As a strong advocate for mental health, Riley conveyed her desire to create a partially sympathetic Simone.
“I really wanted the character to be humanized. I didn’t want to play as this caricature that was just crazy. I wanted to really show the story and her journey to getting there,” Riley said about the film which is partially based on the 1990s hit thriller, Single White Female.
“And that was what was so awesome about finding those nuances that she said in those small moments where it’s like, ‘Oh, this is what (Simone) really wanted out of life.’ And when that didn’t happen, it went all the way left.”
K. Michelle, who plays Monica’s BFF, laughingly admitted this was a different terrain than her entanglements on the “Love & Hip Hop” franchise.
“Well, you know, I’ve done a lot in my life … ratchet reality TV. I’m just so good in that,” Michelle said as the audience cackled. Michelle was, therefore, unaccustomed to being on sets where co-stars were actually friendly, supportive and absent of agendas.
“So when I was able to get up there and be a friend, it wasn’t like a difficult thing, you know? It was like a friendship that I have always wanted, so it was an easy thing.”
“Single Black Female” premieres Saturday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime. Check out the trailer below:
