New Kid on the Cell Block
Fall 2016 | By Angie Lewis听鈥�03听
Sitting in the audience of a Theatre 激情快播 performance of A Chorus Line, Amanda Stephen 鈥�08 had an epiphany. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 supposed to be doing,鈥� she thought. The next day, she added a theatre studies major to her interpersonal/organizational communication major.
鈥淓very semester was packed,鈥� she explains. 鈥淏ut I wouldn鈥檛 have had it any other way. I鈥檓 glad I did it because it helped me push to do more than just what鈥檚 required, and I think that helped me in life.鈥�
And push she did. Since graduating, Stephen landed the role of Alison Abdullah in season four of Orange Is the New Black, the Netflix original series that has won four Emmy Awards and been nominated for 17.
鈥淲hen I auditioned, the breakdown read: 鈥楢frican American Muslim, late 20s/early 30s, has a sense of humor,鈥� 鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 honored to be playing Alison as a black Muslim, and I don鈥檛 take it lightly. At the same time, my job is to make her relatable and show that she鈥檚 not so different from everybody else.鈥�
Amanda Stephen 鈥�08 (second from left) as Alison Abdullah with Uzo Aduba as Crazy Eyes, Danielle Brooks as Taystee, and Adrienne C. Moore as Black Cindy in Orange Is the New Black.听
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
Q&A
How do you feel your education has helped you in your career?
The communication [major] has helped me navigate different personalities, different ways of thinking and different views. The arts side and acting prepared me with a lot of tough love.
How did you get the role of Alison Abdullah?
My manager called me on a Friday and told me I had an audition on Monday, which was a blessing because you usually don鈥檛 get a weekend to prep for an audition like that. 鈥� I formed Alison 鈥� who she is and how she fit into the world in Orange. Monday, I went into the offices and auditioned. I heard back on Friday from my manager that I got the role. I started to scream and jump around the house and gashed my bum on the side of a table.
What was your favorite scene to film this season?
My favorite scene has to be when Crazy Eyes, Black Cindy and I are trying to get a picture of Judy King [a Martha Stewart-like character] coming out of the shower. We block her exit without her knowing, and Black Cindy鈥檚 trying to get a picture with her.
Who鈥檚 your favorite character on the show and why?
Oh, I love them all. I can鈥檛. I will say I鈥檓 a big Red fan. Kate Mulgrew is great. 鈥� I was a big [Star Trek:] Voyager fan, so I can鈥檛 help myself. This year鈥檚 Oscars received a lot of criticism for not including African American actors and directors.
How do you feel the industry has treated you so far in your career?
I鈥檓 fortunate to have a manager who has the same views as I do, where we go after roles that I feel I can play, not just because it says late 20s, African American girl, medium to large build. We look at a character and see the details in the character that she feels that I can pull out. 鈥� It takes open minds on the casting end, on the producing end, and on the actor鈥檚 end to look beyond that. Thankfully we have a lot of people in the industry now who are more open to that. It鈥檚 still a struggle, don鈥檛 get me wrong. But I look toward what鈥檚 possible and what I can do on my end rather than submitting to what the industry standards are.
What鈥檚 your dream role?
I鈥檇 love to play Titania from A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream. When I get older, I would love to play Ma Rainey from August Wilson鈥檚 Ma Rainey鈥檚 Black Bottom. But I think a role that I feel so connected to, that I feel like I was made to play, I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 been written yet.
If someone were to make a TV show or movie about your life, what would the title be?
The Most Ambitious Hot Mess There Ever Was
What causes are you passionate about?
Women鈥檚 rights, changing systemic racism, and ending police brutality toward the black community and people of color
What鈥檚 something most people don鈥檛 know about you?
I鈥檓 originally from Montreal and have dual citizenship.
Amanda Stephen 鈥�08 (right) as Clemma in a 2005 Theatre 激情快播 production of Neil Simon鈥檚 Proposals.
Portraits by Geoff Levy 鈥�11.