The UB Interview: Deborah Joy Winans Talks ‘Don’t Waste Your Pretty’ | Premiering Tonight on TV One

Actress and singer Deborah Joy Winans stars in the TV One film “Don’t Waste Your Pretty” opposite Keri Hilson premiering Tonight at 8pm/7c.

Deborah stared in OWN’s NAACP award-winning drama series Greenleaf from Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey.

She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and is part of the renowned gospel Winans family. Contrary, to her family’s musical legacy, she was passionate about acting and the singing came later when she was asked to act and sing in a church theatrical production. Deborah Joy received her BFA from Wayne State University. She also holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts.

Deborah Joy starred in the Angela Bassett directed television movie, Whitney also portraying her real-life aunt, Cece Winans. She starred in the short Fighting the Battle and in the feature film Fragile World.

Deborah Joy Winans was a guest voice-over artist for several Grammy award-winning projects such as Mary Mary’s The Sound and Kelly Price’s audio book. She served as host on TV One’s 2019 holiday digital interview series HOLIDAY AF from ImaJam Production.

Deborah received an NAACP nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of her real-life aunt CeCe Winans starring opposite her brother Juan Winans as their uncle BeBe Winans in the stage musical Born for This performed at the prestigious Broad Stage in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington DC’s Arena Stage.

In this Two-Part UB Interview Deborah Joy Winans talks to Aries about the New Film “Don’t Waste Your Pretty” Premiering Tonight!

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UrbanBridgez.com: What first made you interested in the role in “Don’t Waste Your Pretty?”
Deborah Joy Winans: Well coming off of Greenleaf, it was something completely different. I think for me as an actor, I look for things that don’t seem like.. what I would portray. So many people were so comfortable with me being Charity Greenleaf because she’s a girl from a Church family. Also a singer and they can see me as something who can identify with that, because of the family that I come from. And what they’ve assumed I’ve always done. So Jeanné was completely different. She was out of the box and so real! She’s a woman who has been through things, who had her guard up but still wanted to live. But didn’t know how to get out of the rut that she was in because of love, because she was so hurt and betrayed. That was something interesting to me and made me want to sign on.

UrbanBridgez.com: It was shot during COVID, talk to us a bit about how the shooting was for you?
Deborah Joy Winans: Yeah, because initially it was kind of like whoa. Are we really doing this, we’re doing this. But it was exciting in a time where people are shifting and pivoting because the jobs they had are no longer in play. So, what do you do? I was just so grateful that I was able to have a job doing what I love. Doing what I feel like I here been put here to do. During a time where things were up in the air, I was very grateful that we had a production company that which was Swirl Films. They really took seriously the health and safety of not just their actors, but their entire crew. There were so many tests that happened, almost every other day. Anybody that steps on that parking lot was tested. So we were able to go to work with a certain level of comfort. Understanding that we are able to do what we’re suppose to do because they have made sure that our bubble is secure and that we are safe. That allowed us to come to work and do what it is that we love. Without having to wonder like, who is this person? I’ve never seen them. It’s like nope, they’ve been tested. It was an interesting time, but it was good. We were able to wrap the entire production without a single positive Covid test.

UrbanBridgez.com: Tell us about the film.
Deborah Joy Winans: Sure, Don’t Waste Your Pretty is about a tight group of friends. Mostly women and Mykah who’s played by Keri Hilson and who is absolutely amazing. Our characters are bestfriends and have been since growing up. She also has a twin brother who’s played by Redaric Williams. The three of them were bestfriends growing up and then as they got older they sort of got Aisha and Amma. And these women really sort of have been navigating life together and been with each other through the ups and the downs. An just all of the things that life brings and also all of the victories. You get to peer into this group of friends that are just navigating their every day life. Learning where they’re learning, learning where they feel like they don’t have the tools to move forward. Specifically for my character, she’s been through so much. When you meet her, she’s a divorcee of three years. She still hasn’t been able to get over that hump. In fact, she desires to love. She just doesn’t know how to trust it again and how to find it again. Without feeling like, what if? What if it ends up like this did, what if he doesn’t love me the way I should because this one didn’t do it. I think what you learn, is you can’t hold on to your past. Then embrace your future. You gotta let one of them go. That’s what she ends up doing, but it’s hard. I liek that feel thrill, because that is hard to do in life.

UrbanBridgez.com: Nice. Love Keri as well so really looking forward to it.
Deborah Joy Winans: She is so lovely. She’s wonderful in the film and even more wonderful off screen. She’s just a beautiful soul, genuine lovely person. I’m so grateful she is forever in my life.

‘Don’t Waste Your Pretty’ Starring Deborah Joy Winans and Keri Hilson | Coming to TV One