Source: Lifetime
In her first role, straight out of acting school, Cassandra Freeman played Denzel Washington’s love interest in “Inside Man.” Then in 2011, she was Rwandan activist Lt. Rose in “Kinyarwanda” and in 2013 she was the girlfriend to a serial killer in “Blue Caprice.” But it’s her role as Wanda Durant, Kevin Durant’s mother, that proved to be the most emotionally draining. We sat down with Cassandra Freeman to discuss her new project “The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story,” what she learned about motherhood, and the importance of showing the complexities of Black women on screen.
Tell us what drew you to the role of Wanda Durant.
I’m not even into the whole basketball world; but, like so many people, I saw the video that went viral of her son crying about his mom. First, it made me interested in Kevin Durant and then, I’m sure like everyone else, it made me interested, like who is this woman? To look at her and then to discover her story, I just thought here’s something. I don’t know how many stories are told like this. She wasn’t out clubbing. She was a teenage mom. She had him and his brother. I just love the story of an ambitious, working class woman who wanted to do right by her kids even though it was a challenge and it was a struggle. I just thought this is something good to put out in the world. And truthfully, even my friends who are married, they still feel like they’re a single mom, raising their kids. So, I just really felt this was a really great love letter to the heroism of being a mom.
Remember Michelle Obama referred to herself as a single mother?
Did she really?!
She did! And people were shocked but a lot of times, a lot of times those responsibilities fall solely on the women.
Even that New York Times article that came out and it’s the same thing. Men and women were polled and at the end of the poll it showed that women were still doing more work than men were at home. So, it’s a love letter. Every time I talk to people about this project, they end up telling me some story about their mom or their parent who raised them. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, that scene’s in the movie!’ Her story is just the quintessential story of raising your kid on your own, or just trying to raise your kid with a job. I don’t know how people do it.
Source: Lifetime
Did you get a chance to meet her before you took on this project?
Yeah, yeah. I went up to her house, we went out for food. We even went shopping together. She’s such a regular, normal, humble, gracious person. I’m betting she’s pretty much the same person she always was. And she told me about her struggle raising those kids. And I’m impressed—First of all, she’s just a beautiful woman. And Wanda Durant has such serious style. It was really humbling. This is the second film I’ve done that is like a biopic like this.
What was the most surprising thing you learned about her or her story?
That’s a hard question because I knew that she probably dealt with self doubt. I feel like this movie is such a great testament to the archetype of a strong, Black woman and what maybe could possibly be behind that facade. I think this movie shows how sensitive she is and how vulnerable she was. I think it’s the opposite of what you think. But it makes sense. Any super hero character you ever learn about, whether it’s Superman or Batman, you always learn that some tragedy happened at a young age and that’s what created this person. And I think the reason she is who she is today, and the reason why her sons are, because they saw the pain that she went through. And I think a lot of it is just the spiritual pain of being alone and lonely and self doubt. And I think her courage to even allow us to see that is probably what I’m most surprised about.
The lowest moment in the movie is when she tries to commit suicide. And that’s obviously the biggest thing that people will be surprised about. But to see how she came through that is like a testament.
You know tv movies can be either hit or miss so what let you know that this was going to be done the right way?
The people associated. So, this is another Queen Latifah production. This is the second time I’ve worked with her and she’s really great at picking content. Also, Queen Latifah, Shakim [Compere] and Shelby [Stone], I just really feel like they really take care of their actors and their story. And the second big reason is because of who the director is, Nelson George. Nelson George is fantastic. He’s amazing. All I got to say is, everybody should get ready. He’s brought such a level of authenticity to what we were trying to work with. He has such a great history with Hip Hop and Black culture. And this movie really does sit in the belly of all of that. Maryland, what was happening on the street, the murder rate, all of that is right in his zone of things he knows a lot about. Nelson George and Queen Latifah? The last time they worked together was Life Support.
