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Comedy Queen Draped In Oscar Gold
She’s the brassy, beyond fabulous comedy sensation who’s been keeping the volume on our TVs permanently dialed to “Wow” since the late-‘90s with her bold, shocking and supremely sassy wit. Sure, we may remember throwaway hits and pop cultural footnotes like The Parkers and Phat Girlz about as well as the morning after a serious bender, but no one with even half an ear canal tuned to the social seismometer of America is likely to soon forget her brilliant performance in Precious and that shiny, gold statuette awarded to her in kind. Now riding high on the heels of her Academy glory, the reigning entertainment queen known to the world as Mo’Nique is ready to reclaim her comedy kingdom for some well-deserved funny business onstage.
Can you explain to me the differences between Mo’Nique the comedian, Mo’Nique the entertainer and Mo’nique the private citizen?
They’re all one. Baby, they are all one! No differences. Now, Mo’Nique the comedian is a lot freer on the stage. The things Mo’Nique the comedian can say on that stage, baby … (laughs) That’s enough said.
Your career is so multifaceted and layered. Is there one particular portion of your body of work that you’ve found most relevant to your development as an entertainer?
Stand-up. Stand-up keeps me sharp for everything else, because with stand-up there is no cut, there is no action, there [are] no retakes. There is no editing — it is right there in your face, baby.
Did you always know that you wanted to pursue a career in comedy?
You know, I didn’t know what to call it. I just knew as a child, from my earliest memory, I wanted to be famous, but of what, I didn’t know. Then I saw there was a woman named Oprah Winfrey, and I said, “Oh, that’s what I want to do!” Then my brother tried to be a stand-up comedian, and he got booed. I teased him, he dared me, I did it, and that’s the way the career went: to comedy.
But I still remembered I wanted to do what Oprah Winfrey does, and hello! The Mo’Nique Show.
When you took the role in Precious, were you ever worried that it might alter the way in which fans of your comedy view your work?
Not at all. I think that it’s unfortunate that, oftentimes, the media doesn’t realize how intelligent the audience is. They can separate it, and understand this is acting, this is stand-up. Allow the audience their intelligence, because they get it.
How do you feel that role has allowed you to grow as an entertainer?
I don’t know so much that that role helped me to grow as an entertainer; that role helped me to grow as a person. It had nothing to do with entertainment. Playing that role has helped me to grow in the sense of, “Please don’t allow me to judge nobody.” ‘Cause you never know what’s going on.
Has it had any type of influence over your comedy career, as far as the stories you tell onstage?
Actually, I have not been onstage [yet]. This is going to be interesting (laughs).
I’m glad Detroit is going to be one of your test audiences.
Baby, Detroit ... they’re my babies. I’ve been to Detroit quite often, and it just has the feel of welcoming. The last time I was there, I was actually doing something for radio, and I tell ya they came out! It was just beautiful. And they came out with open arms. So Detroit has always been good to me.
How do you see both your careers in comedy and acting continuing to grow and develop over the next 10 years?
You know, I hope to just get to tomorrow, Emma. Because my days are so full of excitement, so if I start thinking about [what’s going to happen] in 10 years, I’m going to miss what’s going on today. Amen, sister. | RDW
Mo’Nique’s Spread the Love Comedy Tour • 3/27, 8 p.m. • Fox Theatre • 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit • 313.471.6611• olympiaentertainment.com • $39.50–$59.50
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