Jay Ellis Talks His Crush On Tatyana Ali, Stereotypical Black Roles & His Dating Rules
Now that you’re more exposed, how do people respond to you in the street?
In the street, they’re not sure sometimes they’re like ‘Is that Blue? No that’s not Blue. Yeah, that is Blue, he just ain’t got no facial hair.’ Some people no. I’ve been chased down in the airport, I’ve been chased down in the street before. Sometimes it’s not even a question. But overall the fans are really gracious and there’s a lot of love and open arms and it’s a really great feeling.
How has being on the show affected your dating life?
I definitely date less than I did before. I think I’m far more cautious. I’m far busier. What I realize is that my time… I don’t know if I can necessarily give all the time that a new relationship deserves right now in this particular moment because I’m running so much.
You mentioned that Tatyana Ali was your childhood crush. What was it like getting to work with her for the upcoming movie ‘November Rule.’
She’s good people. She’s real, she’s fun. She’s easygoing. When you meet your childhood, tv crush, she’s everything, I guess, you hope she would be in real life. She’s an actor’s actor. She wants to play with stuff and figure out how to make it work. It was really cool getting to work with her.
Did you tell her you had a crush on her?
No I did not say that! I just showed up and worked.
Tell us about ‘November Rule.’
It’s about a guy who every November right before the holiday season breaks up with whatever girl he’s with because he doesn’t want to have to go through the whole holiday routine of Thanksgiving and Christmas, then New Year’s and then Valentine’s day. Depending on how much he likes the girl kind of scales how big or small the breakup will be. If he really likes the girl, he’ll go away for three months but if it’s a girl he doesn’t see a future with, he’ll just end it. It’s one of those urban legends, like do dudes really do that.
What dating rules do you have in your own life?
I don’t do like multiple dating. So if I’m in, you’re in. You can’t be dating no other dudes because I’m in. If I’ve given you that, to try and figure out what this really is…I don’t really understand dating in that way. You can’t be dating no other dudes. I understand people do it, it’s cool and it works for them but I can’t get with that.
Outside of that, I think everything is about communication. Distance is something that I’m not a huge fan of. i definitely would like to date a girl who lives in the same town as me for sure. Focus, energy and determination, ambition. Wanting to do something with your life, those to me are really, really big things. Integrity. Those are definitely qualities that I would want in a woman I’m dating.
So you’re not a guy who breaks up with people so you don’t have to buy gifts?
No. If anything I buy too many gifts.
You can keep up with Jay Ellis on Twitter and Instagram @JayREllis and be on the lookout for November Rule which is set to come out later this year. We’ll be sure to keep you posted.
