Wendy Raquel Robinson is known for her roles as Regina Grier on “The Steve Harvey Show”, a regular on “Cedric the Entertainer Presents!” and numerous television, movie and theater roles.  Currently as Tasha Mack on The CW’s “The Game” Wendy has had the acting game on lock for years. 

From her beginnings as a dancer she fell into acting after being an understudy and getting her chance to shine on stage at the age of 10.  She went on to Howard University and studied acting that took her to the homes of millions of viewers.

She talks to in ChiCity (Chicago) about her organization AGC, her television show ‘The Game’, not having sushi at Craft Service and how her character Tasha Mack helped her become more approachable. 

ICC: ‘The Game’ is the leading television show for black households in its time slot.  How does this make you feel? 

Wendy: I think we work really hard all around the board between the writers to the producers and the actors and it is really rewarding to see that the audience is gravitating toward all the work we put out.  I’m proud of being part of a project that speaks to us in a real, funny and dramatic way.  It’s stimulating our audiences. 

ICC: What led you to audition for this particular role on ‘The Game’? 

Wendy: It’s funny, when I first read the role I immediately knew that I gravitated towards her. All her words came so easily to me, her savvy, sassiness, curtness, and wit.  When I read this I was like ‘Oh my God’, I know this character.  That doesn’t happen that often so that was really really magical.  I still had to go through a lot of loops to get the part but even in the process of jumping through the loops it wasn’t as hard of a journey because it came naturally to me.  I love Tasha. I love the fact that she speaks her mind so candidly and I love her relationship with her son Malik and I couldn’t resist it.  Hands down, I gotta have this.  I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. 

ICC: Can you give us a little insight into what is in the future for your character Tasha Mack? 

Wendy: There is definitely love between she and Rick Fox.  He is an Alpha man and he has to shut her down.  Tasha is not going to lose who she is but sometimes you have to be submissive to your man.  She is submissive in her own Tasha Mack way.  I get to meet his mom played by Penny Marshall and I’m really excited about that. Since we have a work relationship that we’re trying to keep on the low inner turmoil eventually occurs leading Tasha to become paranoid. 

I think it is going to be interesting to see the layers that are revealed through out not only her relationship with Rick but she has lost her son to Robin Givens.  Those layers are revealed on how she is handling that and adjusting to that.  Also how he (Malik) is adjusting to Tasha being in a relationship as well because they are overprotective of each other.  There is a lot of independence happening between Tasha and Malik but there is still some co-dependency that remains. We are still working through that.

ICC: In what ways can you relate to your character on the show? 

Wendy: I call her my alter ego. In a perfect world if I was really old and obnoxious, I would say those things that I’m too afraid to say. I relate to her only in the sense of she was not afforded the opportunities that I was. I am from the inner city environment but I was fortunate enough to have both parents and go on to college.  I think if that situation had not happened in my life I could see a lot of parallels that we could possibly have like just growing up around the way.  If I got pregnant as a teen and had Malik I would do the best that I could without compromising who I was.  I think we share a lot in common in terms of that but I could never speak my mind the way she does and I do know how to hold on to a man! 

ICC: Do you have people approach you that tell you they can relate or your character has helped them in some way? 

Wendy: I get more than anything that Tasha is the character that allows people to come up to them and say, “Hey girlfriend”. I’m everybody’s girlfriend and everybody’s friend and I think I am the most approachable one. I think she provides a freedom to come up and talk to me.  I can’t say it has helped anybody and I can’t say I have saved lives yet.  I think she provides a space that is comfortable with her, that inside track.  Everybody wants to be Tasha’s girlfriend. 

ICC: I recently interviewed Pooch Hall and he said, “Wendy is tons of fun, never a dull moment with Ms. Wendy.”  How does that make you feel and how true is that of your essence? 

Wendy: I love that he (Pooch) said that!  I work hard and I play even harder.  The thing I enjoy the most about this cast is that everyone checks their ego at the door.  It’s so open and friendly; it’s just like family. I’m always the class clown or the nutcase but when it’s time to work everybody knows that I am on point with that.  I love having fun, I like making people laugh.  

We will sit sometimes and constantly crack each other up.  The director will say pull it together, not only in the scene but also in between takes.  It makes the day go by faster, especially when you have been there since 6am and it’s going on 9pm.  You ask: What helps? What recharges the scene?  What brings newness and energy?  We keep each other laughing, charged and revved up.  Hopefully it’s translating from the rehearsal to the screen and hopefully you guys are feeling it.  It’s real authentic chemistry that we have. 

The thing we miss the most this season is that we don’t have the studio audience anymore.  When we had the studio audience we would hang out afterward. We would go eat even if we hung in the dressing rooms and recapped the show, “Why did you do that? That was crazy.” They are taking the show in a new direction, which I love.  I miss the audience though so now we make time outside of work. 

ICC: Speaking of a new direction, can you talk about the reports; neither confirmed nor denied that there were cuts made in order for ‘The Game’ to continue?  Reports of discontinued Craft Service, studio audience and personal trailers in order to help the show move forward. 

Wendy: I don’t know personally what cuts have happened.  I’ve been on a lot of shows and you can see where the dollar is stretched.  Where ever the money cuts have gone I can see it being put back into the production value. Of course I would love to have sushi at Craft Service but we don’t. I’m not here for that.  I pick and choose my battles and that is not one in terms of Craft Service.  

ICC: You are the co-founder of Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC) in Los Angeles.  Tell us about that. 

Wendy: It’s a non-profit and very dear to my heart. It is a performing art school I co-founded twelve years ago with my best friend Tracy.  We are coming up on our Christmas performance Decemb
er 13th and 14th. 

ICC: Do you have any future film or television projects? 

Wendy: I just released a DVD last week!  It’s called “Peaches” with me, Dorian Wilson and Buddy Lewis.  It’s a theatrical piece we did on stage but they filmed it for DVD release.  It’s at Target ,Wal-Mart and Amazon. 

I really want to do a movie this hiatus but it is really hard, time wise. Can’t squeeze in anything else, I have three dogs and a husband. 

ICC: You have a broad spectrum of roles under your belt.  From television to movies to theater.  Do you have a preference?

Wendy: I love love love theater.  I have to get to New York on Broadway before I throw in the towel.  My first love is theater because that is where I got my start. Even if I don’t get a film in my hiatus I always do a play.  I can step outside the box.  I am able to play characters that I might not necessarily get cast in a movie or a television show. It always allows me to stretch as an actress. It’s like a boot camp.  

ICC: Have you ever visited Chicago? 

Wendy: I love Chicago! It is so much theater there.  Actually my best friend Velma Austin is the theater girl.  I actually want to come to Chicago and do some legit theater.  I did some plays at the Arie Crown.  

ICC: At the end of the day, for all your fans and those not familiar, who is Wendy? 

Wendy: Wendy is a multi-tasker; I think I am funny and fun, serious, and committed to whatever projects at the time, whether friends, family, work or relationship.  I think I am normal, I don’t think of myself as that “entertainer.”  I love normalcy, between my lifestyle and my friends and staying grounded.  I’m a very real sister in a very blessed position to be in the living room of everybody every week. 

Catch Wendy as Tasha Mack on The CW’s ‘The Game’ Fridays 8:30/7:30 c