Regina Hall, 55, is an actress best known for the films “Scary Movie” and its four sequels, “Support the Girls” and “One Battle After Another.” She co-stars in the miniseries “The Five Star Weekend” on Peacock. He talked to Mark Myers.
Acting was the furthest thing from my mind as a child. Watching television in the 1970s was inspiring, but being on TV didn’t seem possible.
My parents divorced when I was 6, but they lived so close to each other in the northwest section of Washington, DC, that I could commute back and forth by bike. She did a great job at co-parenting.
When my parents were married, we lived in a traditional row house in a working-class neighborhood. After they separated, my three elder brothers and I moved in with my mother to a house 10 minutes away.
My brothers loved me, but they were not gentle. They saw me as their baby sister-insect. To attract attention, I would stand in front of the TV while they watched. He teased me and called me dogface, which is a term of endearment.
At some point, I complained to my mother about the teasing. She said, “Okay, say something back.” I did so and soon learned to quarrel with them. Eventually, I became one of those boys who was a girl. They were my first audience and my toughest audience.
When I was 13, I became close to a girl named Kate at school. We spent time at his house. He was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwent chemotherapy.
One day, his cancer returned and he needed surgery. Right before her operation, she slept at my house. I said, “Your surgery is on Thursday, so maybe you can sleep in on Friday?”
After the operation she went into a coma and died. My mother told me. I can’t believe it still makes me cry. She was a very beautiful person who loved butterflies.
In high school, I was outgoing but had no interest in being popular. I had close friends and was a good student. I felt like I was who I was. It was easy to be comfortable with myself.
At Fordham University, I majored in Communications. One day, director Spike Lee spoke to my filmmaking class. A friend and I were so inspired that we decided to write a short screenplay, but we soon realized that funding was more difficult than we thought.
After graduation I didn’t know what I wanted to do. My parents said, “Look, you’re out of school and not working. You either have to get a job, go back to school, or move back home.” I chose option number 2.
I enrolled in NYU’s graduate journalism program. During my first semester, when I was 23, my mom called. She said, “Your father is in a coma.” He had diabetes, so I assumed he would be fine. When I went to DC’s house, mom told me that she had suffered a major stroke. Then he died. I was in shock. I loved her very much.
That same semester, my friend Paula suggested I try acting in TV commercials for extra income. She introduced me to her manager, but I couldn’t audition because of my classwork and graduate thesis.
After NYU, I started calling talent agencies looking for a commercial agent. J. I met Mickey Shera at Michael Bloom & Associates, who invited me to come. When I arrived, they said they thought they had invited someone else. Luckily, they liked me enough to represent me.
I was honest. I said, “I don’t really know what I’m doing.” He advised me to take acting classes at the William Esper Studio in Manhattan. I stayed there for two years, working with Barbara Merchant. They nurtured me and allowed my artistic side to develop. Performing was a great way to be outside of myself.
After I completed the program, I got a role in the 1999 film “The Best Man,” which launched my career. The turning point came a year later, at the age of 29, when I was cast in “Scary Movie.” Originally, I was given a small role, but at the last minute they combined it with an even bigger role – as Brenda Meeks.
Today, I live in a unique house in Los Angeles, where I moved a year ago. What I liked about this place was the belief that my mother would have liked it here. I originally wanted him to move in with me, but he died in 2021.
My brothers still tease me, but I know they are proud. Recently, one of them took a call while closing a business deal. He wanted his “famous sister” to say hello to his unbelieving customer. Now I am close to him.
Regina Juice
What is the best thing at home? My mother’s chair, with French words written all over it.
What is your passion at home? Making fresh juice. My current favorite is a blend of apple, pear, ginger and cucumber.
How is your yard? First, I had raccoons, which we removed with the help of a trapper. Now I’m dealing with gophers and snakes. There is a forest there.