The UB Interview: Reagan Gomez Talks Acting, Social Media, R&B + More

Reagan Gomez-Preston is best known as Zaria Peterson from The WB sitcom “The Parent ‘Hood.”

That program officially began her career in the mid-’90s.

Other roles on TV followed, on shows like Strong Medicine and ER. Reagan eventually scored another starring TV role, on the series Love Inc. in 2005.

Shortly after that she would do the voice-over of Roberta Tubbs, on the Family Guy spin-off The Cleveland Show.

She can currently be seen on OWN‘s highly rated series “Queen Sugar,” as a series regular.

In December Reagan, along with Ray J, Jay Devon Johnson and Annie-Marie Johnson starred in the Terri J. Vaughn directed TV One film “Dear Santa, I Need a Date.”

Tishelle from UB spoke to Reagan recently about her latest roles, her love for acting, advice she would give to aspiring actors, her favorites in R&B and more!

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UrbanBridgez.com What’s the hardest role you’ve ever done and why was it the hardest?
Reagan Gomez-Preston: Oh geez, let’s see. I worked with Ernest Dickerson on a film called Never Die Alone. It was in 2004 and based on a book by Donald Goine. I played a heroin addict. That was really difficult, the story starts off with me being a college student. I have my whole life ahead of me and I meet the star of the film who’s played by DMX. David Arquette and Michael Ealy were also in it, so we had this great cast. I just get lost in this world of drugs and the fast life. Unfortunately my character and DMX’s character have a falling out. He purposely gives me a bad dose and I end up dying in the film. But I had never did a film like that, I was 24 and just a few years out of The Parent ‘Hood. I obviously knew who Ernest Dickerson was and felt like I really had to be on my A game. I was looking at a lot of documentaries and specials on addicts. The recovery process and everything else that they have to go through if they don’t recover. It was really, really hard. So yeah that would be my hardest role, to date.

UrbanBridgez.com: Being a veteran in this business, what has kept you working in a ever changing industry?
Reagan Gomez-Preston: I would say since I kind of got my “big break” early, I came to Los Angeles in the summer of 1994. Immediately booked a show, that lasted five years. That was my introduction into the business. Now 25 years later, I can tell you what the ups and downs look like. Being an actress, a black actress and having a family of my own. I have to be honest, one of the things that keep me going is I feel like we’re in a renaissance. As far as black content goes and black creators content goes. I’m at the point in my career where I’m very appreciative. Like my last role in Dear Santa, I Need a Date when it came along. Because when I got on set, I’m like yeah that’s right I do love acting. I love being here and it is fun! But being honest, I’m overwhelmed with the audition process 25 years later. What my passion is for content creating, I’m a writer and I’m a director. The thing I love about that, is I can create stories. I just love that process so much! Especially since I am a fan of genre films. Sci-Fi, Superheros and horror. I think that is an untapped genre, not only for black folks but people in general. For women and girls, I’m really excited about this time. That is what keeps me going.

UrbanBridgez.com: How was it working with cast in your last film, Dear Santa, I Need a Date?
Reagan Gomez-Preston: It was easy, there was no stress. I had a ball. A little about Terri and I, we both got our start on the WB back in the day. She was on the Steve Harvey show and I was on The Parent ‘Hood. The evolution of both of our careers, from going from actresses to going to directors. From being to work with her from the directors chair was great. I would do it again, I really had a ball with the entire cast. We had great conversations about politics, I was talking to Terri about her time at SAG. Just talking about topics that had nothing to do with the script and I really appreciated those conversations. I also loved the crew was so diverse.

UrbanBridgez.com: What is the best advice, you can give any aspiring Hollywood actresses or actors?
Reagan Gomez-Preston: Something that has helped me with being so active on social media. I’ve been on Twitter 10 years now.

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah you follow me!
Reagan Gomez-Preston: Hey, look at that! So you know and I follow you so I’m aware of you (both laugh). Twitter has been a really big part of my original content journey. Being able to crowd fund, three different times for three of my projects. I would say to upcoming people and those who want to get in the business, get with some friends. Come up with a story and shoot it on your own and put it out. I see so many amazing, whether it’s Tic Tok, Vine back in the day, or even stories on Instagram. Our phones are cameras and they are great quality cameras. I would say do the work, go to auditions, go to acting class or whatever it is you want to do. But nobody is stopping you from creating on your own and putting that work out there. Everybody is on social media and if they’re not, they have people who know them who are. That can tell them and be like hey have you seen this? So I would say create the work on your own and do not wait for people. The down side of the social media platform, is it has created a generation of artists who don’t expect to be compensated for their work. If you’re 16 and you have written your own comedy or you’re 22 and you live in the middle of nowhere. But you have a gift for making short videos. How can the unions and other companies suppose to get that information? They don’t know anything about 5 years or 10 years from now. When I’m trying to do a deal with Fox or get in the union. All of this amazing work that I’ve created can be a bad thing. So for me, it’s like how are we suppose to get in contact and educate these folks who don’t know about the business part? All the information is on the internet, the problem is that young person doesn’t know where the info is.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s next for you?
Reagan Gomez-Preston: I do have somethings in the works that I can’t talk about now. But I will be directing more TV and Film. I’m going to continue on that path. Queen Sugar was renewed for another season & I’m recurring on that show.

UrbanBridgez.com: What’s some of your favorite R&B songs right now?
Reagan Gomez-Preston: I listen to Podcast, I don’t even listen to the radio. I will say that I like H.E.R. a lot, Summer Walker, I love Lizzo. I like Aerie Lenox too. I like them all a lot. I may not know the song titles exactly, but I love them. I like where R&B is going. I like that R&B is somewhat back! If I have the freedom, I’m turning on 90s R&B or just classic soul. Like my mommy and daddy, because that is timeless.

Check Out Reagan’s ‘Reaganomics Podcast’ on Apple Music!