Actor and producer David Oyelowo joins Cortney to talk about his latest passion project, Lawmen: Bass Reeves. The project is a Western television miniseries based on the life of the first African American Deputy U.S. Marshal, Bass Reeves. David and Cortney talk about the hurdles of getting the project made, why Black Westerns are important narratives to tell, and the complexities of playing a Black member of law enforcement in the 19th Century. Cortney also does a dive into Beyonce’s latest albu...
Apr 24, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast As we head into Oscars weekend, Black Hollywood has much to be proud of in 2024. Danielle Brooks, Sterling K. Brown, Colman Domingo, Jeffrey Wright, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph all earned nominations. On this episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills chats with Best Supporting Actress nominee Da’Vine Joy Randolph about her role as Mary Lamb in “The Holdovers.” Da’Vine also shares the wisdom she gained on a path through Yale, to roles in “The Idol” and “Dolemite is My Name” and as the voice of Mama Luna f...
Mar 08, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney sits down with filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper to discuss her new documentary, James Brown: SAY IT LOUD. The pair speak about James Brown’s role in the Black Power Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, Brown’s iconic song “Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud,” slavery’s influence on Black entertainment, the history of hip-hop, r&b, soul, and rock musicians sampling James Brown, and funk music's impact on contemporary genres. Cortney and Deborah also have a nuanced conversation about how to d...
Feb 16, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the season 3 debut, Cortney sits down with actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor about her new film, Origin, written and directed by Ava DuVernay. Cortney and Aunjanue have an honest conversation about the origins of hate and inhumanity on and off the screen, including why she believes Origin is not getting a fair shake in Hollywood despite the film's crucial global message. The Oscar-nominated actress shares what it took to bring Isabel Wilkerson’s story to life while illuminating the weighty themes...
Jan 22, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills is joined by Eboni K. Williams, who responds to the backlash she received after a recent episode of “theGrio with Eboni K. Williams” examined the trend of white women seeking their MRS degrees in college. The ladies take a deep dive into the nerves she struck when she advised Black women undergrads who desire marriage to prioritize finding a man while they still can. The former RHONY cast member and host of “Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams” also opens up about her journe...
Sep 29, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills takes us back to Wakanda and dives in to the highly anticipated film ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. She sits down with actress Lupita Nyong'o to find out how her character Nakia’s journey through grief compared to her own experience mourning the late Chadwick Boseman. She also talks to the film’s co-writer and director, Ryan Coogler to find out how he continued the story after losing his hero and managed to invite a whole new demographic to t...
Nov 12, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with Nicole Avant and Alanna Brown to discuss their riveting film 'Trees of Peace'. Based on a true story, the heart-wrenching project is centered on four women who forge an unbreakable bond while in hiding during the genocide in Rwanda. The ladies discuss the story's message of determination and resilience as well as what it took to bring the idea to fruition after more than eight years. They'll also examine the ways Nicole Avant was ...
Nov 05, 2022•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this weeks episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills is joined by Michael Harriot to discuss ‘TILL’ the new film that highlights the life and work of Mamie Till-Mobley, a mother who galvanized the Civil Rights Movement after her 14-year-old son Emmet Till was lynched in 1955. Starring Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg and directed and co-written by Chinonye Chukwu, Cortney and Michael confront the fact that the film is hugely important and deeply hea...
Oct 15, 2022•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with Michelle Buteau. The stand-up comedian, actress, and author who has made her mark on screens big and small gets real about what it's like to juggle her booming career and life as a mom of twins and a wife and takes us behind the scenes of her gig as a host of the hilarious and relatable podcast, Adulting. She also dishes details on her upcoming Netflix project, 'Survival of the Thickest' and how she continues to find the funny dur...
Oct 08, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills welcomes Yvonne Orji back to the podcast to hear all about her new comedy special “A Whole Me” debuting on HBO on October 1. Hear how the pandemic helped this beauty become the best version of herself as well as who’s inspiring her comedy these days. The ladies also dive into life after “Insecure” and what’s next for this talented woman who is working hard to amplify other voices, just directed her first short, and is developing more projects fr...
Oct 01, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this weeks episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills dives into the haunting true story of “The Silent Twins” the new film from Focus Features starring Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrence, who took on the roles of two sisters who were traumatized by relentless racism and created their own language and their own worlds to escape it. The actresses discuss their roles as June and Jennifer Gibbons and their roles as producers on the project directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska, who spoke candidly about her ...
Sep 24, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw to get the inside scoop on her latest project, the binge-worthy Apple TV+ series “Surface.” The ladies discuss Gugu’s journey through Hollywood and why this was the perfect project for her to star in and executive produce. Her co-star, Stephan James drops in to reveal why he lived playing the “colorless” role and how he perfected his brooding, mysterious character in this sexy, psychological thriller....
Sep 10, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills welcomes Nicole Beharie back to the podcast to discuss her roles in two new films. The actress reveals what it took to play a pastor in the hilarious "Honk For Jesus Save Your Soul" alongside Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall before diving into the drama/thriller "Breaking" where she stars as a real-life hero of sorts in the tragic true story of Brian Brown-Easley alongside John Boyega and the late, great Michael K. Williams.
Sep 02, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with actress Nathalie Emmanuel to get all the details about her starring role in the thrilling horror flick “The Invitation” and what it means for Black women to break into the genre. The “Game of Thrones” alum also speaks on the impact her groundbreaking role of Missandei had on the show and the community and what she thinks about HBO’s newest “Game of Thrones” spinoff, “House of the Dragon.”
Aug 27, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this weeks episode of Acting Up, Charlamagne Tha God weighs in on the news that Angela Yee is leaving The Breakfast Club to launch her own show “Way Up with Angela Yee” and explains why women have the most powerful voices in media. He also takes us through his road to becoming a mental health advocate, how his father influenced that journey, and what we can expect from his late night show, “Comedy Central’s Hell of a Week with Charlamagne Tha God.”
Aug 20, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins. The actress, producer, and proud Howard alum reveals what led to her latest project as the host of her own podcast, Trials to Triumphs on OWN, and how her life has changed since tying the knot. She also reveals the ways that her role on 'Dear White People' helped carve out her path in Hollywood and how the end of the beloved series prompted a return to her roots as a content creator. They'll also ...
Aug 13, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills continues her conversation with actress, comedian, and podcast host, Amanda Seales. The ladies discuss the ‘Insecure’ alum’s latest standup tour “Black Outside Tour” and share their fears and frustrations in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, coping with COVID, and how the current social climate has become particularly challenging for comedians, especially when you’re “Smart, Funny, and Black”
Aug 06, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills is kicking off Season 2 of Acting Up with actress, comedian, and podcast host, Amanda Seales. The ladies discuss the ‘Insecure’ alum’s latest standup tour “Black Outside Tour” and share their fears and frustrations in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned, coping with COVID, and how the current social climate has become particularly challenging for comedians, especially when you’re “Smart, Funny, and Black”
Jul 30, 2022•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills sits down with Jeff and Nicole Friday, the couple who founded the African American Film Festival in 1996, creating a space for Black creators to build community, share their art, and foster new talent. Now in its 26th year, ABFF remains one of the most beloved film festivals of the year and has given rise to countless creators from Ryan Coogler to Issa Rae. The group will discuss what it was like to bring the event back to Miami after the COVID-19 pandemic and what we all have to l...
Jun 10, 2022•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills sits down with NY Times best-selling author, speaker, and podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones to discuss her latest book “Rising Troublemaker,” an incredibly necessary fear-fighting manual for teens at a time when they need it most. The ladies will also discuss the importance of taking control of our mental health, why therapy should be free for all marginalized people, and how content on big and small screens can help shape the way young people see the world and themselves.
