Amazing Grace Star Laiona Michelle on Her Jamaican Roots & Why She Likes Being Uncomfortable
Age: “Old enough for a chocolate martini.”
Hometown: Springfield, MA
Current Role: An emotional Broadway debut as Nanna, the nurturing servant of John Newton's childhood friend (and later wife) Mary in Amazing Grace.
Stage & Screen Cred: Michelle has been involved with Amazing Grace since its initial reading and has appeared in the national tour of The Book of Mormon. Her film and TV credits include Law & Order and All My Children.
“The first play I ever saw was Romeo and Juliet. Romeo was an African-American man and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, I did not know you could talk like that!’ I knew I wanted to be up there—that was the moment for me.”
“My grandfather came from Jamaica on a boat. He had a third-grade education and opened up a barbershop, which was the first black business there. He had a strong work ethic that he passed along to me and my family.”
“I wanted to go straight to New York after high school, but my mom was like, ‘No, you’re going to college.’ I was stubborn—I opened [the college guide] to the first page and Alabama State University was the first school that offered theater. I only applied there. I got accepted and it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life.”
“Laiona means female lion, it’s a Spanish name—my aunt named me. I was going to be a Monique. Thank ye the Lord I’m not a Monique! I feel like I’m the only Laiona out there. When I Google the name, it’s just me!”
“Playing Nanna is deeply draining. I feel scared and weighed down, but I tell God, ‘I believe I need to feel this for this role, so don’t let me get too comfortable.’ I gotta keep shaking it up. And I tell my dresser, ‘Tighten up that corset!’”
“My mother showed me my childhood journal, and at 11 years old I had written, ‘I want to be in an important piece of art on Broadway.’ I’ve always wanted to be a part of something important and Amazing Grace is that show for me. Every single day I’m thanking God.”
