Interview: Actress Ciera Payton ("A Madea Family Funeral," TV's "She's Gotta Have It")
“Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.” That passage is from Maya Angelou’s poem, “Phenomenal Woman,” and it could be a description of Ciera Payton, whom Dr. Angelou mentored in her early days.
Ciera Payton has appeared in two Madea films, acted in a recurring role on the television reworking of Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, and had guest spots on shows like The Walking Dead. What you don’t see on her IMDb resume: coping with her father’s incarceration as a 13 year old girl, and channeling her weaknesses into strengths with acting, mentoring youth like Dr. Angelou did for her, and building a business for her branding that includes her very own makeup line.
I told you how a new girl at my school in eighth grade was crying, and she wouldn’t tell anyone why. She finally told a few people including me about how her dad went to prison and her mom was having her travel an hour or more to a new school so no one would find out for a fresh start. Your story is powerful because some young people out there like my old classmate are spending their holidays without a parent because he or she is in prison. What would you like to tell them about your story? Do you think it is a bad idea to hide the truth like that girl’s mom told her to do?
I so feel that girl’s pain. When my father first went to prison, I was 13 years old. I didn’t tell anyone. Also, no one in my family really understood the pain I was feeling. I was having panic attacks, I clammed up, and didn’t speak much. I just buried myself in my school work and thankfully the acting and drama programs I was involved in. It was rough for me. My dad’s addiction was somewhat normalized in my family. Many of family members didn’t quite understand that I was grieving the loss of my father and in many cases, I was expected to suck it up and not show my emotions. One day at school I was just having a really hard time. I believe it was the following day after I visited him the evening before. I was in the hallway at my performing arts school (New Orleans Center for Creative Arts) and my teacher Mrs. Shea came up to me and asked what was wrong. I told her what was going on and she held me so tight. I just started crying and she pulled back and looked at me and said, “This too shall pass.”
From there, other teachers started giving me books. Mrs. Oliver gave me Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and then my Aunt Kathy gave me I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I believe they all saw how much of a toll everything was taking on me and they wanted to help guide me to my healing.
For young people going through similar situations, I think talking about it always helps. In today’s time, youth are gifted with more resources with school counseling and online help. I think the first step really is to let your teachers know. There’s so much shame around incarceration and yet it’s such a normal part of our society that I think we do need more transparency and give faces to the families of incarcerated persons.
I’m an advocate for arts education and I think most of those young people with incarcerated parents need to get involved in programs where their voices are heard and where they feel seen. Also, they need to let their pain out in a healthy and constructive way. That way true healing can begin.
Dealing with a family member’s incarceration is enough to make any otherwise happy young person fall into self harm, poor self esteem, substance abuse, or poor decision making—sometimes for the rest of a person’s adult life. What stopped you from becoming a victim of the negative mindset? What can young people do at home right now to believe they have futures in tough times?
I really think the arts played a big role in intercepting that behavior. And also the birth of my little brother. He was born when I was 14 years old. Prior to that, I was very depressed and barely holding on. But when he was born, it was like I had a purpose again. And by no means am I telling young people to go get a baby sibling. That’s not my message, but what I am saying is to find a purpose for yourself.
We are all incredible beings with so much to contribute to this world. And truly it starts with just simply telling your story and letting that be your testimony. The arts give you permission to do that and it allows space for you to channel your pain into another character or script or book. Write it out, speak it out, then you will start to heal and the story changes. Space for forgiveness starts to happen.
For me, journaling always helped. I would just document where I am emotionally each day. If I felt like crap, I’d write about it. And if I felt on cloud nine, I’d write about it. At that time, little did I know that I was creating the foundation of telling my story which would eventually be my one-woman show, Michael’s Daughter.
You used your father’s story for the play you just mentioned called Michael’s Daughter. What was the feedback on how your play helped people cope with stories like yours?
I was always amazed by the response. Because as a child of a formally incarcerated parent, I always assumed this type of story was only limited to black and brown people. But every time I would do my show I would have white people, Asian people, people of multiple races and cultures express their understanding because they have an incarcerated loved one. I also felt that many families understand the effects of addiction because it spans across race, religion and socio-economic lines. The feedback was always great and everyone encouraged me and keeps encouraging me to turn it into a movie.
When people ask me who my career role models are, I cannot stop talking about the gentlemen I admire. I read online one of your career role models is Dr. Maya Angelou, and you enrolled in her class with her permission after trying to meet her for some time. How did she guide you, and how does her memory still inspire you today?
Dr. Angelou’s books and stories were the first things that catered to my growth and human understanding. When I read her books, she didn’t feel so far from me. Yes, we were of different generations and grew up in different states. But her story captured me and taught me seriously to never judge a book by its cover.
When I got to meet her and then eventually take her poetry class I got to learn that on a deeper level. She began our first class with the quote, I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me. It’s a quote by a Roman slave and poet named Terence who was around during 160 BC.
