Phylicia Rashad
Actress
About This Interview
On working with Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show, Phylicia Rashad recalls: "It was just beautiful from the beginning. Bill gave us the greatest instruction. He said, ‘do not try to be funny, just tell the story.'" Phylicia Rashad played opposite Bill Cosby on both The Cosby Show and Cosby and received her third Primetime Emmy nomination for the TV movie A Raisin in the Sun. In her Archive interview, Rashad recounts childhood memories growing up in Houston, Texas and in Mexico City, Mexico. She describes her parents and acknowledges the accomplishments of her mother, poet Vivian Ayers. She vividly recalls when she decided to be an actress, after the attention she received (and her later understanding of "the beauty of communication from the heart") following a reading at a local music festival. She notes her studies at Howard University and the start of her acting career in New York City. She acknowledges her work on Broadway and how she briefly became a regular on the daytime television serial One Life to Live. She speaks in great detail about the role and series for which she is most associated, "Claire Huxtable" on The Cosby Show. For The Cosby Show, she talks about auditioning for the part, describes her character, discusses working with Bill Cosby (and the cast), and outlines a typical workweek on the series. On Bill Cosby's penchant for ad-libbing she explains: "You had to be able to follow him. You had to be able to dance with him. Because he was very spontaneous. And there would be some great, marvelous stuff that could not have been written." She then talks about her work in the spin-off series A Different World. She recounts working on subsequent series Cosby, and gives her impressions of her co-stars, particularly Madeline Kahn. She comments on some of her later work, including the television movie A Raisin in the Sun, for which she reprised her Tony Award-winning role. Phylicia Rashad was interviewed in New York, NY on October 22, 2007; Jim Colucci conducted the two-hour interview.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Video Clip: The Huxtables perform Ray Charles' "Night Time is the Right Time" on The Cosby Show:
Video: Clip of Phylicia Rashad on the red carpet of the 2009 SAG Awards, where she was nominated for her role in A Raisin in the Sun
Embeddable video clip from the interview: Links:
DVD: DVDs featuring Phylicia Rashad
IMDB listing for Phylicia Rashad
Wikipedia article on Phylicia Rashad
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Phylicia Rashad about her interaction with fans of The Cosby Show, including Nelson Mandela who informed her that he watched it while incarcerated at Robben Island Prison
Clip begins at: 17:03, Duration: 00m 44s
Phylicia Rashad on living in Mexico City, Mexico during her childhood
Clip begins at: 02:48, Duration: 00m 46s- Phylicia Rashad on a reading she did at a local music festival that inspired her to become an actress
Clip begins at: 22:09, Duration: 03m 09s 
Phylicia Rashad on her advice to aspiring actors
Clip begins at: 05:25, Duration: 01m 44s
Interview
- Part 1
- On her background, parents; on her mother shielding her from racism; on living in Mexico City, Mexico
Clip begins at: 0:76 - On her siblings; on the movies and television shows she grew up watching; on the moment she decided to pursue acting
Clip begins at: 13:56 - On her studies at Howard University
Clip begins at: 25:18 - Part 2
- On theater work in New York City following her studies; on appearing as a regular on One Life to Live; on her approach to acting
Clip begins at: 0:68 - Getting cast on The Cosby Show; on working with the young ensemble; on shooting the various opening credits sequences
Clip begins at: 10:30 - On Bill Cosby and the sensibilities he brought to The Cosby Show; on her character on The Cosby Show, "Claire Huxtable"
Clip begins at: 18:45 - Part 3
- On the evolution of her character "Claire Huxtable"; on how The Cosby Show reflected reality; on the production workweek; on Bill Cosby's penchant for ad-libbing; on Cosby's work ethic
Clip begins at: 0:33 - On favorite moments from The Cosby Show for her and the show's fans; on why The Cosby Show was so popular; on the final moments of shooting
Clip begins at: 12:22 - On Bill Cosby's relationship with his real life wife; on Cosby Show spin-off A Different World; on working with her sister actress-choreographer-director Debbie Allen
Clip begins at: 21:11 - Part 4
- On The Cosby Show cast members; on hiding her real life pregnancy on the show
Clip begins at: 0:37 - On the later Cosby series; on the series' characters; on Cosby co-star Madeline Kahn and the rest of the ensemble; on the end of Cosby
Clip begins at: 07:13 - On the television movie A Raisin in the Sun and winning the Tony Award for the stage revival; on her character from A Raisin in the Sun , "Lena Younger"
Clip begins at: 23:31 - Part 5
- On her acting style; on the depiction of African-Americans on current television; on her advice to aspiring actors; on being a director
Clip begins at: 0:0
Shows
People
Topics
Genres
Professions
I could (and have) watch this interview over and over again. Wonderful.
Yes! This is one, very, beautiful & elegant, lady! Her beauty; is flawless .. and, she is sooooo, laid back and relaxed. I love Phylicia Rashad! and her sister, Debbie Allen.
