>> Stephen: I WASN'T ENTIRELY PREPARED FOR THE LEVEL OF MOVES
YOU HAD OVER THERE.
>> I SAW THE FIGHT SEQUENCE, I'M SURE YOU HAVE A ONE-TWO COMBO.
>> Stephen: FIGHTING AND DANCING IS SIMILAR.
WHAT IS DANCING, BUT FIGHTING WITH LOVE.
>> AND EIGHT COUNTS.
>> Stephen: WE HAD ISSA RAY ON HERE AND SHE SAID YOU CAN DANCE
ANY DANCE IN THE HIGHEST OF HEELS.
>> THIS IS VERY TRUE.
>> Stephen: YES.
>> THIS IS VERY TRUE.
>> Stephen: DID YOU START OFF AS A PROFESSIONAL DANCER?
>> NO, I'M JUST AFRICAN.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: RIGHT THAT DOWN.
DID NOT KNOW.
COMES WITH THE TERRITORY?
>> I FEEL LIKE YOU COME OUT OF THE WOMB.
>> Stephen: MUST BE PAINFUL FOR THE MOTHER, FOR THE BABY TO
BE DANCING ON THE WAY OUT!
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A STAND-UP COMEDIAN?
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY HOW YOU GOT YOUR WAY INTO SHOW BUSINESS,
BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE SHOW.
>> IT IS.
WELL, I WAS ON MY WAY TO MED SCHOOL-- THAT'S HOW THE JOKE
STARTS.
YES, ALL THE DOCTORS IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT?
I DID NOT BECOME A DOCTOR.
OH, MY GOD.
I WAS-- MY WAY TO MED SCHOOL.
MY PARENTS ARE NIGERIAN IMMIGRANTS SO THEY ARE, LIKE,
"YOU MUST BE A DOCTOR."
AND I WAS LIKE, "I WILL TRY."
AND THEN -- >> Stephen: THAT WAS THE PLAN
BEGINNING.
>> FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
>> Stephen: "YOU WILL BE A DOCTOR."
>> YOU COME OUT OF THE WIEM AND, "YES, WE KNOW WHAT YOU WILL BE."
I TOOK ORGABBIC CHEMISTRY AND MAYBE NO.
LET'S -- >> Stephen: THAT WILL CHANGE A
LOT OF MINDS, ORGANIC CHEMISTRY.
>> IT DID.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I GOT AN "F."
I WAS LIKE, IS THIS FOR FANTASTIC?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> Stephen: I BET YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO GOT AN "F."
IT MURDERS PEOPLE IN CLASS.
>> IT WEED THEMSELVES OUT.
I COULDN'T TELL MY PARENTS I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO MED SCHOOL,
SO I GOT MY MASTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, AND STILL COULDN'T TELL
MY PARENTS.
SO I WENT TO LIBERIA, BECAUSE IT WAS EASIER TO WORK IN A WAR-TORN
COUNTRY THAN TELL MY PARENTS I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MED SCHOOL.
IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS, I ENTERED THE MISNIGERIA IN
AMERICA PANG.
>> Stephen: I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE MISNIGERIA IN AMERICA
PAGEANT.
WOULDN'T MISS NIGERIA BE IN NIGERIA UPON UPON.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?
SOMEONE SAID YOU ARE IN AMERICA, YOU'RE FROM NIGERIA.
>> I CHECKED ALL THE BOX S.
>> Stephen: HOW DID YOU DO?
>> HERE'S THE THING.
I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED A TALENT.
I WAS STILL IN SCHOOL.
I WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M FREE IN ON SATURDAY, SURE.
I WAS LIKE I'M NOT GOING TO TRIBAL DANCE ON STAGE.
I WILL NOT DO THE MISNIGERIAN AMERICAN PAGEANT TRIBAL DANCING.
>> Stephen: IS THAT COMMON?
>> s I WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO STARTED.
I PRAYED.
I HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN SINCE, LIKE, FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE.
I WAS LIKE, "GOD, I NEED HELP."
