Margaret Avery can tell you a thing or two about Hollywood. The Oklahoma-born actress made a name for herself during the ‘70s by starring in movies alongside actors such as Richard Pryor, Fred Williamson and Pam Grier. However, her moving portrayal as the sassy Shug Avery in The Color Purple placed her in the higher echelon of film actresses. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination in 1985 for Best Supporting actress. In her most recent film, Avery shows a more light-hearted side as the lovable Mamma Jenkins in the hit comedy Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.

“I had so much fun during the filming of Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,” Avery says. “We kept laughing on the set. Mo’ Nique, Martin Lawrence, Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps all made this a fun movie to be apart of.” Welcome ... reminded Avery of working alongside Richard Pryor in Which Way is Up? Avery is one of the few actors to have worked with both Lawrence and Pryor.

“They [Lawrence and Pryor] are geniuses when it comes to comedy,” she says. “Richard was very shy around other people, but he was good with one-on-one conversations. His comic timing was great. Martin’s comedy is more about expressions and reacting to others. He is also very pleasant to be around.”

Avery believes Welcome... shows the strength of the black family. “The black family is almost endangered,” she says. “In this movie, you see two people who were married for 50 years [who] have values. We want people to recognize the importance of family.” –amir shaw.

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