed.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Larry Hagman Charity; Kimberly McCullough at THE LYING GAME; TEEN WOLF's Colton Haynes Staying?

Kimberly McCullough shadowing director Fred Gerber on THE LYING GAME
"It's no Lie....current Directing Program director Kimberly McCullough is in Austin, TX shadowing on the season finale of ABC Family's THE LYING GAME...Congratulations!!!"

NEWS ROUNDUP: Luke Perry & Jennie Garth Sitcom! Plus, GREY'S ANATOMY Spoilers, Lamman Rucker, Lindsay Lohan

Luke Perry and Jennie Garth together for real?
“Since seeing Luke again, Jennie has fallen in love with him and Luke feels the same,” a source close to the couple told the National Enquirer. “There is an electricity between them that has been revived after all these years. It just happened.”

Jennie Garth, Luke Perry Are Developing a Sitcom Together
A rep for Garth confirmed the collaboration to RumorFix on Thursday, saying, "They have been spending a lot of time together recently because the two are working on developing a TV sitcom together. It will be a multi-camera half hour show, currently we have producers and writers and are meeting with networks."

GREY'S ANATOMY to Air Standalone Meredith and Cristina-Centric Episode
“It’s just the story of Meredith and Cristina,” shares series creator Shonda Rhimes. “It’s really going to be original. I don’t think we’ve ever told a story the way we’re telling a story in this episode.”