Brandee Evans Says Acting In ‘Unprisoned’ Made Her Phone Her Therapist

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I have a new celebrity crush, and her name is Brandee Evans. The Memphis, TN native is known for her dynamic pole-conquering character, Mercedes Woodbine, on the hit television show P-Valley, and her recent role as Ava on Unprisoned Season 2 is phenomenal. But when we got on our Zoom call, Evans set aside her stardom and engaged in conversation like she knew me. Her authenticity made her feel familiar, like a sister-friend, and what started as an interview turned into a genuine discussion.

Things are a little stressful right now with my mom and caregiving, but I will be okay.

In addition to climbing the ranks in Hollywood with her infectious personality, undeniable talent, and genuine soul, Evans is dealing with life’s ebbs and flows like most people. The choreographer takes pride in being a caregiver to her mother, Diana Harrington, who has Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s, but admits that her load can sometimes get burdensome. She revealed on this call that she returned home from filming P-Valley to find a resignation letter from one of her mother’s caregivers. “Things are a little stressful right now with my mom and caregiving, but I will be okay,” the former high school English teacher proclaimed.

To combat the stresses of caring for a loved one while juggling an acting career, the entrepreneur is working on being more intentional about caring for herself. “I just love to go to the beach, ride my bike, and just have a moment. I like to take myself to dinner, too, and just sit. Like, I’m definitely that girl that would just go take herself to dinner or take myself to a movie,” the dance coach shared.

Brandee Evans Brings a Refreshing Perspective to Unprisoned Season 2

Even though life is life-ing for Evans, she is still slaying her dreams and making room for more to come to fruition. She manifested her role in Unprisoned Season 2, sharing that she has a framed picture of Kerry Washington in her bedroom and always visualized working with the veteran actress. However, when the Universe conceded, and Washington reached out to Evans for the role of Ava, Evans initially turned the mogul down. “I thought it was a role similar to Mercedes. I’m not knocking Mercedes, but I have already done that. So, for me and where I want to go with my career, you won’t see me ever play a role like Mercedes again,” the P-Valley actress explained.

But Carrie was unsurprisingly persistent. She followed up with Evans, who assured her this role differed from Mercedes’s. “ The fact that she [Washington] believed in me meant so much. She could have moved on. But she came back and was like, ‘read it,’ and I read it, and that would’ve been the biggest mistake of my life to not have taken the time to read it,” stated the star.

In Unprisoned Season 2, Brandee Evans plays Ava, the new girlfriend of Kerry Washington’s character’s ex-boyfriend. Ava’s role is refreshing. Not because she brings an invigorating vibe to the show as a gorgeous law student with a snatched body and infectious personality who teaches pole dancing class, but because she demonstrates how empowerment between women can be multifaceted and how women can embrace their boyfriend’s exes. “Season two shows you that you can break up with somebody, and they can have somebody else, and you don’t have to fight with them,” the actress remarked. “Women, we don’t have to dislike everybody. You can uplift another woman, even if she is with your ex-man.”

If you’re a fan of Unprisoned , then you know the show tends to evoke many emotions in most of its viewers. One minute, you’re laughing at the characters; the next, you’re examining your life and reaching for a tissue. Evans agreed that the show is a mirror for her and revealed that the series inspired her to “grow.” “ Unprisoned made me call my therapist again. It makes you think; it makes you have conversations. This is a show we need,” the multihyphenate emphasized.

Evans looks forward to a fruitful future in television and film and hopes to expand her acting horizon with various opportunities. But most importantly, she wants to continue to contribute to meaningful stories. “I want to do things that my nephews can watch, like cartoons. But I’m so excited about what’s to come. As long as it’s good writing and telling good stories, I’m here for it. Let’s go,” she affirmed.

Unprisoned Season 2 is streaming on Hulu.

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