Whenever an adored character is unexpectedly killed off a show, it can be a tough pill to swallow for fans. Little do viewers know, it can be an even tougher pill to swallow for the actual actor because they are now unemployed and on a search to find a new job.
La La Anthony sat down with “Power Book2 II: Ghost” actors Michael Rainey Jr. and Gianni Paolo and discussed her growth in finally reaching a peaceful headspace after feeling emotional about her “Power” character, LaKeisha Grant, being killed off in the second-to-last episode of the show’s series finale.
Twenty-six minutes into the 24th episode of Rainey and Paolo’s podcast titled “The Crew Has It,” Anthony remembered an encounter she had with rapper and “Power” creator 50 Cent once she received news her character was not going to make it to the show’s final episode.
“I remember going to 50 [Cent] because I was like ‘That’s it? Keisha’s out of here: it’s over’ and I remember him telling me, ‘Wouldn’t you rather leave on a memorable note that people will always talk about opposed to ‘Power’ just ends, it spins off with Tariq and what happened to LaKeisha she just, who knows!”
She continued, “When he told me that, I got a better understanding and it helped me come to grasp with the fact that the character was being killed because a lot of people didn’t want that; I didn’t want that.”
The 41-year-old further explained how tough it was for her to accept LaKeisha’s fate being that her best friend Tasha, played by former 3LW vocalist Naturi Naughton, was the one who killed her.
“Yes it’s acting but when you invest your life and so much into it it’s real life to you. It’s like I love you, but you ‘bout to f—- kill me. Not only are you ’bout to kill me, but you still got a job; now I’m unemployed! Like what the f—k is going on here.”
Although it was hard to understand at first, Anthony noted that after talking to “Power” show runner Courtney A. Kemp, she was able to detach her personal feelings surrounding LaKeisha’s death and understand it wasn’t personal, but was needed in order to ultimately create a greater story.
“It’s like that’s what was needed for ‘Power’ at that time and I had to learn how to separate the two. At first that was hard, and then once I talked to her [Kemp] talked to 50 and got a better understanding. I came to peace with it and it all works out.”
The “Think Like A Man” actress made her first appearance as a recurring character during the show’s first two seasons before becoming a main character as the seasons progressed.
Anthony has starred in other shows produced by 50 Cent such as the newest crime show, “BMF.” In addition to “BMF,” Anthony has made a name for herself, growing her acting credentials more and more by starring in Lena Waithe’s “The Chi,” as well as Hulu’s popular show, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” based on iconic hip-hop rap group Wu-Tang Clan.
