In Greenroom Confidential, reporters and editors at TODAY.com share a look at what actors, authors, performers and more guests told us behind the scenes at TODAY.
This week, Maggie Q and Tisha Campbell stopped by Studio 1A to discuss their latest projects. Maggie Q, who is playing a cold case detective in “Ballard,” opened up about her role in the new crime drama, and Campbell also talked about her new film, “Operation: Aunties.” Read all about it right here.
Why Tisha Campbell Feels Connected to Her Role In ‘Operation: Aunties’
In “Operation: Aunties,” Tisha Campbell plays retired detective Sharon O’Hara, who joins forces with her bestie, a cryptocurrency expert (Melissa De Sousa), to take down a cyber-crime syndicate. It’s threatening the lives of the women in the community, including her friend’s niece (Amiyah Scott).
“We team up to be in a sort of vigilante situation because her niece almost gets caught up in a trafficking type of ride-share, dark-web crime,” Campbell tells TODAY.com.
While talking about her character, Campbell says she felt connected to her role in the film.
“It felt like it was me. It was everything that I am, everything that my mother taught me to be, and I just love also that these women were brilliant and smart,” she says.
“Melissa’s character is like an African American female Steve Jobs,” she adds. “And so we embrace how brilliant we are on all levels, and we also embrace the vulnerability. So being able to take care of your sister is something that I know very well.”
The film, directed by Wendy Raquel Robinson, will be released July 11. Campbell says fans will be “highly entertained by it,” as there’s a little something for everyone.
“There’s vulnerability, there’s tears, there’s laughter — lots of laughter — and there’s the whodunnit of it all,” she says.
Maggie Q Says She’s ‘Really Close’ With Her Real-Life ‘Ballard’ Character
In “Ballard,” Maggie Q plays Renée Ballard, a LAPD detective who oversees the department’s new cold case division. Her character was first introduced in Season 3 of “Bosch: Legacy.”
The actor, who stopped by TODAY Tuesday to talk about the show and her wellness company ActivatedYou, tells TODAY.com that her intro in “Bosch” was a smart way for her to get acquainted.
“I just did the finale episode of ‘Bosch’ to introduce my character … and it was actually invaluable because I got an introduction to the world before I was able to start my own world in the universe,” she explains. “And so that was so smart of them and really, really fun.”
Maggie Q didn’t need a lot of help to play Renée; her character is based on LAPD investigator Mitzi Roberts, and she says they have a close relationship.
“She’s in my life in a very real way, and we’re very close. She was with me on set every day, so I really have every tool at my disposal to be able to portray her accurately, and that’s been a huge gift,” she says.
Maggie Q adds that there are “so many qualities” about Roberts’ personality that she admires.
“Her personal attributes make a successful detective,” she says.
Dwyane Wade Shares the Feedback He’s Received From His Basketball Friends on His TODAY Performance
Dwyane Wade wrapped up his latest weeklong stint as a guest co-host on TODAY with Jenna & Friends on July 11. He previously joined Jenna Bush Hager on the fourth hour in March, during which time he received some high praise from his basketball friends, including Carmelo Anthony.
“I received a lot, especially Carmelo, who’s here in New York. Obviously, he got a chance to watch it,” he tells TODAY.com. “A lot of people feel like this is my jam. They feel like it’s my personality. Like, it’s my lane, if you think about it from a basketball standpoint. They feel like I got the personality to do this. And so it was a lot of positive feedback.”
When asked to expand on what Anthony told him, he recalls, “‘It’s your lane, you know, and you have no competition in that lane. Like, I can’t do that,’ you know, in a sense. So it was cool to get that feedback from him as I’m trying to figure out what my media world looks like.
“And that was my first time jumping into this side of entertainment, you know, hosting the TODAY show. So it’s always good to get a little pat on the back from people who you respect.”
Nikki Bella Looks to WWE Evolution and Beyond
Nikki Bella returns to the wrestling ring Sunday, July 13, at WWE Evolution, an all-women’s event. She’ll take part in a battle royal, the winner of which will receive a championship match for the Clash in Paris event in late August.
The 41-year-old WWE Hall of Famer is eager to reestablish herself in the company’s women’s division.
“I don’t want it to just be like, ‘Oh, yay, she showed her face and here she is and was,’” she tells TODAY.com. “I want to have an impact. I want this comeback to make a statement and I want it to be for a while. I don’t want to do a quick in and out … I would really like to challenge myself in this new women’s division and push myself to the limits and get out of my comfort zone. And no better way in doing that is winning the battle royal and having that title match at Clash in Paris.
“I want it really bad and I think it’s a perfect way to set the tone of what I want to do in the next months, years, whatever it is to come.”
Read more of our interview with Nikki Bella here.
