Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of “Antwone Fisher”

Joy Bryant

As was the case with Derek Luke, playing the role of Cheryl in the film was also the first feature film for Bryant as well. Like Luke, Bryant had to audition three times before she got the call that she had been offered the role. But when she got the good news, she literally didn’t believe it. Denzel decided to give Bryant the news himself, deciding to call her on the phone. In an interview with Mahogany Cafe, Bryant recalled the interaction:

“I hear this voice say, ‘Can I speak to Cheryl, please?’ So I scream, ‘WHO IS THIS? WRONG NUMBER!’Then I hear a laugh and this deep voice says, ‘Joy, it’s Denzel.’ So, I screamed, “NAH. STOP PLAYING ME. WHO IS THIS? DENZEL DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS, SO I’M HANGING UP ON YOUR —. Two minutes later, the phone rings again and it’s a producer of “Antwone Fisher.” “He says, ‘Joy, would you please hold for Denzel and could you try to believe him when he says it’s Denzel?’ I’m dying inside, but in the most businesslike voice, I say, ‘Oh, hi, Denzel. Is there something you wanted?’ ” After he told her she had the part, Bryant calmly hung up “and then I went to throw up, but it was a good kind of thing.”