Amber Riley on the “Cooler” Twist of “Single Black Female”

Amber Riley and Raven Goodwin are lastly sharing a display screen after years of comparisons, and it is the right pairing. Lifetime’s upcoming “Single Black Feminine” follows Monica (Goodwin) as she grieves the lack of her father. Whereas she’s coping together with her loss, she will get a brand new assistant, Simone (Riley), who she has extra in frequent with than their resemblance. The remake of “Single White Feminine” has a number of plot variations from the 1992 psychological thriller, however the creepiness remains to be there. POPSUGAR spoke to Riley about working with Goodwin, starring in a remake, and what’s in retailer for her musical future.

Riley was supplied the function together with her and Goodwin already on the prime of the casting administrators’ want listing. “It was actually cool. Me and Raven already needed to do a challenge collectively. We have identified one another for years. We have been good associates for years. So it was actually thrilling and form of like a no brainer. It was computerized sure for me,” Riley shares.

The 2 have confronted comparisons for years, and the Lifetime movie embraces that. For the “Glee” alum it has been “flattering” more often than not, however the caveat is that the actors aren’t appropriately credited for his or her initiatives. “I simply all the time need different actors – as a result of I have been in comparison with different Black actors additionally – I would like them to get their shine and I would like them to get their acceptable flowers,” Riley says, including, “More often than not it is flattering, as a result of [Raven]’s so attractive and she or he’s carried out a lot on this trade. However on the identical time, it is like when she does one thing superb, like taking part in Denise in ‘The Clark Sisters,’ give her her props the place it is due as a result of she did a tremendous job in it. So it is a good facet and a foul facet to it.”

In the case of “Single Black Feminine,” the actors could not be any extra reverse of their roles. Riley takes on a stalker persona, which is a powerful departure from initiatives she’s carried out previously. “It was simply enjoyable to play one thing fully completely different. That is my first time being in a thriller, so it was form of thrilling to have the ability to play somebody so loopy and to point out a special facet in a special ability in my performing,” she says, noting that Simone is “loopy.”

The general essence of “Single White Feminine” is current by way of Simone, however “Single Black Feminine” holds the ability to face alone from its predecessor. “It is a cult basic and it is a enjoyable thriller, and I believe that we form of captured the suspense like the unique movie does,” Riley says with confidence. “[The] solely factor they not noted was the stiletto,” she says, referring to the enduring scene within the 1992 thriller when Hedy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) stabs Allie’s (Bridget Fonda) ex-boyfriend Sam (Steven Weber). “We do not have that within the movie; we’ve got one thing significantly better. We’ve one thing cooler.”

And for those who drink, Riley suggests watching the film together with a ingesting recreation. Take a sip or a shot “each time somebody screams, each time Simone form of pops up out of nowhere, and each time you hear the phrase ‘sister.'” Truthful warning, these three issues occur loads within the movie.

In the case of life after “Single Black Feminine,” Riley says, “I believe who I’m as an individual is extra in my music. And as an artist, it is extra in my music in my artistry than as an actor. . . I am engaged on my second EP. It is all the time going to be R&B and soul. I believe this time round I am engaged on extra ballads and greater songs. Whereas the primary time I used to be providing you with good vibes, R&B vibes. . . However, I believe they’re going to be somewhat bit larger and somewhat extra soulful.” Riley debuted her first EP titled, “Compromise” in Dec. 2020 underneath her mononymous stage title RILEY.

Along with music, Riley foresees herself being the star of her personal present. “I positively need my very own tv present. That is a dream that I’ve had since I used to be somewhat woman,” she shares. “I positively envision within the subsequent couple of years it is one thing that I am working towards with creating, producing, and starring in my very own TV present.” Many actors have been taking that route recently, and so they’re successful!

“Single Black Feminine” premieres on Lifetime on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. CT.