Jeri Jacquin
HBO brings class into session with the soon to be released
Bluray, DVD and Digital Download pack of comedy that will test your take on
laughter with VICE PRINCIPLES: The Complete First Season.
As two teachers plot and plan for control of the principle
job at North Jackson High School
Deciding to hire someone not from the school, the two
teachers are introduced to Dr. Belinda Brown played by Kimberly Hebert Gregory.
Coming into the school with high expectations, she had no idea that what was
about to happen to her.
From dealing with two adults acting like teenagers, an ex-husband
who hasn’t grown up either and sons who test her every move – Dr. Brown is
pushed to a breaking point that is nothing short of mind boggling.
I had the grand opportunity to speak with Kimberly about her
role as the principal of North
Jackson High
School
Jeri Jacquin: Thanks for talking with me today Kimberly, how are
you?
KHG: I'm doing great Jeri, thank you.
JJ: I have to tell you that I just fell for the series VICE
PRINCIPLES and your character. Please tell me how you got involved with the
project?
KHG: It really was an audition where they made a decision
about the character early on in the pilot and I was doing another pilot at the
time. Somehow it worked out that I got to go in and auditioned with Danny
McBride sitting there. I was trying not to freak out; I mean it was a test with
the leads! I did walk out feeling 'wow, this is a great moment, pat on the back
Kimberly!' I made people who I truly respect in comedy laugh and thought it was
a good day. They called back fortunately.
JJ: When you read the script did your jaw drop as much as mine did
watching the series?
KHG: It did but for several different reasons. I'm actually
reading everyone's part even though I'm Dr. Brown and reading it for the
development of my character. I had to think about what was this world like that
Belinda was going to be in. Just reading that this was taking place in a school
and this was adults behaving this way in a school, I was blown away at how
absurd it all seemed. The adults had really become the children.
JJ: It's almost too as if they had their own adult "high
school' cliques with the rift between Gamby and Russell.
KHG: Absolutely and I think that may have been part of their
desire to write something that mirrors our adults lives whether we can see it
or not. We have created and do create these cliques with people who are cool
and people who are not, people who deserve our wrath <we are both laughing
at this point> and people who do not.
JJ: Your character is also the odd one out of the clique circle
because everyone else knows what's going in at the school except Dr. Brown.
KHG: I think that's the sinister nature of it all between
these three characters. You have two people who are actively working to take
someone out to get a job! That’s the nature of the comedy and the story. I
believe that if Belinda even suspected what they were doing, both would have
been gone day one. Its worse that Gamby and Russell are both actively and
jointly trying to get rid of her. The beautiful flaw in her character is that
she is so overwhelmed and consumed with her personal life that even when there
are clues that should pull her in get past her because she needs the job for
her own sanity. Then she tries to play Gandhi in many situations.
JJ: She has such a trusting nature in ways because lets be honest,
you don't expect this behavior from staff. You go in with a great nature that
takes such a dark turn.
KHG: She goes in ready to clean house within the first few episodes.
You discover that these guys are horrible human beings and somehow perform
their jobs leaving her to think they are good people. She has no idea of the
personal crisis coming her way when they do what they do to her house. They
have put things together in such a way that it's hard for her to know who is
doing what. I don't know that Belinda is well meaning all the time, in fact
that's why I think I love this character. She had to meet them where they were
at some point.
JJ: I have to ask how much fun or not fun filming the last dark
scene; I think you know which one I'm talking about.
KHG: I have to be completely honest and say it was my least
comfortable, least favorable and least enjoyment. That moment I can not watch.
I remember how I felt as Kimberly and I didn't want the world to see me doing
that. It took a lot out of me. I remember a day or two before shooting that
scene Danny and I were talking and we were waiting to do a scene and he said,
'how is it going?' I mean he is such an amazing guy and such care taken for me
as an actor and a person who is new to their world. So when he asked how it was
going I said, 'could you just take back that scene?’ He said, 'no we can't cut
that!'
JJ: If it helps, what it did for me as a viewer is that you finally
see this deep vulnerability. I mean when you are a principal you have to be the
strong one, you have to show you can lead and solve problems. In that moment
there is a scared vulnerability that is totally relatable as I thought man,
I've been there before.
KHG: I knew that too when I read it. I read that scene and
thought yep, that’s the one. When we had our meeting and they asked if I had
any questions I said 'yep, I have a question'. I wanted to know how the scene
was going to be done and it tested my personal insecurities. It was around then
that I started to grow right along with Belinda; I mean she had to have that
ending. It had to be that, it had to bad. I think part of me not wanting to do
it was because I was so protective of my character. I wanted her to be in the
world in such a way that we could all look at her and say 'yes, I know how that
feels'. I felt like that for her to give up on so much that was going on in her
life, drinking again.
JJ: I'm surprised your character didn't start drinking way before
that!
KHG: Her whole experience was a difficult one to deal with
that’s for sure.
JJ: I know it’s hard to talk about a series or give anything away
for those who haven't seen the series yet, but what would you want viewers to
know about your character that maybe only you know about her?
KHG: She is such a scared woman. I think that's the biggest
thing. She is afraid about everything that is going on in her life, her job and
inside she's afraid. That can manifest in so many different ways so for Belinda
I think as a woman who works in a male driven position, you are your most
vulnerable during all of those insecurities. I think that was the secret to her
for me. I knew her and I know we all know her. No matter who you are we all
know that place when a part of us says 'what are we doing?'
JJ:Exactly. Thank you so much for talking to me today. You are an
amazing woman to have taken on this role and do it to the point of giving your
character so many facets that we can all relate to. I appreciate you so much.
KHG: I really appreciate that Jeri; I hope that I answered
your questions.
JJ: You did, and it makes it more fun when we can laugh about some
of it.
KHG: Absolutely!
VICE PRINCIPLES: The First Season is a show you don’t see
coming which makes it all the more worth a marathon watch. The series on
Bluray, DVD and Digital Download pack this week from HBO Home Entertainment so
might I suggest on this blustery weekend indoors that laughing be back in
session.
In the end – we all need someone to look up to!
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