May 16, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills sits down with actor, writer, director, songwriter, and producer, O-T Fagbenle to discuss how he took on the role of Barack Obama in ‘The First Lady’ and what went into cultivating his career as a multi-hyphenate artist in Hollywood. We also dive in to his turn in ‘We Crashed’ and analyze his beloved ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ character, while pondering what’s next on his long list of upcoming projects including collabs with some equally impressive siblings.
Apr 29, 2022•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills sits down with Courtney Lilly, showrunner and executive producer of Black-ish to discuss the impact the Emmy/nominated series had on the culture throughout its eight-season run. They will reflect on their favorite moments and what it took to create the series that kept us laughing, crying, and rooting for the Johnson family year after year.
Apr 22, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this weeks episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with Will Packer to find out what we can expect from the 94th annual Academy Awards and what went into producing Hollywood’s biggest night. They’ll get into this year’s nominees and discuss what an Oscar win really means for Black creators in 2022. They’ll also tackle the ways the Academy is continuing to make strides toward a more inclusive event and how Will Packer plans to use his secret weapon, Regina Hall.
Mar 25, 2022•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this weeks episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with ‘Bel-Air’ stars Coco Jones and Cassandra Freeman to find out how they managed to breathe new life into beloved ‘Fresh Prince’ characters, Hilary Banks and Aunt Viv on Peacock’s deliciously dramatic reboot. The ladies take us along on their journeys through Hollywood and describe how they have combated colorism in their own careers and the ways this new iteration of an old favorite is making big strides in representation onscreen an...
Mar 18, 2022•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with Samuel L. Jackson and Dominique Fishback to discuss their roles in the new limited series from Apple TV+, ‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.’ Jackson executive produced and starred in the series based on the book by Walter Mosley and reveals what went into his breathtaking portrayal of a man struggling with dementia. Fishback is equally impressive in the project and during this intimate conversation, she gets real about taking contro...
Mar 11, 2022•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast On a special bonus episode of Acting Up, Cortney Wills sits down with Babatunde Akinloye, Bruce W. Smith, Michael Yates and Marlon West; four men behind some of Disney’s most beloved projects, like Princess and the Frog , The Proud Family , Soul and Encanto and broke down what it takes to tell diverse stories that reflect our community in animation and discusses their journeys as black creators at Disney.
Mar 10, 2022•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this weeks episode, Cortney Wills sits down with Director, Sacha Jenkins to discuss his latest project “Everything’s Gonna be All White.” The 3-part docuseries that debuted on Showtime on February 11 pulls no punches while diving into the history of racism in this country. The provocative project features insights from Jemele Hill, Tamika Mallory, Amanda Seales, and Nell Irvin Painter as well as hip hop veterans from Roxanne Shante to Havoc to Styles P among others who all help to paint a pic...
Mar 04, 2022•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this week’s episode, Cortney Wills sits down with National Geographic Explorer and Storyteller, Tara Roberts. The ladies discuss “Into the Depths,” NatGeo’s new podcast that follows Tara as she chronicles Black divers, marine archaeologists, and historians on a quest to examine slave ship wrecks and uncover the little-known truths about the Middle Passage. They’ll also dive deep into the astounding discovery of The Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive from Africa in 1860, and examine...
Feb 25, 2022•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Will takes a deep dive into Descendant, the award-winning documentary that debuted at Sundance Film Festival and revealed the riveting true story of The Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive from Africa in 1860. The people it carried to the U.S. arrived 40 years after the slave trade was outlawed, and they established a community called Africatown. The film follows their descendants, who kept the truth about their ancestors alive through oral history passed down generations, trut...
Feb 18, 2022•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cortney Wills dives into HBO’s ‘The Gilded Age’ with one of its stars, Audra McDonald to discuss how the show is exploring the often-overlooked experiences of the Black elite in the 1890s. The pair will highlight the little-known plight of the people who went North after slavery and how they built careers, accumulated wealth, and cultivated communities that were thriving in the North while Jim Crow was busy wreaking havoc in the South. Cortney also sits down with one of the show’s executive prod...
Feb 11, 2022•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
