Last night BET premiered its first episode of the dramedy series “Being Mary Jane,” starring Gabrielle Union, which comes several months after the release of “Being Mary Jane” the movie.
In an interview with TV Guide, the flawless beauty said she can relate to the character she plays, and it’s very similar to the way she was in her younger days. “When I was in my twenties, I was all about getting the ring,” she said. “Cut to: I’m divorced. Some of us put more work into choosing the right therapist than choosing the right guy. Nobody talks about the work–the really hard work–that goes into marriage.”
In the series, Union’s character–talk show host Mary Jane Paul–pretty much has her professional life in order but not her personal life, since she’s involved with a married man played by actor Omari Hardwick. “Mary Jane’s reality can be worse than a nightmare,” she says. “She just acts without thinking things through. And just wait, in season one Robinne’s character shows up at the TV station wanting information about the affair. You think Mary Jane might be a little contrite, a little sorry. Nope. She’s like ‘You want answers, b—-? I’ll give you some answers.”
Playing the show’s antagonist is veteran actress Margaret Avery, who plays Union’s mother and often throws roadblocks in Mary Jane’s way as she’s trying to cope with her relationship mistakes.
“There’s a bit of survivor guilt when it comes to her family,” Union detailed. “And she’s also an enabler and a control freak. She resents having to be the problem solver, the one who’s always expected to pull out her checkbook and pay for s—, yet she enjoys being able to manipulate her loved ones through her handouts. She gets to be Geppetto.”
“Being Mary Jane” airs on the BET Network on Tuesdays at 10:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
