Garcelle Beauvais was most recently seen as the host of the syndicated daytime talk show “Hollywood Today Live.” Beauvais is well known to TV viewers for her roles in “Franklin & Bash,” “NYPD Blue” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” Beauvais also brings experience from the fashion world to her hosting duties, having started her career as a fashion model with Ford Models, appearing in print ads for Avon, Mary Kay, and Clairol, and walking the catwalk for Calvin Klein, Isaac Mizrahi, and more.
Her latest role is playing Doris Toomes in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which she says has her 9-year-old twins, Jax Joseph and Jaid Thomas Nilon, “over the moon.”
Tell us about getting and preparing for the role.
That’s interesting because I got offered the part, which was amazing. But I was offered the part without knowing anything about the character. They weren’t allowed to tell me anything.
My manager called me and said, “Hey, we got an offer for you for a movie.” I said, “OK, great. What is it?” He goes, “Well we really don’t know the character.” I was like, “Really? What’s the name of the movie?” He said, “Spider-Man.” I said, “Well hang up with me. Call them back and say ‘yes’. I don’t care what it is.” I flew to Atlanta to shoot it, not even knowing the character. They were so secretive. No one got a script. I had never been a part of the Marvel [enterprise] but they are true to their word in terms of their secrecy.
There was no way to prepare for the role.
I kept saying to my manager, “How can I prepare…” He said, “Trust the process.”
I would assume this was a unique “process” for you. Now that you’ve had the experience, and the movie’s premiere is a couple weeks away, what do you say about the experience?
This is the probably the biggest budget movie. I have done White House Down and Flight; that was pretty amazing. It’s a franchise where people are so invested. I love the fact that this particular Spider-Man [film] is more diverse than any in the past. The cast is phenomenal. To be a part, I am beyond happy.
What did you like most about being in Atlanta?
I have been to Atlanta more than I have been anywhere. It seems you are getting all the production. I love Atlanta. I love the people, the food. You have great restaurants. I discovered Chick-fil-A.
I feel like the people who actually live there are not jaded about having so much production. Everybody sees the value that it brings so I think people are gracious and understanding. It doesn’t seem like we are annoying people who live there. Sometimes when you are shooting in New York, the people just want to get to work and on with their lives. Atlanta seems to embrace the fact so much is happening there.
What are your summer travel plans with your nine-year-old twins?
We just came back from Haiti. We were there for 10 days. It was a work vacation. I am producing a film called Lalo’s House that addresses human trafficking. We will continue shooting in L.A.
They are going to sports camp and we may travel to Walt Disney World. It will be their first visit.
