Kym Whitley knows how to get a laugh. After decades of doing it on stage and screen, she’s also learned when to let somebody else have one.

“I used to be a scene stealer, sometimes very disrespectful,” Whitley told ESSENCE with the candor you’d expect from her. “But as I’ve matured, I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s a family. It’s an ensemble. We can all be funny together.’”

Her latest ensemble brings her back into the orbit of some familiar faces. Whitley stars in Paramount+’s The Varnell Hill Show, the Martin spinoff built around Tommy Davidson’s unforgettable Varnell Hill. Premiering September 1, the workplace comedy follows Varnell behind the scenes of his late-night talk show as he tries to keep his place in an industry that continues to evolve.

Whitley plays Kim, Varnell’s longtime executive assistant and the person responsible for keeping things running while her boss remains convinced he’s the biggest name in television. The role reunites her with Davidson, her Black Dynamite co-star, while also bringing her back together with Martin Lawrence. Whitley appeared on Martin during its original run and later played Lawrence’s wife in the 2008 film College Road Trip.

For an actress whose résumé includes Next Friday, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Upshaws and Happy Gilmore 2, returning to this particular comedic family offered another opportunity to do what she’s been doing for years. “I still want to make people laugh,” Whitley said. “I love bringing people joy.”

In celebration of the debut of The Varnell Hill Show, Whitley spoke about joining the series, working with Davidson again, the pressure of honoring Martin and what she still hopes to accomplish.

ESSENCE: So, what excited you the most about joining the cast of The Varnell Hill Show?

Kym Whitley: Wow, that’s a hard one because there were so many things that excited me about this new show. But one was reuniting with Martin Lawrence. I was on Martin back in the day. I did an episode, but I also played his wife in a movie called College Road Trip. I’ve never in my career been asked to play a wife or a leading lady. I guess that goes to the other girls. (Laughs.) But, I was excited. So to be back with Martin and his genius was a treat.

How did this role come to you?

KW: Well, first of all, my comic genius. (Laughs.)

That’s true though. 

KW: No, but the truth is, in this business, you know everybody, and people know you. And I want to believe that my body of work spoke to people and that when you think of a character like that, you think of Kym Whitley. I have seen breakdowns before where it says a Kym Whitley type. I’m like, “Kim Whitley type, I’m right here. What do y’all mean by that?” But I would say that the powers to be, they called my agent and they let me read it. And of course I was like, “Yes, yes.” And you look at, if you can go to work every day and work with your friends, it’s a blessing.

Speaking of that, you’re also working with the iconic Tommy Davidson. What was that like?

KW: It was another reunion. Tommy and I were in Black Dynamite together. He played Cream Corn. So once again, and I’m another fan, I’m a fan of his work, and Tommy deserves this. I was very excited to see him get this television show. And he is so great. We had so much fun, but that’s the gist of it—going to work with your friends. 

What was the preparation like for this role?

KW: Let me be completely transparent and honest. It came up so fast. I don’t know about preparation. It was Friday. We go to work on Monday. But I had to think about how I’ve been with him for years, so I know every move I had to think about what my attitude is going to be. You have to go back and look at Martin to see his interaction with Varnell Hill. That would be the preparation for me. And then talking to Bentley Evans, asking how does this go? There were people on the set that’s been around, and when you’re in an ensemble, you have to know how to fit in. I used to be a scene stealer, sometimes very disrespectful, but as I’ve matured, I’m like, “Oh, it’s a family. It’s an ensemble. We’re all funny together.”

When did the change happen when you decided that you wanted to fit in as opposed to stealing scenes?

KW: When the cast doesn’t like you.

Yeah, that’ll do it. (Laughs.)

KW: That’ll do it. When you are young and having fun and you don’t understand certain things, that’s what happens. I had to find a way to be true to myself, but also be respectful to other actors. So as my career has grown, I have realized to make a balance. 

You’ve had such a long career—what continues to excite you about performing today? 

KW: I do a lot of standup, and live performances. When I get a role that I can really immerse myself in, it’s funny. The people I’m going to work with, is that something new and different? Am I going to definitely play something that’s outside of myself? Those are the things that excite you or excite me, I should say.

With The Varnell Hill Show being connected to an iconic sitcom, did you feel a responsibility or pressure to make sure you did the Martin legacy justice?

KW: I think everyone on the set felt that pressure of, how do we keep it connected to Martin’s show? Also, when Martin came on set, please, everybody got nervous. And Martin is very nice. He’s always been very nice. So you’re not nervous because Martin’s going to yell at you. You’re nervous because you want to be good, you want to represent, you want to make him proud. You want to fit into his genius. So I think that was just in front of all of us. Wendy Raquel Robinson—we were always talking like, “okay, all right, let’s make sure our timing is good. We got to know our lines. Martin is here.”

So when you look back at your career, is there anything you still want to accomplish? 

KW: Wow, that’s a good question. I still feel like I’m young, and I keep that with me so I can stay humble. I want to accomplish what God has in store for me. That’s how I go about my life: if there is something for me, please bring it to me, because I still want to make people laugh. I love bringing joy. I want to evoke emotion. If there’s a drama, I want to be able to do the show and either they cry, laugh, or clap. That’s the most important thing when you’re an actor. I’m a producer, I’m a director, so I still want to direct. I’ve done producing. I want to go into directing now. I want to write my memoir. I need to do a comedy special, and a good drama. And a man, a husband. Did I say that out loud? (Laughs.) I keep saying I want a husband. I haven’t gone after one, but you got to put it out there in the universe.

The series is about Varnell trying to stay relevant in a changing entertainment industry. You’ve been able to do that. What’s your advice to someone who wants to stay relevant?

KW: I love these questions! Relevancy, a lot of people do ask me that, but you know what? I thought about in the middle of my career as I was coming up, I did a lot of commercials. People used to call me the commercial queen, but how did I do the commercials? Because I watched commercials. You have to look at the industry that you’re in and as it changes. So I have always watched what’s coming up, what’s new.

Also, my mother always told me, “Remember, every time you go into a room or go into an audition, to sparkle. ”I put that in my soul. So when I went into the room, I felt sparkly. I felt excited. And I think that’s how you stay relevant. You stay relevant by keeping in touch. You don’t isolate yourself from the industry or people in the industry, and that’s producers, directors, casting people because they go everywhere. And if you stay in touch or you see them and you remember people and always send thank yous, whether it’s a card, flowers, you got to let the people remember and got to let the people know you appreciate them.

Read the original article on Essence.