I was introduced to Regina King in the late ’80s when she played Brenda Jenkins, the sassy-mouthed daughter of Lester (Hal Williams) and Mary Jenkins (Marla Gibbs) on NBC’s sistah girl comedy “227.” What I remember most about King’s character is she rolled her big hazel eyes in a way that connected with me, in an impressionable manner. It was authentic. I wasn’t even sure she was acting; I assumed she was just playing herself.
The signature eye roll was her shtick, reappearing years later when she played Shalika on cult favorite Boyz n the Hood (1991) and later the attitude having girlfriend, Iesha, in Poetic Justice (1993) opposite Joe Torry and alongside Janet Jackson and Tupac. In both roles, she displayed girl-from-the-hood vulnerability. Only supporting roles followed in various film and TV shows. We were simply glad to call her ours. Ours meaning an African American actress we appreciated and connected with, but white audiences don’t necessarily “get.” It wasn’t until she played the supportive wife to Cuba Gooding Jr in Jerry Maguire (1996) that mainstream media took note to the phenomenon that is Regina King.
Since Jerry Maguire, King has starred in numerous blockbuster films and TV series including Enemy of the State, Mighty Joe Young, Ray, “24,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Southland,” Miss Congeniality 2: A Cinderella Story, Daddy Day Care and the list goes on and on until ABC’s “American Crime,” the drama for which she won an Emmy award for series supporting actress on Sunday night, Sep. 20, 2015.
From my perspective, an Emmy is one of those awards that can be given for one powerful performance; but they can also be awarded for a consistently powerful body of work. If an actor continues delivering impactful performances, inevitably their work will be rewarded. For King, this will no doubt bring even more recognition to her career, as it should. She’s already put in the work. She has a 20-plus year career playing strong, impactful roles and doing it all with grace, character and substance.
Congratulations to Regina King. We look forward to seeing what else is store for the once the sassy, eye-rolling Brenda Jenkins, who is ours and makes us proud.
