‘I don’t mind anybody’s leftovers’: Paula Jai Parker Doesn’t Mind Getting Work Taraji P. Henson Turns Down

Paula Jai Parker

While Paula Jai Parker is booked on season two of Hollywood Divas, she’s also ‘booked’ in the scripted Hollywood World. In a recent interview with Mara The Hip Hop Socialite, Paula says that she’s continued working on the big and small screen and doesn’t mind taking projects that other A-listers — like Empire’s Taraji P. Henson — may have turned down. In fact, she’s quite excited about how the leading actors in Hollywood are of color:

Well I think they’re buying into it because they think it’s the trendy thing to do, but we know what we want to see. And the beauty of a show like ‘Empire’ doing so well, and the fact that they are calling it ‘Hustle & Flow’ point two has brought down this whole trickle effect on the rest of us.

Anthony Anderson

You see now Anthony [Anderson]’s show is a hit on ABC. Elise and I have been working – me nonstop, you know. I’m the go-to now. You can’t have Cookie, call Paula! [laughs] Hey!! Here I am! What you want?? Where it at? I’ll take it! We’re represented by the same people, so that helps too that when they call and ask for Taraji [P. Henson], and she can’t do it, and the manager passes it. ‘But we got Elise and Paula.’ You know, so I don’t mind anybody’s leftovers as long as I’m working, honey, I’ll eat it! [laughs] Yes, please! My baby can’t do it all — I’ll take it! So yes, I’m very excited.

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