00:00Since we're back and I'm here with Jurnee Smollett, how are you doing today?
00:09I'm well. How are you?
00:11It's so funny that they can't see what happens when we're not on camera.
00:14You look absolutely adorable. Can you tell me a little bit about who you're wearing?
00:17I'm wearing Philip Klein, Christian Louboutin heels, Swarski.
00:21Yeah.
00:22What keeps you coming back to black women in Hollywood every year?
00:26You know, the very first year they honored me with the Rising Star Award.
00:30And I just remember the room feeling like no other room I had ever been to with these kinds of events.
00:37You know, we get to celebrate each other. We get to love on each other.
00:40And oftentimes society just, women in general, regardless of the field, they try to pit women against each other.
00:46And so this is that moment where we're able to say, I love you and I loved you in this and I love your work.
00:52And please keep on because we're lifting you up. We're celebrating you.
00:56And it's okay to say I love you. I'm not your enemy. It's not a cat fight.
00:59No. There's room for everyone.
01:01So we've been taking kind of some bets throughout the show today.
01:06Every year there's a tearjerker moment. Somebody cries. Who do you think is going to start it this year?
01:11Lorraine. My money's on her.
01:14She says it won't be there.
01:15Lorraine Toussaint. That woman, she can give a speech. And she's always so heartfelt.
01:21I mean, last night we all had a dinner and she gave this beautiful tribute to Ava DuVernay.
01:26And we were all like, not going to cry.
01:29Not to do the ugly cry, right?
01:30Yeah. Well, when I cry, I cry ugly. So I'm not good with that. Yeah.
01:37And so I'm not going to keep you as we usher folks into the ballroom, but I wanted to ask you, we're celebrating 45 years of Essence.
01:43And we're asking, you know, what inspired you and fuels your passion?
01:46Was there a particular moment in film, an actress or a moment in television that said, you know what?
01:51I'm going to be an actress. I'm going to pursue this craft.
01:53You know, there were so many moments and I started so young, but I think more so for me, there were moments that encouraged me to continue.
02:01I mean, Miss Tyson, Miss Cicely Tyson and Sounder, Diana Ross, you know, and Lady Sings the Blues.
02:08I'm a huge fan of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, you know, so.
02:13Different moments. Yeah, different moments. And the tear with Denzel, I mean.
02:17We can't forget that tear. We can't forget that tear.
02:19Yeah. So, you know, these are performances that just inspire you and really keep the bar high.
02:26You try to reach it, you fail, but, you know, you keep trying.
02:29You always keep trying. Thank you so very much for taking the time to chat with me.
02:32Back to you.
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