As a fan of television and the entertainment industry, I must say that I admire the courage and determination of this extraordinary woman. With 14 seasons under her belt on a hit show like “Housewives”, she took a leap of faith, stepping out on her own to pursue more substantial roles in the acting world. It takes guts to walk away from a successful contract when you know great opportunities are waiting for you.
Kandi Burruss is experiencing another phase of professional growth. Following her rise to prominence as one of the members of the ’90s R&B group Xscape, Burruss later found herself in the limelight once again as a cast member on the reality show “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” appearing from 2009 until 2023.
In March, Burruss revealed that she would be leaving the Bravo series following a remarkable 14 seasons. She explained this move as being driven by her ambition to fully focus on her acting aspirations.
Burruss expressed to The Hollywood Reporter that she no longer wished to only appear as a guest star. Instead, she aspired to audition for more substantial roles in any project. With it being her contract year and having the freedom to decide for herself, she chose to take a leap of faith.
Despite having other projects ongoing, such as Xscape’s The Queens of R&B Tour with SWV last summer and her role as a producer for the upcoming Broadway play Othello, featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, it is playing Eboni Phillips in season two of Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt that has been particularly rewarding for Burruss in her acting journey so far.
“It was another tap on my window to say, ‘you did the right thing.’” she says.
Down below, Burruss discusses with The Hollywood Reporter about immersing herself in the character for the intense part on the courtroom series, and expresses that her leaving Real Housewives of Atlanta doesn’t necessarily mean the termination of the reality show franchise.
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How did the role of Eboni Phillips come to you?
It seems fate brought me together with Raamla Mohamed, the creator of Reasonable Doubt, on the same flight. We exchanged contact information, and it turned out she was heading to Atlanta for this season’s production. I initially thought they had already decided who would be involved in everything, but I still reached out to her with future collaborations in mind. To my surprise, she asked about the kind of roles I would like and the types of performances that truly excite me. I expressed a desire to showcase my acting abilities by taking on a role where I could really delve deep, rather than something lighthearted or easy. I didn’t expect anything to come of our casual conversation, but shortly after speaking with her, my team contacted me about auditioning for a role. I was thrilled when I learned more about the character Eboni – she embodies everything we discussed.
What did getting into the headspace of Eboni look like?
The thing about Eboni is that she’s a woman who’s dealt with substance abuse issues. She was in an abusive relationship with a man who was successful, powerful and he took her kid away. It was so many different things. But I had a lot of people I could pull from, and other stories I could tap into. I’ve had family growing up who were dealing with substance abuse, so I saw that all the time. I actually dated somebody who had issues with prescription medicine. Sometimes we would have conversations and then he’d just [doze off], and I didn’t understand it at the time, but that was something I pulled from for Eboni.
Prior to embarking on my project, I stumbled upon a story on social media about a woman who had been involved with an athlete and faced difficulties, including losing custody of her child. He was granted full custody, and she didn’t even have visitation rights. This woman is reminiscent of the character Eboni. Upon reading this story, I empathized with her situation as it seemed unfair that everyone was criticizing her while she was left without the means to fight for her child against an opponent who had substantial financial resources. Drawing inspiration from various sources, I combined these elements and developed my concept.
Did you know your character would have a multi-episode arc?
As a devoted fan, I couldn’t help but feel thrilled when I learned I’d be appearing on multiple episodes instead of just one. The uncertainty of the number was exhilarating because no story should abruptly end, leaving both me and the audience in suspense about what happened next, where my character went, or if there might be more to her tale. Eboni’s fate remained open-ended, full of potential for surprising twists. In a show as outstanding as this one, I couldn’t help but yearn for a chance to return and continue the adventure.
Have you had that conversation yet with Raamla?
To be honest, we never had that chat at all, but let me tell you, that set was one of the finest I’ve ever graced. Now, I can’t reveal everything, but trust me, they know how to have a good time. They even have an ice cream day! And believe it or not, they have some adorable traditions for their cast. Frankly, I just want them to keep having fun while I watch from the sidelines.
What’s your experience like with this new role, considering you recently joined The Chi as well, and what made you decide to devote more time to acting?
