Mo’Nique prepares for comedy tour
By Mesfin Fekadu
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Mo’Nique won the Golden Globe. She also picked up a SAG Award. And don’t forgot about her most recent honor last week at the BAFTA’s. So easy money says the actress will be victorious at the Academy Awards next month. Right?
“No. No,” says Mo’Nique.
“See, with any of the awards, I don’t never feel like I got this, ‘cause I think the universe would say, ‘Really? So you that special that you already know?’
“So I’m appreciative of when they do call my name and I’m appreciative if they don’t call my name,” said Mo’Nique in an interview from Atlanta, where she was working on a comedy tour, “Spread the Love,” that kicks off March 19 in New Orleans.
The 42-year-old actress-comedian has had a breakthrough year because of her riveting portrayal as the abusive Mary Jones in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.
She talks to The Associated Press about her honors and the comedy tour.
AP: In the middle of this busy awards season, you’re planning a comedy tour?
Mo’Nique: Standup is my first baby. Like, I’ll be doing stand up, sugar, when I’m like 97 years old. I hope to God I can still make it happen.
AP: You’ve won so many awards. Will you take them on the road with you?
Mo’Nique: (Laughs) Hell no! No, baby, that’s too much.
AP: There’s been a lot of talk about you not showing up early on to promote Precious because you were worried about money.
Mo’Nique: Well, when they say Mo’Nique was worried about money, I wasn’t worried about money. Mo’Nique has a talk show that comes on five nights a week and she tapes six times a week for that talk show. And yes, when I leave my home, I leave my home and get paid to leave my home, so I wasn’t worried about money. They simply said, “You know, well Mo’Nique we can’t pay you to do that.” ... We said, “OK, baby. Well, then, that’s not something we can do.” Because, when I leave out, why ever would I go do something for free when I can go and do something and bring money back home to my family?
AP: Has anyone, after watching the movie, come up to you and opened up about the past?
Mo’Nique: It’s been quite a few. But one, it was this Asian brother at the DGA (Directors Guild of America) screening, and he came up to me and he had been crying, and he said, “Mo’Nique, what I’m getting ready to say to you is gonna sound weird. But I am Mary Jones, and I was Mary Jones to my brother and my sister.” And we hugged and we were crying, and I said, “Congratulations for saying it out loud, and go get you some help.”
AP: How does that make you feel?
Mo’Nique: When you hear that you say, “We’ve already won.” So when people say, “Mo’Nique, are you excited about the Oscars and are you excited about the (NAACP) Image awards, are you excited?” I’m excited anytime somebody wants to say, “You know what, we appreciate what you did.” But when you get that, that’s priceless.
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