When Obba Babatundé got his big break on One Life to Live in the 1960s, Lyndon B. Johnson was president and Martin Luther King Jr. had just delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech before his slaying on April 4, 1968.
A lot has changed since then, both in politics and in the entertainment industry.
Babatundé recently spoke with Urban Hollywood 411 about those changes, during a red carpet interview at the Los Angeles premiere of his new film Love the Skin You’re In.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry this year for half a century, for those of you that are not certain with it, that’s 50 years,” the New York native shared. He noted that he now sees many more Black people on sets, both in front of and behind the camera.
“When I was initially starting in the industry, there wasn’t as many of those who were our hue,” he said.
The actor, producer, director, writer and singer has been around, as they say, and has nearly 200 credits on his IMDb page.
Among his achievements, he appeared in the original production of Dreamgirls on Broadway in 1981. He took home a Daytime Emmy Award in 2016 for his work on The Bold and the Beautiful. He recently directed a documentary on health care and wellness, and has narrated multiple docudramas.
On screen, Babatundé has worked with everyone from Eddie Murphy to Arsenio Hall; Tommy Davidson; Michael Jai White; and Essence Atkins, Valarie Pettiford and Telma Hopkins on the iconic early 2000s sitcom Half & Half.
Asked about the changes he’s witnessed in Hollywood in recent years, he said Black stories are much more prevalent.
“We as a people have taken a step to the forefront to be able to do our own film and our own television shows,” he said.
Babatundé noted that projects like Love the Skin You’re In tell stories that are “inner-reaching, dealing with many, many issues that sometimes are secret and not talked about.”
He is an executive producer and stars in the film alongside Sauda Johnson-McNeal, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Marla Gibbs, Kareem Grimes, Flor Delis Alicea, and Jaqueline Fleming.
Directed by Kenn Michael, the drama tells the story of photojournalist “Sasha,” (played by Sauda Johnson-McNeal), who uses photography to give voices to people often overlooked in their community. Sasha has unresolved trauma from a dysfunctional childhood, yet is committed to preserving her family’s legacy.
The movie is based on Johnson-McNeal’s personal experiences and a script she wrote.
“It was important for me to be able to share what it looks like when you work on self love and healing, especially when it comes from this dysfunctional family dynamic,” she told us on the red carpet.
The actress, producer and writer offered encouraging words for anyone trying to overcome difficult circumstances, noting that it’s very much possible to “thrive if you get the help and do the work.”
Love the Skin You’re In had a limited theatrical release and began streaming this week on Prime Video, Peacock, Apple TV, Pluto TV, Tubi and other platforms. You can find more details on the film here.
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
