Four of the stars of a wildly popular series are opening up about their characters’ conversation-starting shenanigans and the best parts of their BET+ Black jobs.
Source: Prince Williams/Wire Image/ Paras Griffin/Greg Doherty / Getty Images for BET+
As season 3 of Zatima airs, Nzinga Imani, Jasmin Brown, Danielle LaRoach, and Ameer Baraka are celebrating the show’s success that they saw coming from the very beginning.
“People loved it right away,” Jasmin Brown told BOSSIP’s Managing Editor Dani Canada about the show’s early days.
“I think even after meeting each other and seeing each other’s scenes, we knew this could be a thing,” added Nzinga Imani. “It’s fun, and it’s good.”
Source: Courtesy / BET+
One of the things that makes Zatima so good is the blend of comedy mixed with intense drama, and the lightheartedness is something comedienne/actress Jasmin Brown loves to explore.
“I love playing Deja. I love the element of when I come on screen, people are like, ‘Oh gosh, here she go,’” Brown shared with a laugh. “I love playing that bold, unapologetic, here I am, girl!”
As for Danielle LaRoach, she’s excited for fans throughout the season to see her character ramping up the drama≥
“She’s going through a transition,” said LaRoach about her character who’s “committed” to the mess. “It’s really feeling like I’m on the outs of the friend circle,” she explained, noting that fans might view her future actions as “irredeemable.”
Nzinga Imani, who portrays Fatima’s loyal best friend, Angela, revealed that this season will showcase her character’s protective side even more as Fatima faces some major life changes.
“This season, Angela is really rallying around Fatima, especially because she’s expecting,” Imani told BOSSIP. “Fatima’s still trying to be strong and handle everything, but Angela’s there to be her rock, along with Zac. It’s going to be a season full of stress for everyone around Fatima, and Angela’s caught up in that, too.”
Source: Courtesy / BET+
As for Ameer Baraka, who plays Jeremiah, this season takes his character’s complicated relationship with his brother Zac to new levels.
“Things get worse between them because of Jeremiah’s poor choices,” said Baraka. “I hope fans will understand why he’s acting the way he is. Addiction is real, and it can make people do all kinds of crazy things. We’re trying to give people a real look at what addiction does, and I think the fans will appreciate that.”
Source: Courtesy / BET+
The Cast Of Zatima Talk Their “Black Jobs” On Tyler Perry’s Zatima On BET+
Elsewhere in the interview, the group reflected on the importance of representation and pride as they excel at their “Black jobs” on BET+.
“For me, this is a huge breakout role,” LaRoach told BOSSIP. “To be working with Tyler Perry, and for it to be on BET, it means everything to me. Even the casting director is Black, the line producers, the executives — it’s incredible to see Black excellence at every level.”
As for Baraka, the irony of working with Tyler Perry on his Black-led production isn’t lost on him.
“Tyler Perry was that for me, even when I was buying his bootleg DVDs outside of gas stations,” said Baraka. “He was ahead of his time answering the call for Black representation, and we didn’t even realize how important it was. He’s been doing it from the beginning, and now we’re part of that.”
Imani also shared her own sense of pride about being part of such a groundbreaking show.
“For me, BET was everything growing up. I never would’ve thought I’d be part of a show like this,” she said. Imani highlighted how Zatima not only provides entertainment but also fills a void for authentic Black representation in mainstream media.
Ultimately, Season 3 of Zatima promises to bring even more drama, excitement, and emotional depth, but moreover, it’s also a celebration of representation.
“We’re presenting our stories in a way that’s authentic, and we’re doing it at every level of production,” said LaRoach with a smile.