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Were thrilled to be screening the season 6 finale ofQueen Sugarat Vulture Festival this year.
More rebukes are surely on the way.
Its a complicated and often anguished story line that gives Wesley a trove of rich material to play.
Ultimately, once everyone in the family has had a chance to read it, peoples reactions vary.
For Nova, its a lesson.
Theyre upset by not knowing, and then theyre going to be upset with knowing.
I dont really know which side Im on.
I just know that truth can be healing.
But I also know that that process is different for every person.
I understand why Nova did what she did.
And then, Ive also seen people who just dont want to talk about that stuff ever again.
She had no ill will for anyone, I think.
Honestly, shes trying to help.
But trauma can be deeply rooted in you.
Even if you think its not there, it can still be there.
Thats the hard part.
Or can you just write it?
How does that work?Im not personally a writer.
Im just curious about that myself.
In theory, yeah, you should get permission from everyone whose stories you tell.
But there are practical limits.
Do I not publish the book because I couldnt get Uncle Charlie to sign off?Right.
What do you do then?
I dont even know the answer to that myself.Yeah, its hard.
I was going to say theres no right or wrong, but I think there is.
Cause a lot of people really have strong feelings about the permission part of it.
You did not ask my permission to use my experience.
My experience is not being filtered through your experience.
You know what Im saying?
Ive had many instances where Ive convinced people to let me tell their story.
Some people said, Yes, thank you.
Im so glad that I let you talk me into telling my story.
But there have been other people whove said, I wish Id never met you.I totally get that.
I used to say that Nova is a journalist at the end of the day.
They know shes not going to switch the words around, shes not going to change it up.
Shes actually going to tell your story how its supposed to be told.
But I feel like now, this is the one time where people might kind of go,Huh.
I dont know if I trust her anymore.
Because now shes done something without asking anyone in her family.
Its always been in the back of her head.
Since last season, we saw her writing quotes on the manuscript to give out to the family.
And then we came to the beginning of this season, and clearly she did not deliver the manuscripts.
Did they even know that you did it?
And if so, what was their reaction?No, they didnt know that I did it.
Thats the beautiful thing about acting and creating characters.
Theres this thing you do with your hand.
I would actually ask.
I never do that.
I dont talk like that.
Respecting someone elses life experience and their truth.
When people who watchQueen Sugarmeet you in person, what do they say about Nova?
And in a truthful way.
What you see is what you get.
I also love that people will judge Nova, sometimes harshly, but they cant help but love her.
Everyones picking their sides.
How does that make you feel, as a performer?Its just funny to me.
I just smile and laugh because I have to remind them that Im not Nova; Im Rutina.
People are like, Why did you do that?
I cant believe you did that!And Im like, I didnt do that.
But at least theyre engaged.
Nova gets under peoples skin.
How does it feel inhabiting Nova?
How does it feel different from being Rutina?I feel a lot of pressure being Nova.
Her messiness, which I love, is exhausting.
Sometimes I want her to just be quiet and have a stable moment and keep her feet grounded.
But its also fun because shes very active in me.
I love that shes unpredictable.
I love the mess that is Nova because you never know where shes going to go.
And isnt that life?
You never really know whats going to happen.
