Rochelle Aytes attends CrazySexyCool Premiere Event at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on October 15, 2013 in New York City
The Source Magazine interviewed one of the stars of “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” Rochelle Aytes who plays Perri ‘Pebbles’ Reid. Reid discovered TLC, but ended up falling out with the group. Aytes gives a stellar performance in the film, which airs on on VH1 Monday, October 21 at 9PM ET/PT.
Were you able to talk to Pebbles about the role?
No I wasn’t able to talk to her. Unfortunately Pebbles isn’t a part of this project, so what I did do was research her and I looked at some YouTube videos of interviews she had done throughout the years and she’s very candid about her life and her journey and how she discovered the girls so I took from that. And then you also get to see her mannerism and how she speaks and things like that. I also spoke with Chilli and T-Boz and they gave me insight into her character and they told me a lot of stories about Pebbles and their relationship with her.
How was it having Chilli and T-Boz on set helping you throughout the process?
It was fantastic. It was amazing to speak to them on the phone. I was so excited, but nervous too because these were such iconic role models for me growing up. Having them on set was so powerful because it’s their story for one and no one’s going to know more about the truth than them so they were there to give insight and even kind of tweak what I would do and tell me, “Oh no! This is how Pebbles would do it,” or “This is how Pebbles would say it.” And that was just incredibly helpful.
How much of a TLC fan were you before you did the movie?
I love TLC and I grew up listening to their music. So I’m just a huge fan of theirs.
Has that changed since doing the movie?
Oh no! I became an even bigger fan now knowing them as people and not just knowing them for their music. In the past, they were such an influence on the hip hop and R&B culture. People dressed like them and the style back then was the baggy pants and they brought that style to the youth and I was defiantly a part of that.
Are there any similarities between your story of rising and theirs? Or could you relate to their story?
Oh gosh! I could in the sense that it’s not like they came from privilege. They came from regular families and I too came from regular homes and made my way on my own with my skills and my craft. So I think that in those ways, there are some similarities. And broken homes-a lot of us have come from broken homes. And I come from a broken home as well.
Were you as shocked as we were when you saw how much Drew, Keke, and Lil’ Mama looked like in their counterparts?
Absolutely. Looking as their headshots before I witnessed that, I was just curious to see how they would transform and they completely transformed, physically and in their mannerisms and they really did an amazing job. Lil Mama she just took my breath away.
Can you tell us about your show on ABC “Mistresses.”
Well we’re still in the middle of the season right now so if people are not watching, they really need to catch up. Watch abc.com to follow the storyline because it’s addictive and because once people give it a chance, they really love it. I would just that. If people aren’t watching, just tune in!
-Catherina Gioino
