Gabrielle Union snagged a great lead role in the BET series “Being Mary Jane,” and while Union differs from her character role in many ways, she revealed that the one thing they do have in common is a desire for motherhood.
Gabrielle has been dropping major hints to NBA star boyfriend Dwayne Wade to get a move on, and this time the message is undeniable.
The “Being Mary Jane” actress is ready to start a family and become an “older mom.”
“I always knew I was going to wait really long, and I followed the Halle Berry example, and I think in the next couple of years, if I’m lucky, I will make that a reality, hopefully,” Union told Extra.
Looks like Wade has a few romantic evenings to start planning.
Despite not having much in common with the BET character she plays, the 40-year-old actress certainly does sell the role well and managed to pull in over 4 million viewers.
“If you loved me for one thing and may not have liked me in something else, this role gives the audience a chance to see that I can do more than one thing,” Union explained.
The premiere of “Being Mary Jane” soared in the ratings and was defeated only by “America’s Got Talent,” earning the new show a 2.0 rating.
That BET is a cable network makes the high ratings just that much more astonishing.
The lead role is a great opportunity for Union who revealed that she was originally aiming for a more scandalous role.
The stunning actress said that she actually auditioned for the role of Olivia Pope in “Scandal,” which was ultimately given to Kerry Washington.
While she lost out on that major part, she admitted that the audition opportunity was an incredible experience because it showed her that there are roles available for African-American actresses who are ready to take the lead and not settle for typecasting.
“I said to myself, ‘Oh my God, these roles are out there,’” Union said. “It showed me that you don’t have to settle.”
She thanked Washington as her success on “Scandal” opened the doors for even more opportunities for black women to take on powerful lead roles.
“Luckily, the success of her and the show bred more work,” she added. “Just from the audition process, I knew that I couldn’t go backward.”
It seems like everything worked out for the best because just as Washington turned out to be the perfect Olivia Pope, the pilot TV movie for the new BET series revealed that Union makes the perfect Mary Jane.
“I didn’t get Scandal, but I got something better – which is my own show,” the “Bring it On” actress said. “It’s all about building a legacy. This new opportunity is something I feel that I can grow.”
The series will kick off in January, giving fans a lot of time to catch the pilot episode before things really start to get juicy.
