Prior to being cast in A Thousand and One, Teyana Taylor says she was fielding a lot of roles that “were either funny or I was just the hot chick,” she says. “And I didn’t want to be the hot chick. I wanted people to take me seriously.” With her role as the film’s protagonist, Inez de la Paz, she can consider that mission accomplished. The A.V. Rockwell–directed film follows Inez, a Harlem native—like Taylor herself—who, upon being released from Rikers Island in 1994, is confronted with a society that’s hostile to her through a transitional time. From her attempts to reunite with her son, Terry, to dodging the authorities, Inez is a powerful force portrayed with authenticity and emotional depth in Taylor’s hands. And while in the past the 33-year-old musician, choreographer, and creative director was most likely to be called in for more lighthearted fare (her previous credits include Coming 2 America and Madea’s Big Happy Family), with A Thousand and One—which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance—Taylor has squarely entered the serious-Hollywood-star chat.
People know you as a glamorous musician. This film is an intense, naturalistic story about a mother rescuing her son from the foster care system in New York. It’s a major departure for you.
Acting was always in the back of my mind. I had done small stuff, but it wasn’t anything that I felt really showed my range. A Thousand and One is my breakout, take-me-serious, I’m-here-and-I’m-here-to-stay type of role. I remember receiving the script, and right away thinking, I need to be a part of this. Not only was this girl from Harlem, New York—me—she had a story to tell. She reminded me of a lot of the women in my life. And I realized while reading the script that New York was almost like a third main character in the movie.
You have two young daughters. Did being a mother in real life inform your performance?
I take a lot of pride in being a mom— I love it. It was easy to tap into my mama instincts. In the film, I’m talking to my 14-year-old, and he talks back to me. I was like, Oh god! When my daughters get to this age, they’re going to give me the talk-back! I probably gave my own mom a hard time. Doing this role definitely made me appreciate my mom more than I already did.
When you were growing up, who was your cinematic crush?
I used to love Richard Gere. Pretty Woman is one of my favorite movies in the whole wide world. I would always go out on a little terrace fire escape, put my hair down, and just picture Richard Gere with the roses in his mouth. I love me some Richard Gere.
Are you a fan of Halloween?
I love Halloween. My costumes be lit! This year, I was Akasha from Queen of the Damned. I had diamond fangs!
What is your astrological sign?
I am a Sagittarius. We are the best! We are so loyal, and we love so hard. We’re very black or white: We either love you or we don’t. And when we love you, baby, there ain’t no turning back!
Taylor wears a Balmain shirt; Alaïa sunglasses.
What was your first red carpet outfit?
I don’t even want to think back on those days. Oh my god. [Laughs] It was the early 2000s—I’m just imagining the outfits—and I don’t want to relive that!
Were you a theatrical child?
Yes, I have always been a character, and I’ve always been dramatic. That’s why I knew I wanted to be an actress. Coming into the music industry, they kind of make you have to choose, and I didn’t want to be stuck in one box. So I started to put my acting chops into my music videos. I also direct my own music videos, so I would make sure all of them had a narrative.
Senior Style Editor: Allia Alliata di Montereale. Senior Fashion Market Editor and Menswear Director: Jenna Wojciechowski. Hair by Brooke Jasmyn at Wildflowher Locs; makeup by Yeika Glow; manicures for portfolio by Michelle Saunders for Chanel. Set design by Peter Klein at Frank Reps. Special thanks to Ms. Bebe at Outfitters Wig Shop in Hollywood.
Produced by Connect the Dots; Executive Producer: Wes Olson; Producer: Zack Higginbottom; Production manager: Nicole Morra; Production coordinator: David Cahill; First photography assistant: Trevor Pikhart; Second photography assistant: Jeremy Eric Sinclair; Digital Technician: Brendan Pattengale; Postproduction by Lucas Rios Palazesi at Quickfix; Fashion assistants: Tori López, Tyler VanVranken, Molly Cody, India Reed, John Celaya, Kaamilah Thomas, Emily Cancelosi, Allie Kessler, Juliana Bassi, Karla Garcia, Jacqueline Chen, Cosima Croquet; Production assistants: Mateo Calvo, Aspen Miller, Nico Robledo, Griffin Koerner, Danielle Rouleau, Nicolo Battaglini, Juanes Montoya, Juan Calvo, Lily Cordingley, Nathan Gallie, Cameron Hoge, Jack Fahey, Cole Ewing, Karlie Ofstedahl; Hair assistants: Takao Hayashi, Andres Copeland; Makeup assistants: Amelia Berger, Willie Huang; Manicure assistants: Rachel Messick, Marissa Asprer; Set assistants: Christopher Crash Richard, Winston Willingham; Tailors: Irina Tshartaryan, Elma Click, Gayane Mnatsakanyan at Susie’s Custom Designs, Inc.