adamchandler
09-23-2021, 01:18 PM
https://ew.com/tv/three-rounds-queens-stars-eve-brandy/
While they have similar résumés, Brandy and Eve — two icons of the aughts — didn't really know each other before signing on to ABC's new musical melodrama Queens (premiering Oct. 19). "When I came out, Brandy, you were [on Moesha]. And then when I went into TV [on Eve], Brandy went back to the music. So we would maybe see each other in passing," says the "Tambourine" rapper, seated next to her new costar and fellow UPN alum at the bar of upscale Korean-inspired steakhouse Noona, in the Atlanta suburb Duluth. "But I'm, like, her biggest fan. She's one of my faves," responds Brandy. "We had the same stylist at one point, so we crossed paths, but I just know that being here with her is a blessing."
The women, both 42, indulged in some nonalcoholic beverages — they still have scenes to shoot today! — as they compared notes and teased what's to come on their bold new series from Scandal writer Zahir McGhee, where they play '90s musicians regaining their confidence and reclaiming the spotlight (a subject they know a little something about).
QUEENS – "Pilot" – Estranged and out of touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches-their ’90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world. Left to right EVE, BRANDY, NATURI NAUGHTON, NADINE VELAZQUEZ
Eve, Brandy, Naturi Naughton, and Nadine Velazquez play the rap group formerly known as Nasty Bitches on the new ABC drama 'Queens.'| Credit: Kim Simms/ABC
ROUND 1: PERFECT PEAR
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What exactly is Queens about, and who do each of you play?
EVE: Queens is about a hip-hop group that was the biggest group ever in the '90s, and they get back together to capture what they had before. But now you also see them in their own individual spaces. I play Brianna (a.k.a. Professor Sex), and as a mom of five kids, she ain't got no time for nothing — especially music at the moment. You see her going through her own family issues, but also wanting to capture Professor Sex, to be that woman again.
BRANDY: And I play Naomi (a.k.a. Xplicit Lyrics), and I'm still trying to be a musician. I'm still playing in crappy bars, but I have this opportunity to get back with my girls and become Xplicit, a rapper. I've been chasing fame for such a long time, to the point where I basically abandoned my relationship with my daughter. But the music that I do as Naomi is about my daughter, and the music that I do with the ladies is just about being as best as we can be. I love it because we get to reunite and also try to build our friendship again, because that's what we really lost.
And sorry if I missed this, is the name of the group Queens or do you guys have a different name?
EVE: No. So the name of the group is Nasty Bitches—
BRANDY: For now.
EVE: Obviously where we are, we're older, we're trying to re-emerge, we've started calling ourselves Queens.
The other two members of the group are played by Naturi Naughton (Power) and Nadine Velazquez (Major Crimes). What can you share about them?
BRANDY: It's been great working with them. Everybody is so excited about the show, so the passion and the drive is there. We all support each other, which is amazing. Naturi plays Jill Da Thrill. She's a Catholic, so she's conflicted between coming back to the group and talking about some of the things that we talked about in the '90s. And then Valeria, who's played by Nadine Velazquez, she's Butter Pecan.
EVE: She's a very driven person. Not that we are not, but her character is so driven. She wants this fame and power, but misses her family. We are essentially her girls and her family.
BRANDY: Well, them.
EVE: True. Us. Maybe not [Naomi].
BRANDY: Because she stole my man.
While they have similar résumés, Brandy and Eve — two icons of the aughts — didn't really know each other before signing on to ABC's new musical melodrama Queens (premiering Oct. 19). "When I came out, Brandy, you were [on Moesha]. And then when I went into TV [on Eve], Brandy went back to the music. So we would maybe see each other in passing," says the "Tambourine" rapper, seated next to her new costar and fellow UPN alum at the bar of upscale Korean-inspired steakhouse Noona, in the Atlanta suburb Duluth. "But I'm, like, her biggest fan. She's one of my faves," responds Brandy. "We had the same stylist at one point, so we crossed paths, but I just know that being here with her is a blessing."
The women, both 42, indulged in some nonalcoholic beverages — they still have scenes to shoot today! — as they compared notes and teased what's to come on their bold new series from Scandal writer Zahir McGhee, where they play '90s musicians regaining their confidence and reclaiming the spotlight (a subject they know a little something about).
QUEENS – "Pilot" – Estranged and out of touch, four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagger they had as the Nasty Bitches-their ’90s group that made them legends in the hip-hop world. Left to right EVE, BRANDY, NATURI NAUGHTON, NADINE VELAZQUEZ
Eve, Brandy, Naturi Naughton, and Nadine Velazquez play the rap group formerly known as Nasty Bitches on the new ABC drama 'Queens.'| Credit: Kim Simms/ABC
ROUND 1: PERFECT PEAR
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What exactly is Queens about, and who do each of you play?
EVE: Queens is about a hip-hop group that was the biggest group ever in the '90s, and they get back together to capture what they had before. But now you also see them in their own individual spaces. I play Brianna (a.k.a. Professor Sex), and as a mom of five kids, she ain't got no time for nothing — especially music at the moment. You see her going through her own family issues, but also wanting to capture Professor Sex, to be that woman again.
BRANDY: And I play Naomi (a.k.a. Xplicit Lyrics), and I'm still trying to be a musician. I'm still playing in crappy bars, but I have this opportunity to get back with my girls and become Xplicit, a rapper. I've been chasing fame for such a long time, to the point where I basically abandoned my relationship with my daughter. But the music that I do as Naomi is about my daughter, and the music that I do with the ladies is just about being as best as we can be. I love it because we get to reunite and also try to build our friendship again, because that's what we really lost.
And sorry if I missed this, is the name of the group Queens or do you guys have a different name?
EVE: No. So the name of the group is Nasty Bitches—
BRANDY: For now.
EVE: Obviously where we are, we're older, we're trying to re-emerge, we've started calling ourselves Queens.
The other two members of the group are played by Naturi Naughton (Power) and Nadine Velazquez (Major Crimes). What can you share about them?
BRANDY: It's been great working with them. Everybody is so excited about the show, so the passion and the drive is there. We all support each other, which is amazing. Naturi plays Jill Da Thrill. She's a Catholic, so she's conflicted between coming back to the group and talking about some of the things that we talked about in the '90s. And then Valeria, who's played by Nadine Velazquez, she's Butter Pecan.
EVE: She's a very driven person. Not that we are not, but her character is so driven. She wants this fame and power, but misses her family. We are essentially her girls and her family.
BRANDY: Well, them.
EVE: True. Us. Maybe not [Naomi].
BRANDY: Because she stole my man.