Vanessa Williams looks back on her decades-long career on stage and screen and asks herself, "Is it typecasting? Am I always going to play these strong women that have attitude?" It's true, the actress, singer and former beauty queen, 61, has stepped into the stilettos of quite a few alpha women, including her latest role, reimagining Meryl Streep's steely fashion magazine mogul Miranda Priestly in London's upcoming musical adaptation of the hit 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada.
But Williams, who is spending her one day off from rehearsals reflecting on her life at a stately English manor near her current gig, is not the type to be the least bit bothered by the roles, or the cards, she's been dealt. "I always find it fascinating. My characters are formidable because they've worked their lives to create something that means something." In that regard, she adds, "it's very comfortable to play."
Given her remarkable, rather harrowing introduction to the spotlight, Williams knows exactly what it means to claw your way to having the career you always wanted. Just over 40 years ago she stepped onto the world stage as the first Black woman to be crowned Miss America at the 1984 competition. As she was celebrated by many for being a role model and making history, she also had to smile and wave in the face of racist vitriol being spewed behind the scenes. Then, 10 months into her historic reign, it all shockingly came crashing down.
On July 13, 1984, she learned that nude photos she'd taken years prior and under the promise of anonymity had been sold and would soon be published in Penthouse magazine, instantly tarnishing her pristine image.
Esta historia es de la edición August 05, 2024 de People US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 05, 2024 de People US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
A Gilmore Girl Looks Back
Kelly Bishop, the beloved series' matriarch, reflects in a new memoir about her remarkable career and playing 'demanding' women
Finding Love on Her Own Terms
Going on The Golden Bachelorette helped Joan Vassos make good on one of her 2024 New Year's resolutions: to start dating again after she had to exit Gerry Turner's season of The Golden Bachelor early to be with her daughter experiencing postpartum depression.
CHASE STOKES ENTERS A NEW ERA
AFTER FIVE YEARS ON THE HIT TV SERIES OUTER BANKS, THE ACTOR IS READY TO TAKE HIS CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL
UZUZODA DUBA 'THINGS HAPPEN IN THEIR WON TIME
THE ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK ACTRESS LOST HER MOM TO CANCER JUST TWO MONTHS AFTER SHE GOT MARRIED AND WON AN EMMY. IN A NEW MEMOIR, SHE SHARES HER JOURNEY AND THE LESSONS SHE'LL PASS ON TO HER BABY DAUGHTER
MURDER FOR HIRE?
Before he was found dead at his mansion, a Miami real estate mogul repeatedly tried to have his wife killed, the FBI claims
JAMES EARL JONES 1931-2024 An Unforgettable Voice and Man
HE OVERCAME A STUTTER TO BECOME AN ACTING LEGENDAND GAVE DARTH VADER AND THE LION KING THEIR GRAVITAS
He Was Always Our Superman
TWO DECADES AFTER CHRISTOPHER REEVE'S DEATH AND NEARLY 30 YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED HIS WORLD FOREVER-THE ACTOR'S CHILDREN HONOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND LEGACY
THE EVOLUTION OF AN ICON
HE WENT F GANGSTER RAP TO OLYMPIC GOLDBUT HE'S STILL THE SAME OLD G
Janelle & Kody Talk About Their Grief Journey After Son's Death
Sister Wives stars (and now exes) Janelle and Kody Brown are opening up about the pain of losing their son Garrison, who died by suicide at age 25 on March 5.
Princess Kate Reveals She's Completed Chemo
Princess Kate has finished chemotherapy and is concentrating on \"doing what I can to stay cancer-free.\"