Terri (Taraji P. Henson) is a devoted wife and mother of two, living an ideal suburban life in Atlanta when Colin (Idris Elba), a charming but dangerous escaped convict, shows up at her door claiming car trouble. Terri offers her phone to help him but soon learns that no good deed goes unpunished as she finds herself fighting for survival when he invades her home and terrorizes her family.
The Source Magazine sat down with the gorgeous and talented Oscar-Nominated actress Tarajii P. Henson, the lead actress in “No Good Deed”! Read our exclusive interview below:
How does it feel at that film is coming out?
T: Great … Yes {laughs}, especially because executive produced it.
You got a chance to executive produce, you’re wearing many, many hats in this film, and to be quite honest, we haven’t seen a kick-butt movie like this since J. Lo in “Enough.”
T: Yes … exactly!
So we’re rooting for you the whole time, we want you to win, and you are kicking butt. We have never really seen you like this before and I know it’s something your fans have waited to see for a long time. So, how did you prepare for such a physical role?
T: I really had no time to prepare because we had to go into production so fast because we had to shoot Idris out because he was on his way to Africa to do “Mandela.” So, it was really, you know, I had the script for over 4 years. So, Terri was living with me for that long but what I did not expect, I just honestly didn’t know what went into fight scenes. I mean, I knew a stunt coordinator comes in and shows you the moves, but it is literally like a dance. It’s very meticulous. One false move and you could hurt yourself, so safety first, especially when you’re dealing with the two lead actors because if anything happens to one of us then (Tarajii makes cut off sound). So, yeah, it was probably the most physically challenging role that I’ve ever done, outside of playing a 70 year old woman.
Now, I know that you and Idris have wanted to work together for a long time and it’s great seeing you guys both up there on screen together. You look great together. You guys really, really did an amazing job and he said it was so much fun to work with you, so tell us what that experience was like, because he was like “Tarajii, is very competitive … she’s like, ‘Wait, your Idris Elba, but I’m Tarajii P. Henson.’ So, tell us what that experience, working with Idris?
T: It was so much fun. Honestly it was such a dark subject matter, you know, we found ourselves laughing a lot in between takes, just to take our mind out of it a little bit, and I joke around a lot, and I didn’t realize how sensitive he was. He was like Taraji why would you say that and I would be like, it’s a joke, Idris I’m playing, I love you. But that’s what makes him such an incredible actor, I mean, for him to go from this gentle teddy bear to when Sam Miller, the director, yelled “Action”, he turns into this horrific monster right before your very eyes, which gave me a lot to work off of and to respond honestly to. I had a lot of journalists say, well you know how to play scared really well. Well, Idris gave me a lot to be scared off.
It’s a thriller but it’s tastefully twisted, what was that like for you? Just really trying to come between the two, Terri and Taraji, because I feel like Tarajii might have done some things differently.
Tarajii: I think Tarajii would’ve handled it pretty much like Terri. You know, I’m not one for many words. Once you hurt me and I made my decision to cut you off, it’s pretty cold. Cause … they had a line, where right before she punched him they had a line, but it was more powerful to cut it out and just her looking at him.
Lastly, The Source, as you is the Hip Hop bible and we know that music is also a passion for you, so what can you tell us about what you have coming up with your music career?
T: I have nothing coming up with my music career, but I do have a music-themed show coming on Fox called “ Empire.” It’s about a record label. Yeah, Lee Daniels. Danny Strong wrote, produced and Terrence Howard, myself, Malik Yoba, Gabourey Sidibe, Jussie Smollett, so I can’t wait!
I heard it’s a game changer, we can’t wait for that.
T: Totally is.
Getting back to the film, I can’t wait to take my girlfriends to see, “No Good Deed”, especially because it’s such an amazing girl power movie! You kicked butt, you did your thing, you’re always amazing and we can’t wait to see you the next time.
T: Thank you so much!
Screen Gems will release “No Good Deed” nationwide on Friday, September 12.
http://youtu.be/jJW0UCn_tZk
-Chasity Saunders
