Hi.
I am Tina Lifford.
I play Aunt Vi on "Queen Sugar," and you are
watching 20 Questions on OWN.
Have I ever had a nickname my nickname is Tina.
So the question is, what is my legal name?
Most people don't know it, and I'm not sharing it.
What is one thing I cannot live without?
Life itself.
You know, I think one of the things I am most proud of
is that I walk my talk.
Because it takes a lot of effort and intention
and learning and unlearning to walk your talk.
You know, I think I would tell my teenage self, dream bigger.
Challenge fear soon.
If I could be anything else in the world,
I have thought about that many times.
And I'm really good with what I'm doing and who I am.
So nothing really comes to mind.
I mean, maybe a singer.
I'm not a fan of karaoke.
But every time I go, or I'm dragged,
its "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gainer.
If I could have dinner with two people, dead or alive--
dead, certainly.
It would be Malcolm X, and it would be Philip Seymour
Hoffman, an actor who I think just was one of the most
brilliant actors I have ever had the honor
of watching and learning from.
If I were a superhero, my superpower
would be the ability to stand in front of any human being
and see how we are alike and also see the event
that made them who they are.
When it comes to laughter, that's one of the things
that I love about my family.
I have a ridiculous family.
We are all always playing.
I think I am a very funny person, but no one in my family
does.
So I would say my niece.
My niece, Chelsea, is super funny,
and I love laughing at her, with her,
and all variations in between.
A lesson that I take away from "Queen Sugar"
is that working together makes the dream come alive.
I work with an amazing ensemble.
My favorite scene to film during season six.
That's a hard one.
And it's hard because, you know, there's so many scenes,
and I pretty much just love everything
that I get to say as Aunt Vi.
And on the spot--
OK, there's a scene between when Davis comes
and meets the family anew.
That was pretty good.
When it comes to preparing for Aunt Vi,
I'm always moving Tina out of the way
and committed to how Aunt Vi is feeling, what she's thinking,
and what she needs.
Would I be friends with Aunt Vi.
You know, Aunt Vi and I would have a lot of things
to talk about.
And we wouldn't be necessarily on the same page.
But I could learn about relationship
and being in a long-term relationship from Aunt Vi.
And Aunt Vi could learn to be a little less judgmental from me.
Shooting on set in New Orleans.
It's always fun for me.
You know, I am doing what I love.
I am working with people who are lovable,
and the scripts are amazing.
So I hit the stage, and I'm there to have fun.
Which cast member would I like to switch roles with for a day.
Wow.
That's a hard question for me.
And the first cast member is actually a guest cast member.
Sam Landry.
He's so incredibly evil and undercover with it.
I would love--
I would love the opportunity to play that note.
The day I found out that I was cast on "Queen Sugar,"
it was the first day in probably six years that I had actually
gone to my agent's office.
I was sitting, talking to my agent,
not about "Queen Sugar" or that audition.
And the phone rings, and they offered me the role.
And the agent that got that call came into the office
where I was and told me that.
And literally, I was stunned.
Literally, this is how I was.
And I was like that because when I was in the audition,
I thought, oh, they're not interested.
Because I didn't get the feeling or the vibe
that what I was putting down, they were picking up.
So I was stunned.
But I got over it.
What TV series or movie can I watch again and again and again
without getting tired of it.
It's "The Office."
That Michael Scott is just so good.
He's such a wonderful character.
And I love comedy, and great comedy just makes me feel good.
Wow.
If I were stranded on an island with just one
album to listen to.
Ooh.
It would have to be instrumental, because I would
probably get tired of whatever words or message
a talking album would offer.
And an actual name doesn't come to mind, but something
in the vibe of, like, Ronnie Laws
from the late '80s, early '90s.
Something like that.
Learn to be uncomfortable.
Because if you can sit with what's uncomfortable,
you'll grow beyond it.
The area of my life that I am trying to own
is what I call my inner fitness.
You know, I believe that our inner fitness is
as important as our physical fitness,
and I'm always working to be that next better, healthier,
mental, emotionally, and spiritually
whole and solid person.
Hi, I'm Tina Lifford, and you have just watched
20 Questions only on OWN.