AND THE LOUDEST I HEARD WAS, "DO COMEDY."
AND I WAS LIKE, "NO.
>> Stephen: WAIT, THE HOLY SPIRIT--
>> SPOKE TO ME.
>> Stephen: THE DOVE CAME TO YOU AND SAID, "DO COMEDY.
DO A TIGHT 10?" >> A HIGH FIVE.
HE SAID A HIGH FIVE.
>> Stephen: NOW, WAIT A SECOND.
WAS IT ACTUALLY A VOICE?
>> IT WAS THE VOICE OF GOD.
STEPHEN, I WAS GOING TO LIBERIA.
LIKE, I HAVE NO, LIKE, RECOLLECTION HOW TO TELL A JOKE.
I DIDN'T KNOW SETHUFF, PUNCH LINE.
>> Stephen: I LIKE HEARING THAT.
I'M A CHRISTIAN AS WELL AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF JESUS
LAUGHING IN THE BIBLE.
>> HE'S HYSTERICAL, THOUGH.
>> Stephen: HE SAYS JESUS WEPT.
HE NEVER SAYS JESUS CHUCKLED.
>> AT THE POINT WHERE HE'S TURNING WATER TO WINE, THOUGH,
YOU HAVE TO KNOW, "WE'RE ALL OUT OF WINE!"
HE'S LIKE, "WATCH THIS."
LIKE THAT-- I FEEL--
>> Stephen: YEAH, SURE.
BUT THE SHOW YOU'RE IN.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: IS RACY.
>> IT'S A LITTLE RACY.
>> Stephen: AT TIMES.
AND YOU DON'T EVEN SWEAR OFF CAMERA.
>> NOT IN REAL LIFE.
>> Stephen: SO HOW DO YOU SQUARE THE RACY STUFF HAPPENING
IN "INSECURE."
YOUR CHARACTER HAS THE SEXY TIME.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: HOW-- WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS SAY-- HOW DO YOUR
PARENTS FEEL ABOUT THIS ONE?
>> WELL, HERE'S THE THING.
I JUST EYE HAD A TALK, AND WE HAVE OUR GROUND RULES.
WE KNOW, LIKE, WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T, AND I
APPRECIATE THE PRODUCERS BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY AWARE AND VERY
PROTECTIVE.
SO IF YOU NOTICE IN MOLLIE'S SCENES SHE'S ALWAYS COVERED IN A
WAY.
BUT THEN HERE'S THE KICKER.
I WAS LIKE, "IT'S FINE.
MY PARENTS" LIKE, THEY'RE REALLY CONSERVATIVE.
I SAID, "THEY'LL NEVER WATCH THE SHOW BECAUSE THEY'RE IN
NIGERIA."
PERFECT.
AND THEN THE SHOW CAME TO NIGERIA.
( LAUGHTER ) I BLAME CABLE AND SATELLITE TV.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU GOTTEN THE CALL FROM THE FOLKS?
>> WELL, HERE'S THE THINGS.
MY PARENTS-- WHILE THEY WERE HERE IN AMERICA THEY DID NOT
WATCH TV EXCEPT "JEOPARDY!" "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" AND "10:00
NEWS."
THEY WERE LIKE "PUT ON 10 O'CLOCK NEWS."
THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO KNOW WHAT CHANNEL "INSECURE" IS ON.
"SO-AND-SO TOLD US 'INSECURE' IS COMING ON RIGHT NOW ON CHANNEL 2
AT 10:00."
I'M LIKE, "WHO IS THIS AUNT WHO KEEPS CALLING YOU AND RUINING MY
LIFE?" SO NOW THEY, LIKE, FAITHFULLY,
WATCH IT.
BUT THANKFULLY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW... I GET THEM
GOOD GIFTS ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS NOW.
>> Stephen: IT'S ALL WORTH IT.
IT'S ALL WORTH IT.
SO LOVELY TO MEET YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
"INSECURE" AIRS SUNDAYS ON HBO.
YVONNE ORJI, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.