I always remember that quote because it really shows and says how all of our emotions, desires, goals, and actions are all a part of what makes us human. So why judge any of it?
She’s the main one who showed me that and taught me to express myself through my craft. I’ll forever be grateful to her. May she rest in peace and power.
You fit in so well with the men I love who combine Hollywood talent with business savvy because ... you founded a makeup brand called Sincerely Cosmetics. 10,000 people can start makeup lines, and each will come out different. What is unique about your product line? Your goals? Marketing? Target audience?
Well, thank you for that. You know, as an actor, I’ve always tried to find things I can do that excite me while I’m not working on a film or show or when auditions aren’t pumping in. Creating Sincerely Cosmetics was that thing and it also served a need for me, being that I have sensitive skin and I desire to wear cosmetics that don’t irritate it. I wanted to create something that didn’t have harsh ingredients and that everyone would want to wear. It’s definitely a vegan, cruelty-free cosmetic brand with a millennial fan base. Currently, I’m offering lipsticks, liquid lipstick, and lipgloss. They are all really beautiful colors and I’m in love with them. I especially love it when my customers are happy! I’m looking forward to growing that brand and expanding to eyeshadows, foundation, and skincare. So please stay tuned!
Based on your experiences creating a business and reaching out to young people with things like teaching youth acting workshops, what advice do you have for people who want to brand themselves into being more than the millionth talented actor or actress out in the film industry?
Right now, I’m really big on teaching young people to search within themselves and define WHO THEY ARE. I’m constantly seeking to find out WHO I AM beyond, my name, my gender, my race, my profession. Many of those things are what make me who I am, but they don’t define my soul or my true essence. As we seek the answers to Who I Am, we begin to uncover all the parts of us that makes us human. That’s where the branding lies. As cliche as it sounds, seriously being true to yourself, is the best branding there is out there. You want to be an actor who does real estate or teaches an after school program? GREAT! You want to own a bakery or become a lawyer and still act? GREAT! Go for it. Because the true YOU will always desire to come out. Never kill it. Honor it and be that. All of the marketing, branding, and promotion will fall into place.
When you talk to young people interested in the arts, you ask them questions about never seeing people like themselves on screen. The discussion of inclusion is important because it is ridiculous seeing older films with weird gay jokes and shows like Friends without any physical diversity. But sticking diverse characters into programs, LGBT, people of color, people of other nationalities, is tricky because they just as easily can get reduced to stereotypes or the vibe of “we’re here because studios are pressured for inclusion.” What is the right way in your mind for the film industry to correct the lack of inclusion? Should we be having more roles written specifically for women of certain backgrounds to audition for (African vs. black from America, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Hawaiian...) where the character feels a background is part of his or her soul, or is the answer more in writing “blank” parts anyone of any background could play, like Batman, and auditioning everyone?
It’s really so tricky. I laugh sometimes because some things I’ve recently watched has that feel of, “We’re here for this one scene because this production is trying to fill the diversity quota”. And then it just feels not genuine and unauthentic.
However, not to contradict that, I do think we are moving in the right direction. Look, it’s all about changing the perspective and having an open mind. It’s good to now cast diverse actors in roles that would normally go to non-diverse actors. There will be mistakes and misunderstanding and sometimes misrepresentation. That’s what comes along with change. You never get it right the first time and it’s never going to be perfect.
I also think the power truly falls in our hands. The more we tell our true authentic stories and not depend on others to do so for us, the more the doors open to have people of all colors and backgrounds be open to seeing, hearing, and watching our stories.
You have had the positive experience of acting in Tyler Perry films, and he does so much with portraying people positively, no caving in to stereotypes to please studios, sort of the theme of what we are talking about. What is his set experience like?
Tyler Perry is one of my main role models in this business. He is a smart and talented business person who truly did the work and built all that he has today. It’s funny being on set with him because I’m just in awe of him and I forget sometimes that oh yea I need to act and play my character rather than being mesmerized by his profound talent. It’s all truly captivating. From the sets to the scripts, to his presence. Sometimes I just get so blown away.
As a director, he’s great. He gives the actors so much freedom and I just love that. It’s great to indulge in it and be able to add to the character he created. I love it and am just so grateful for it!
What’s up next for you with work? More with Tyler Perry? What are your dream acting roles?
I just wrapped a project with Amazon. I can’t speak much about it but I’m looking forward to it coming out next year!
I have so many dream roles. Mainly I want to play spies and high action roles. I’m a bit of a tomboy so anything that’ll put me on a horse or with a gun or bow and arrow in my hand, bring it on! I’m so ready for it!
What do you do for fun? Fav foods? The classic finale to these interviews.
Haha! Right now, I just love to sleep. It’s been a great year! And I’m just so grateful to God for all of it. But I can’t lie, I’m exhausted! So fun for me would be to get some sleep and then find time for my Cardio Barre class and time at the gun range!
Phenomenal Woman
BY MAYA ANGELOU
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care.
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.