Tanjareen Martin is an actress who is not shy to play any character, because she can instantly own any part. Despite the many different personalities she’s had to embody, when you meet her, and talk to her, you’ll see she’s like a big sister: full of advice, and experience. You may know the sun-kissed beauty from Johnson Family Vacation, Miss March and Love For Sale, to name a few. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Ms. Martin (Twitter: @Tanjareen), and we talked about everything! The best part is she didn’t hold back on anything! Here is what she told me:
On ZANE’s “The Jump Off” Series
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to expose myself, because in my last film, Miss March, I showed my breasts, but it was a comedy, and it was one of the favorited scenes of the film. I was very happy with my decision, because when it came out and tested, everyone wrote in their papers that they loved my scenes. So I thought, I don’t want to show my boobs again, I don’t want to be stamped as the girl who flashes her boobs around town, but they kept calling me, and Amin (Joseph) asked me to audition personally, and I thought well you know what? This could be fun, since we already have a chemistry—we’re already friends, so let me just go ahead and go to the audition, and see what they’re talking about.
I asked the guy I was dating at the time; “Hey, do yo mind if I happen to audition for a Zane show?” He was like “You know what, do your thing, its acting, why not.” That gave me the extra push. I went and Amin was in the audition with me and we had such a great read together, that they called me the next day and told me “You have the part, you start tomorrow, we’re about to email you 13 scripts to read them so you can be ready.” I was like “Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down,” but they were like we’ve been looking for this character for over a month, and finally you came in and worked with Amin, and you nailed it! So I think Amin played a big part in me actually wanting to do the part, and being free enough to do a sex scene.
Being An African-American Actress
I can honestly say that most of my work, especially from urban films or TV, have come from relationship. Auditioning has gotten me some of the main stream roles, but for some reason people in the urban world are told they have to hire a name, they don’t really look out for new talent too much.
So I think that’s why people like Marlon Wayans, as big as he is, he went out and made A Haunted House because he said there aren’t a lot of parts for Blacks, so I have to make my own. And my family, we’ll write our own roles, because no one is writing roles for us—and that’s the truth.
Hollywood doesn’t usually cast a dark Black leading man with a dark Black female love interest. Perhaps middle America finds that too threatening. Therefore, if I had a curly fro, I could probably do a bunch more McDonald’s commercials. If I was of mixed-ethnicity, maybe I would get cast more as a leading lady in mainstream projects, but I love being a chocolate girl! It works for me.
Celebrities She Admires
Regina King, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Taraji P. Henson, Angela Basset, and Pam Grier
Why: They show that you have to know your character before you step on set, you have to know what they want out of a scene. How they would dress, how they would wear their hair, what color would their polish be? You can’t just show up, these women really invest in preparing, and that influences me.
Words Of Wisdom To Aspiring Actors
- Build your resume up.
- Study, take classes, read books, watch biographies, and learn from other’s mistakes.
- Respect everyone on the set. Hollywood is so small, so be the person that you’d want to work with over and over again.
Why She Chose To Document Her Celibate Life
I used to attend a huge church in L.A. that had about 20-thousand members, and most of us were single. The pastor would preach a lot about fornication, and how that was a huge sin and I felt really convicted; really guilty like I was a thief, robber or murderer. So I decided to practice celibacy and wait for marriage. It lasted for three years.
During those three years there were so many funny stories about the way guys treated me when they realized I was serious. A lot of girls say it, but then you take a shot of Hennessy and all of a sudden you’re in your panties. But [the guys] would realize that I really wasn’t doing anything, but then there was that whole “How far will you go?” I would talk to my home girls, and I realized they were going through the same thing trying to be celibate, and guys were trying to press, “how much can we do?”
How serious is a relationship if the guy can’t be physical with you? Is he going to date you with someone else on the side? Because it’s a need? I said I was going to write a book on it, but then I realized I don’t feel like writing a book, and no one feels like reading all the time. I decided to make this easy, so I created a YouTube page. I wanted to put something out there that was five minutes, so the book became a web series.
What She Learned Through Her Celibacy
I learned my energy. When I save myself and I’m not having sex, I’m able to accomplish a lot more because I’m not focusing on dating. There is something spiritual about saving your sexual energy and putting that energy into getting things done—completing tasks, following your goals, and knocking things off the checklist. This happened a lot easier when I was celibate.
I also learned the truth about the guy I liked, because we became friends instead of just somebody they were trying to smash. They immediately tagged me in the friend zone, and I got to know the real them, and a lot of them are still my friends 5-10 years later, because I really had no choice but to get to know them. Once you sleep with somebody, you start to become blind to their faults, and they don’t have to be their real self anyway, but when you’re not sleeping with them, you find out, “oh he does have a drinking problem.”
On Being A Vegetarian
My smoothies are my morning coffee. I do vegan soul food dinners at my house, and I do give recipes out to friends on vegan dishes. I take a dish that you love, and I teach you how to make it vegan. People are really impressed because there’s no meat, cheese, or milk, and the dish that they grew up eating is so much healthier for them, their body, their heart, and their blood.
You too can Eat Clean with Tanjareen!
The Biggest Misconception People Have About Her
[People] probably think because I dress really sexy I’m not as bright as I am or that I might be easier to get with than I am, but once people get to know me they always tell me that they had no idea how I really am. The real me, is super Earthy. I buy everything organic; I don’t drink soda or coffee; I’m really spiritual; I donate to the homeless every week; I’m really into making photo cards. I read a lot, I’m sure that when people look at me, they don’t go, she probably has a huge book collection, but I do!
I think I dress this way because when I was doing the celibacy thing I was so insecure about having hips and a butt that I wore baggy clothes; but I have come to a point where I can embrace my hips and thighs, and I’m proud of my curves. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to have sex with you, it just means I like my shape.
About Her Upcoming Projects
I have my own project “The Celibate Nympho Chronicles.” I have more episodes to release and more to produce. That’s the web series about my dating life, or lack there of. So far Malik Yoba, Rodney Perry, Tony Rock, Wesley Jonathan, and other celebrities have made guest appearances. It follows my journey on trying to hold out from giving up the snatch until I find the right guy—its not easy.
You can find it on YouTube, Funny or Die, and Vimeo.
A Message To Her Supporters
I need you, I love you, and I appreciate you, and stick with me, because there are a lot of sides to me, and you’ll never know what’s going to come up next, but I definitely promise that it will be shocking. I try not to do anything that is expected. I’m not important without you, and it is going to be a fun journey!
Fun Facts!
- Tanjareen likes to put on her bikini, grab her blanket and lay out at the park.
- She likes TrueBlood and nighttime soap operas like Scandal and The Sopranos.
- She decided at 6-years old that she would be an actress after acting in her first play as the gingerbread man in “Hansel and Gretel”
Be sure to catch Tanjareen on Zane’s “The Jump Off” on Cinemax and on TVone’s “Family Time”!
*Posted intially on 5/16/13*
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