As a child, many people might not have realized that I attended a performing arts school for drama. In fact, Atlanta was home to several notable acts such as Xscape and OutKast, and we were all alumni of the same high school. While singing was something I did, my primary focus was on theater. Simultaneously, I was part of the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta, which fueled my aspiration to become an actress. However, my music career took precedence initially, capturing most of my enthusiasm.
Many of the friends and peers I shared experiences with during the program have since appeared on major television shows and even Broadway. Remarkably, numerous individuals from my childhood circle have achieved success in various fields. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of envy, thinking: “Wow, we were acting together, and y’all went ahead and did this.” It’s not that I haven’t accomplished anything myself, but acting was always my dream, and I didn’t pursue it as vigorously as I should have. As I entered my late 30s, I decided to refocus my efforts. I told myself, “It’s never too late to chase after a dream,” so I made the decision to commit fully to acting.
At one point, I switched agencies, and informed them about my aspirations. Soon after, I received an audition for a Broadway performance. I portrayed Mama Morton in “Chicago”. Additionally, I appeared in a few minor films. Interestingly, McKinley [Freeman] was cast in one of those productions with me, which made the experience more comfortable, despite us not sharing any scenes together. However, “The Chi” and now “Reasonable Doubt”, these are my first significant roles that have given me an opportunity to prove myself: Yes, I’m here to stay and not just playing around.
Did that desire to act play into your decision to step away from the Real Housewives of Atlanta?
Absolutely, you’re not wrong about that part. What many don’t realize is that I spent 14 seasons on “Housewives” and had several spinoffs, which meant I was bound by a contract. This contract, often referred to as ‘first position’, means that if I wanted to try out for other roles, I needed their approval. If there were scheduling conflicts, they could deny me the opportunity. Similarly, if a network offered me a significant role in another show, they’d also want first position. However, I no longer wished to be just a guest star; I aspired to audition for more substantial roles. So, during my contract year, I decided to take a leap of faith because it was the first time I could make this decision for myself, rather than having them say, “We have another option, so you’ve got to come back.
This year, I found myself at a crossroads, and I must admit that I had a strong feeling about the exciting prospects ahead. Earlier in the year, I had shared my intention not to return, but my team and I had been discussing a summer tour. I was already engaged in conversations, and I’m currently a producer for the Broadway play “Othello” starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. With these opportunities already in motion, it made stepping out on faith a bit easier. However, when I received the chance to participate in “Reasonable Doubt“, it came after my initial announcement, serving as yet another confirmation that I had made the right decision.
Some viewers and reviewers have speculated that your exit, along with Kenya Moore’s, might mark the closing chapter for The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Can you share your insights about the potential future of this series?
I believe the show doesn’t need to come to an end. There’s a market for it and it can continue to thrive, even if not with the same fanbase as before. History has shown that when key cast members leave, ratings often increase instead of decreasing. For instance, when Kim Zolciak departed, many thought the show would tank, but the viewership actually grew. The same happened when Nene Leakes left. It wasn’t until the last few years that the show started to falter a bit, but this could be due to a general decline in reality TV as a whole. However, streaming numbers have remained strong, indicating that the audience is still there. As long as they bring on new, engaging characters, the show can continue to tell compelling stories and offer exciting drama, just in a different way than before. I have friends who are still involved with the production, and they assure me it will be good.
Returning to the show “The Chi”, it seems there’s quite a buzz online about its lack of critical acclaim, considering its lengthy run. What could be the reason behind this oversight?
It’s remarkable how underrated the popularity of “The Chi” seems to be. We’re now in our seventh season, which makes us one of the longest-running Black dramas out there. I’m not referring to comedies here, as there have been a few that have run a bit longer, but when it comes to a drama series with an all-Black cast, this is quite significant. The show has managed to evolve its storylines each year, making characters more important and then shifting focus to others – they’re doing an exceptional job at it. A big shout-out to Lena Waithe, my birthday twin, for her contribution to the series. We give our all to every project we undertake; hence, even though “The Chi” may not receive the recognition it deserves, its continued existence means it continues to provide opportunities.
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2024-10-16 20:55