Warning: This story contains plot details from Tuesdays episode ofThis Is Us, titled Our Little Island Girl.
She clearly did that and it all began with the changing of her name to Beth during freshman orientation.
(Plus: a run-in with Randall!)
Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Beth lashed out for the years of emotional austerity no room for weakness was Moms M.O.
The following mornings chat proved more conciliatory.
Beth had more ambitious plans, however: I want to teach.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: It was high time to explore Beths backstory.
But you adapt, and each role is different.
Youre like, What is her background?
And I became more curious.
I wanted to make her her own thing, her own character.
And that has been a really fun and challenging, interesting process as well.
We werent sure where she was going to go.
Just someone who felt like very tangible.
I didnt want her to seem like she wasnt someone we see every day.
It meant a lot to represent all these women that are working and striving.
Those are things that we should really, as Jamaicans would say, big up women for.
Praise women for the everyday of it.
That is really tough to do in a good and healthy way.
Why do you think people respond so strongly to Beth?
Theres a strength to her that resonates with people.People feel like theyknowher.
That pop in of thing where theres a goal, or aspiration that they aspire to that Beth portrays.
Thats always really cool to me.Phylicia Rashad plays your onscreen mom in this episode.
I was going, like, Ahhhh!
But it was never like, Who do you think should play your mom?
They came back and told me that it was Phylicia and its perfect.
Who had you pictured in your head?
Was it Phylicia or even Debbie Allen, given the dance studio angle in the future?
Im sure you had a couple of ideas.No, actually I didnt.
I wasnt thinking about it because I didnt know exactly what the story line was going to be.
Because Ive grown up not hearing an authentic Jamaican accent on television.
What was your attitude entering this episode?
I think it was an opportunity both to really dig in and then to really also learn.
You should never get too comfortable doing this.
Its always about wanting to go deeper.
Carol gave the toughest of loves to Beth.
Thats all that parents do, right?
I have a lot of grace toward that.
Hers was imparted to her, while his was self-generated.Yep.
I kind of feel like she spent a lot of time moving away from that.
And Randall still climbs toward it.
it’s possible for you to see why she also might have a visceral concerned reaction to his perfection.
Shes protective of him in that way.
She seems clear of purpose after that.
That moment iseverythingto me in that scene, because…
I dont know… Im getting emotional talking about it now…
I dont think people recognize thepowerof admitting you did something wrong to someone.
You dont lose strength in that.
Theres so much power and reconciliation that can happen in that moment.
Theres such a freedom there.
Its almost like that moment gave Beth the freedom to then go and dance.
Its because her mother was afraid she wouldnt be okay and that didnt have anything to do with her.
Its scary, but I cant be me without you.
How could I be?
And it happened so early that it maybe died with him a little bit.
And also, a latent guilt of the fact that maybe hes gone because she was that way.
He worked himself so hard and got sick.
Theres a lot in there.
That was a very deep, deep scene.
I understand that with parents.
Trying to say she has a problem?
What are you trying to say?
[Laughs]
What Im trying to say is you act those scenes really well!
What are three tips to playing high?
Ive seen it a lot.
Look, Im from New York.
Its something that I am intimate with in a lot of ways.
And also, in acting, I kind of study when people are under the influence ofanything.
Its never about playing the influence.
So the focus is there but its just maybe the physical thats off a little bit.
Lets talk about that final scene in the dance studio.
I understand that you turned down a stunt dancer they offered you.Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Wow, who told you that?
And Im also trained in dance so it wasnt something that felt beyond me.
I really wanted it to be Beth.
I think that was the main thing in my heart.
I wanted it to beher.
I wanted who you saw to be her and where she was at right now.
I didnt care if the kicks were perfect; I didnt care if the leaps were perfect.
I wanted the energy to be hers in every part of the dance.
Let the record show!
[This Is Uschoregrapher] Nia Brantly, who trained me, shes fantastic.
She led me through two months and a week of training in ballet that I havent done since forever.
So getting that back in my body was challenging but she made it feel like it belonged to me.
So it was difficult for me in a ballet class.
Are Williams words of stop playing bass and start playing trumpet ringing in her ear?Definitely.
Sterling keeps saying its time for him to play the tambourine.
[Laughs] I think its kind of all the voices.
Its the voice of her mom who said to stop.
And its the voice of William who said to find your place and go.
And even the apology from her mom at the end.
For me, that dance is filled with a lot of emotion.
All of that is in there, and you still see that resonating in the dance.
Its really one of those come-to-Jesus moments where you decide, Yes, this is actually where I belong.
How upset should fans be at Randall for not paying attention to his wife?
[Laughs] But were just coming from two different perspectives.
Beths perspective is, its finally her time to fight for her dream of what she wants.
And from Randalls perspective, he might be feeling a little blindsided.
And are you surprised at how invested people are?The first part of that question, yes.
Many of us, weve grown up without a lot of those images.
So having the opportunity to represent that means a lot to people.
And people want to see that kept intact.
Well see how she gets there, but for now we just start with her teaching.
Its important to show the reality of a marriage.
And its just going to be something thats relationship goals.
People really need to see the ups and the downs and the challenges.
Anything thats worth it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice.
And their marriage is obviously worth it.
And so, its going to take a lot of work and sacrifice.
Can it withstand it?
It is going to remain challenging.
This episode was such a great download of information about Beth and her past.
This Is Usairs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC.