I like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Wow, I had always loved her role Lena in Raisin in the Sun; but never would I have taken soo much from her performance if I hadn't seen this interview. Who knew she was as brilliant to TRULY understand Lena like that; down to why her family, that plant, and why she held on to her husbands memory so much. This has made me love Phylicia ssoooooooooo much more =)
Is it just me or does the interviewer seem a little out of his league. You can clearly see her intellect out shine all his questions and responses. Poor guy lol. I love her so much though. She just exudes knowledge and grace =)
Wow I always knew she was a wonderfully good actress, intelligent woman, and beautifully articulate speaker; and this interview proves it. I could only pray to have half her grace and presence as I grow older.
Just by listening 2 her, I believe she has the gift of intelligence. When you are intelligent, it means you go into depth of any topic or research, and is knowledgable on any topic. People often get the word smart and intelligent confused. Smart is a person who gives a quick answer without thought. Phylicia is well educated and I can tell she pays attention to her surroundings.
She is great. Very attractive in the Cosby show especially.
@kaatt211214 OK, so then I am NOT the only person who played that part over 50 times, just so I could hear her voice and watch her expression as she drove ol' Brother Kenny right on into her point And what a point she made. Thus, Miss Rashad put down the ax and picked up a Tony.
I just cannot thank you enough for posting this. I fall more and more in love with Miss Rashad and her dynamic sister, Debbie Allen. These interviews are unlike any others. They are much more free, and seemingly much more in depth.
Her laugh makes me laugh! It's contagious <3
i luv yhu phylicia
The things she talks about in regards to the relationship between Cliff and Clair are SO real. Their relationship is a model relationship and is actually the thing I love most about the Cosby Show. A lot of people did not like the Cosby Show because they felt like the theme was unattainable when, in reality, it's not.
Aside from that, Phylicia is a wonderful person :)
She is an extraordinary lady whose intelligence and class will always resinate with me.
yessss. Division of Fine Arts!!! woot woot. I'm a freshman at Howard University and that is my area. LOVE Phylicia Rashad!!!
She is ssoooo beautiful
Interviewer: "What would the Huxtables be doing today, if they were still around?" Phylicia: "The Huxtables would be dancing." ~ beautiful quote.
ilovvve dis women so beautiful&&real!!!!!!!!!!;->
I love Phylicia Rashad and her sister Debbie Allen.
I LOVE HER
Love It Phylicia Rashad is a legend and the best.
What an amazing lady she is!!!!!
she still look mad good
Ms. Rasad is fantastic - regal and political. What a role model.
Great interview, but she was alittle bit heavy on the Marla Gibbs (who I also love and have a crush on) here in this clip.
She embodies Clair to this day. haha. I love how prideful and true she seems. And she doesnt have to be, because of obvious reasons.
MARRY ME BABY, PLEASE MARRY ME...
THAT WAS TRULY AMAZING, SHE IS SUCH AN INSPIRATION. ANYTIME SHE SPEAKS I'M JUST IN AWE AND ADMIRATION FOR WHATEVER COMES FROM HER MOUTH, SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND TALENTED AND RELATABLE, SHE'S WONDERFUL AND A GREAT EXAMPLES FOR LITTLE GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN, ALL WOMEN FOR THAT MATTER. I LOVE PHLICIA RASHAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING SHE DOES. THANKS FOR POSTING!!!
"Eleven children! Did that happen choppin' wood?" She has such a way of making people comprehend and finally realize her reasoning behind things that she says and does! It's PHENOMENAL!!!
I Love the way she speak's
Aww ! She Called Tempestt Her "Little Genius" !
So delectable.
Everytime I See Her On Magazines Or On Tv, I Say "There Goes Clair" And My Mom Will Say That's Not Clair That's Phylicia ! Lol
I Love The Cosby Show ! They Should Do Another Reunion !
she is such an idol.Beautiful,she speaks with such grace,intelligence an she is a wonderful role model to all.I would really like to meet her ,i am a hughhhe fan!!!!!!!!
@dbastard1977 lol i didnt understand what ur saying but i am doing my first yuear of law right now .;P
I love Phylicia, she's just real as rain!!!!!! Being another Houstonian, she carries a piece of us with her. Great interview.
@antigoniem06 I feel the same way.....I think she would be a great teacher
Ms. Allen is the EPITOME of class...regalism...intelligence...worldly...I could go on for hours. No combination of adjectives is enough. Beautiful.
I love Mrs. Rashad!
@antigoniem06 uhuh!!
@dbastard1977 No, that's not strange. Growing up even when I didn't know what I wanted to be as an adult i knew I wanted to be the "power woman" that was in her role on the Cosby Show. :-)
its amazing how she and her sister carry themselves with so much respect and dignity. the way they dress, talk, interact and react is incredible.. as a woman im learning soo much from that high-class act.. love them
It may sound very strange....but I patterned my academic life after Phylicia Rashad and Claire Huxtable.
Ugh, I just LOVE her!
She has and is so blessed in her life.
There is no way in this world that this is ugly she is absolutely gorgerous inside and out
I'm gonna change my name to Aleighsha Rashad :) lol
at 21:56 she reminds me of myself, I so would have done that. haha hhmmm...
I could listen to her talk all day long. There's just something about her speaking voice.
shooooooooot i would call a doctor and a lawyer rich but i guess i dnt know much .
Post new comment