Lady And The Tramp’s Kiersey Clemons And Yvette Nicole Brown Interview
A year ago, I was invited by Disney to attend a set visit for Lady and the Tramp. While attending the press trip, we had an opportunity to sit down with Kiersey Clemons (Darling) and Yvette Nicole Brown (Aunt Sarah) on the set.
About Kiersey Clemons
Kiersey is one of the most respected actors of her generation. The sought-after actor recently made headlines when she landed the coveted female lead opposite Ezra Miller in Warner Bros. “The Flash.” In the film, she plays the iconic role of Iris West, a toughas-nails journalist.
Clemons recently starred in the Sundance hit, “Hearts Beat Loud,” and in “Rent,” Fox TV’s live production which aired in January 2019. She can next be seen in the Universal/Blumhouse survival thriller, “Sweetheart,” and on season four of the hit TBS series, “Angie Tribeca,” as Maria Charo.
About Yvette Nicole Brown
Yvette is perhaps best known for her starring role as the opinionated but sweet Shirley Bennett on NBC’s “Community.” She starred on ABC’s “The Mayor” and has a recurring role on “Mom” for CBS. She also co-starred for three seasons alongside Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon on the CBS comedy “The Odd Couple.”
Brown starred in the critically acclaimed six-hour BET miniseries “The New Edition Story” and appeared on “Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G.” for USA. She also served as host and moderator for “The Walking Dead’s” 2015 season premiere at Madison Square Garden for an audience of 15,000 people. She has emerged as one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood.
They came to the area of the set where we were sitting and watching the taping in full costume. We talked about everything from how uncomfortable it is wearing corsets, improvisations, and shopping. It was a super real conversation, everything we think and feel as moms. We also talked about how they both got involved with the project.
“I actually met with Brigham, my producer, in his office. I actually did not want to take a meeting that day, I just didn’t feel like it. I went in kind of grumpy, and then I saw that he had arcade games. So, we played arcade games. Two months later I got a call.” – Kiersey
“I got a call about the audition, and I read the breakdown of the character. They said that she hates dogs, and I said, well, I can’t do it because I know my limits as an actor. I can’t pretend that I don’t like dogs. I love them. And I also take care of my dad. He has dementia, and so when I found that they were shooting in Savannah, I’m like, I can’t do it. And my mom said, it’s Lady and the Tramp; it’s Disney; you’ll get to be on set with dogs; you’re going to the audition. And so, I went to the audition and it was one of the best auditions I ever had. The director was so lovely, and I got it.” – Yvette
I cannot say enough about how impressed I was with Kiersey and Yvette. Hearing about how impressed they were with Charlie writing them letters welcoming them to be part of the film. Event their challenges were encouraging. Kiersey’s challenge was her arm getting sore from holding the baby. It was a very funny challenge considering being on a set with a bunch of dogs.
Yvette shared her favorite part of the process, she said, “I don’t know if you met Thomas who plays Jim Dear. He’s lovely. Charlie’s amazing; Brigham’s lovely; our crew is amazing. Kiersey’s amazing, and the dogs… everything about it is just love.” Her answer matched her spirit. She was a true delight to interview. When asked what did she attribute her success to, she said,
“the Lord. I can’t do anything without God. I literally decided when I entered this industry, the moment I had to sit God down to go forward, I won’t go forward. I have to keep my conscious good. You know, this is entertainment industry’s a vapor, right? All this stuff comes and goes. What do people feel when they see you? What do they feel when they’re with you? That’s the truth of who you are.”
I was so impressed by her answer. It is nice to meet entertainers that remain true to their faith. As a mom I always want to ensure that I live out my faith and teach my son to do the same. It’s an important part of who I am and who he will become. I think Kiersey and Yvette adds a gentleness to the film, and I hope that you will save the date for the premiere. “Lady and the Tramp” premieres on November 12, 2019, streaming only on Disney+.
[latoyia]
ABOUT DISNEY+ Launching on November 12, 2019, Disney+ will be the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more, together, for the first time. From The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment, Disney+ will offer ad-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series and short-form content.