And also Pauletta Washington is in this, who is serendipitously Denzel Washington’s wife, and literally from day one, she plays my mother in the movie and you realize that she’s the other real MVP in the story. She’s such an amazing actress and human being. She was literally like my life support getting through this film.
And Tracie Thoms! Tracie Thoms plays my best friend. Let me tell you, the two of those women! This was a very emotionally draining role for me and to know that at the end of the day, I had those two to talk to, lean on, have dinner with, that just made everything. And I hope that people can see the affection of all of us in this film.
Source: Lifetime
Why did you say this role was emotionally challenging? I mean, you’ve played a Rwandan activist so what was it about this one that really took you through it.
That’s true. That’s true and that was life and death! That was really different though because doing that movie, with such culture shock being in Rwanda and being surrounded by so many other stories that my brain couldn’t even digest because it’s so other worldly, that type of pain. And also that character, you really don’t get to see that character in a weak moment. She really is like a solider. So, playing a soldier and pushing through is different on the screen than playing someone who is also strong and struggling but you get to see her pain.
And so, as an actor to have to explore and deep dive into my own personal pain and my own personal imagination to get into that pain and to do that for a month…And the funny thing is, even though we worked on this for a month, I was cast in this is December but we didn’t even shoot the first scene until February 1. So there’s like months of work that I was doing until that. And in the movie you see her dealing with so much self doubt and depression. And for me that was really hard because your body doesn’t know that you’re just pretending. Your body believes it’s true. So if you’re crying everyday for one month, I dare you to pop right out of that in a week. That’s what made it difficult. I’m already a sensitive spirit anyway. The only way I even got through this was, between takes I’d just make jokes. And the director would sometimes come and hug me. And really, almost everyday, when I left the set, I was nauseous.
It also just made me realize—man, I could go off and do a speech on ‘what you practice.’ You know I meditate and work out and I still meditated and worked out during the film but if you are meditating and working out but still your everyday life is about suppressing pain and crying, that will still win because you still spend more hours doing that. So, now that I’m out of this movie I’m just trying to absorb a new routine emotionally so I can get back right because right now, I will cry over anything.
Source: Lifetime
I think it’s so important because Black women are taught to be strong, we’re taught to suppress our pain. And it’s good for women to see that real women deal with this and they can come out it too.
And you know what else? I wish everyone else could feel this free to tell people that they’re not doing so good right now. It’s so interesting. You would think, if I tell someone I’m not doing so good and they’ll be like ‘ooo, something’s wrong…’ But it’s the opposite. People are like, ‘What? What can we do?’ People want to be of service. And it also made me realize that people are so desperate to have real conversations, like past how you doing, what’s going on. What’s the next thing, instead of what’s the big question that you’re dealing with right now.
And also it makes me look at my relationship with my mom and look at my sister— oh my gosh! Everyone should just go through what I just went through. It just totally changed my whole idea of what it meant to be a parent. Because to be able to handle that much stress over your finances and your love life and still have something left over to give your kids and make sure you’re ok? That’s the ultimate acting job.
Do you have kids?
No, I do not.
Girl, get ready! I’m a teacher too. So I know what it’s like to have to keep things together but to be a parent, you just don’t get off the clock. That really is the hardest job. And you know, I have so many male friends now who are stay-at-home dads, and it’s so amazing to see men say this now. They’re like, ‘Listen, I’ve been with my kids all day it’s the hardest job of my life.’ I’m like that’s what women have been saying for decades y’all.
So, what’s next for you?
You know, my dream, dream project? I want to reboot the Ally McBeal show but instead of a White girl leading it, it’s me. And you sort of look at the funny situations that are particular to our lives. Because I love that show and it’s a dramedy. And that’s what I’m in the mood for, something that’s sort of serious but also sort of light.
You can follow Cassandra @CassieDamesel on Instagram and @CassieFree on Twitter.
“The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story” Premieres Saturday May 7 at 8/7c on Lifetime.
