Raven-Symoné grins at a point out of Raven Baxter. She spent 4 seasons and 100 episodes enjoying the title character of That’s So Raven on the Disney Channel within the aughts; in 2017, she returned to the position for Raven’s Dwelling, now in its sixth season. “To know that folks nonetheless take pleasure in it to this present day brings a real smile to my face,” she says. “All of the onerous work was price it.”
However there’s extra to Raven than Raven. After starring in Broadway’s Sister Act, incomes an affiliate’s diploma in fantastic arts, and cohosting The View for one yr, she returned to Disney not solely as an actor, however as an govt producer of Raven’s Dwelling. Her priorities have included championing illustration and specializing in onerous truths; within the fifth season of Raven’s Dwelling, she directed an episode about Raven’s son being racially profiled by a police officer. “We now have the power to alter issues. All within the Household modified issues. The Cosby Present modified issues. Mary Tyler Moore modified issues,” she says. Clearly, she is aware of what she’s speaking about; in 2003, Raven-Symoné was among the many younger stars featured in Self-importance Truthful’s “It’s Completely Raining Teenagers” cowl story. Again then, she informed the journal that All within the Household was her favourite classic present and Janet Jackson was her idol.
She’s additionally working along with her spouse, Miranda Pearman-Maday, on The Finest Podcast Ever With Raven and Miranda (produced by Jensen Karp for iHeart). Every episode, the cohosts spin a wheel to land on a phrase that serves as a jumping-off level. In episode one, “roommates” brings up recollections for Raven of residing with Lindsay Lohan. Episode two is on “boundaries,” that includes Demi Lovato. Episode three, with Keke Palmer, turns to “psychic,” a pleasant coincidence for That’s So Raven followers. “It actually brings me pleasure to have the ability to talk with the world on this manner,” Raven-Symoné says.
Previous to the SAG-AFTRA strike, on a Zoom name from her vibrant pink podcasting room, Raven-Symoné spoke with Self-importance Truthful about every little thing from Disney Channel’s golden age to working along with her spouse.
Self-importance Truthful: You’ve been performing because you had been 16 months outdated. What was your understanding of the trade as a younger baby, and as you grew to become a youngster?
Raven-Symoné: As a really younger baby, I used to be taught that this was a job. This was my model of nine-to-five, as was faculty. I needed to present up. I needed to be ready it doesn’t matter what, as a result of I may get fired after which issues would go to hell. I used to be taught to all the time be on time, early, know my strains, smile when somebody needs to take an image with you, all the time say sure, and know that each a part of my life might be scrutinized for the remainder of my life.
As I obtained older, I spotted that it is a job. I’ve to all the time come to work ready. I’m all the time on time. I don’t all the time know my strains, however that’s not as a result of I don’t wish to—that’s simply because I’m outdated now, and so they don’t stick properly in my mind. Now, as an grownup, it’s all the time vital to maintain your hand out for individuals who wish to step up. I feel a whole lot of the occasions, I discover [that] individuals in positions of energy—not as a lot now, however again within the day—prefer to gatekeep, and I’ve all the time prided myself on, if any person has a dream that I will help them accomplish, I’m going to assist them accomplish that.
What was it prefer to be a part of the Disney Channel’s cohort of stars? What was your social life like, in relation to all of the work you had been doing?
There was a whole lot of stuff occurring for me throughout that point. I’m a workhorse, so I went to work. I did what I wanted to do. I wasn’t actually associates with a whole lot of the those that had been in that. I imply, Tahj Mowry was a good friend of mine. We talked once in a while. Folks from my present, clearly. However I used to be 16, 17. My curfew was, “Be residence, as a result of you haven’t any nightlife.” I wasn’t that sort of teenager, the place a whole lot of the youngsters had been, that I’m listening to about now. I used to be petrified of my dad and mom, so I got here residence instantly. Slash, they had been driving me. It was not a sport.
