If you don’t know who she is (shame on you), you’re about to find out. And if you admire her already, you’re about to love her even more. Here’s my love letter (well, listicle) to Regina King: 15 undeniable reasons she should be celebrated.
1. Regina King has been in the game for decades.
Photo: IMDB
Regina King began her remarkable acting career at age 13, winning the role of Brenda Jenkins on the 1980s TV show, 227. On the sitcom, she starred alongside TV greats Marla Gibbs, Hal William and Jackée Harry. How’s that for a start?
The series ran for five seasons and she has steadily been working in the entertainment industry ever since.
2. She slays television AND film.
Photo: Cineplex
In the ‘90s, after 227 ended, King mostly did film, but consciously kept a foot in TV, doing spot roles (and always leaving an impression) on popular shows such as Living Single, New York Undercover, and Northern Exposure. She’s an expert at balancing blockbuster big screen classics with binge worthy, mesmerizing television work (I’m now waiting for her to hit a Broadway stage).
Those TV and film roles provide even more reasons for us to praise this black, talented Queen (Regina actually means that in Latin).
3. She played your favorite hood rival…
Photo: Giphy
King’s feature film debut in John Singleton’s, Boyz n the Hood, is iconic. She played Shalika, the Crenshaw chick that Nia Long’s character, Brandi, did not use in any way, shape or form. Shalika was arrogant, foul-mouthed and tacky – basically, she was perfect. King accurately depicted a real girl that many of us, growing up in urban cities in the ‘90s, knew….and hated to love.
4. …your crazy ass good girlfriend…
Photo: Giphy
In Poetic Justice, King starred alongside THE Janet Jackson and THE Tupac Shakur, taking an emphatically ‘90s road trip (in a mail truck) from South Central Los Angeles to Oakland, California. In the film, she played Lesha, Jackson’s best friend, who stayed fly, kept it poppin’ and often, even popped off (“Yeah, that’s right. Brush that WEAK ASS FADE…”).
5. …your dope college roommate…
Photo: Giphy
In the 1995 movie, Higher Learning, King performed the part of college freshman Monet, who discovers she’s roommates with Kristen, a white girl who gets into so much drama throughout the film, that it's not even funny (so much that homegirl is driven to throw a peace rally towards the end of the film). Initially unsure on how to connect with each other, a crazy event leads Monet to become a protective roommate to Kristen.
6. …a Muslim…
Photo: TVOvermind
On the first season of American Crime, King played Aliyah Shadeed, a serious Muslim who did whatever she needed to help her brother, who was involved in a murder investigation. She played no games and snatched wigs weekly.
7. …your protective, by any means necessary, bad ass mom…
Photo: Barn Stable Patriot
And on the second season of American Crime, she played Terri LaCroix, a mom, who after discovering her teenage son is involved in a sexual assault scandal, gets down and dirty to help clear her baby boy’s name. You anticipated her every scene and she always delivered.
8. …the loving wife…
Photo: Nerd Core Movement
King has played the role of “wife” in many configurations (more on that later), but in The Leftovers, her character, Erika Murphy, does her best to keep her family sane (and safe) after 2% of the world’s population disappears.
9. …and your favorite aunt too!
Photo: YouTube
In 1998’s sexy romantic drama, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, King played Vanessa, the younger sister to Stella (portrayed by Angela Bassett), who fully supports her May-December relationship with islander, Winston. She is loud and silly, and is also the aunt to Stella’s son, Quincy.
10. She’s acted opposite some of the greatest male actors…and repeatedly (I’m sure unintentionally) stole the scene from them.
Photo: Cinema
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx… She's run through them all, playing their wife, girlfriend and side chick.
And before you even think about it:
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11. She often works double time.
Photo: Youtube
Let me explain. In my opinion, one of her most mind blowing roles is her work on the animated adult series, The Boondocks, where she voiced not one, but TWO of the main characters, and often at the same damn time! Also, she simultaneously shot the second season of HBO’s The Leftovers and ABC’s second season of American Crime, sometimes working on both sets and switching roles in the same day.
Can your fav?
12. She’s a director!
Photo: Brown Sista
After being in front of the camera for decades, King wanted a change and found that her commanding, yet nurturing personality was more than suited to sit in a director’s chair. Since 2013, she directed episodes of some of the most popular shows on TV like Scandal, Being Mary Jane and Greenleaf, to name a few. And she wasn’t just handed those gigs. In an interview with Wendy Williams, King explained that she attended the Disney/ABC Directing Program (basically TV directing school for people already in the television/film industry). She jumped in head first, worked hard (even specifically voiced that she wanted to direct a Shonda Rhimes show) and made it happen. Watch the credits and you may be surprised to often find her name.
13. She’s REAL…
Photo: Entertainment Rundown
Although King works in Hollywood, she is far from actually being “Hollywood". Don’t get me wrong, our girl packs all the glam and poise of the best stars out there, but she’s not confined or defined by it. She attended regular public school while on 227, her industry friends love her, and she’s not afraid to let her hair down and have a good ass time.
14. …and WOKE!
Photo: Vulture
Years before #OscarsSoWhite, King spoke out and said “Emmys so white”. She wrote an open letter on Huffington Post about the Emmys not awarding television actors of color, omitting iconic black television actors in memoriam, and even mixing up names of black actors on the red carpet. (sigh)
Certainly a ballsy move, but she knew she had to say it despite the backlash she might receive.
15. She’s a two-time, back-to-back Emmy award winner.
Photo: Lainey Gossip
Although she criticized and spoke out about the Emmys’ lack of diversity, they could not deny her immense talent. In 2015, after 30 years of captivating audiences around the world, King won her first major award – the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. The moment her name was called gave us CHILLS. Not only was it her first time being nominated, but look at who she was up against:
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(Just in case, that's Zoe Kazan, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Mo’Nique and Angela Bassett.)
She repeated the feat by winning again in 2016.
Why Regina King is not showered with accolades more often is beyond me, but what is more incredible about her is that she seems to be cool without it. She continuously churns out jaw-dropping work, and doesn't beg for praise in return. She is an artist at the core, making beautiful stories come to life for people like you and me to be inspired by. And to be frank, that's even more of a reason for her to be celebrated.
Photo: Giphy
What's your favorite Regina King role/moment? Let's share in the comments!
