We talked with actress Xosha Roquemore about working with Laverne Cox and the hopes she has for The Mindy Project season 4!
Tamra has be one of the most consistent characters over the seasons, always ready with a quip – whether it’s a strangely obscure reference or an on-the-nose observation – around the office. We sat down with the actress who plays the hilarious nurse, Xosha Roquemore, to discuss that, the potential for a season 4, and what it’s like to work with Orange is the New Black star, Laverne Cox.
So first let’s start with this week’s upcoming episode, ‘What to Expect When You’re Expanding,’ guest starring Laverne Cox. What was it like to work with her for the episode?
Xosha Roquemore: It was fun. It was a really awesome day that she was on set and we had a lot of fun.
I really enjoyed Laverne because I got to act with her a lot. It was pretty cool because she’s a character that my character has talked about so much so it was cool to see her personified.
What kind of relationship does Tamra have with Sheena on screen?
XR: Pretty much what the relationship has been [like off-screen]. They’re pretty close, Tamra and Sheena do everything together. In episodes she’s always like “me and my cousin Sheena did this, me and my cousin Sheena did that,” so it’s the same type of thing.
Is there anyone you’d like to see come on the show in the future?
XR: Not any particular actors, but maybe Mindy’s parents? I would love to see what her parents look like. I would love to see people’s families, like Morgan’s grandmother. The characters that we mention a lot, I’d love to see them come on the show. Like when Pube came on, Adam Pally’s [character, Peter’s,] best friend.
Speaking of families, how do you feel about the Mindy and Danny pregnancy storyline this season?
XR: I think it’s cool. I’m happy Mindy and Danny are happy. I like them as a couple so I think it’s cool they’re getting closer and taking their relationship to the next level by starting a family.
As for Tamra, we saw her with Ray-Ron, we saw her with Morgan, do you think she’ll get back together with Morgan or will she have a new love interest down the line?
XR: I’m hoping she gets back together with Morgan. I love Ike Barhinholtz [who plays Morgan]. I love the character Morgan and I love the scenes Tamra and Morgan have together. They’re both so kooky and weird and I just think it’s a great pairing and it’s always so much fun to work with Ike so I would love to see them get back together.
You’ve done some film acting and some television acting so do you prefer working with one medium over another?
XR: Honestly I’m an actress, I just like acting. I don’t really qualify the work like that. I think non-actors qualify things like that, but it’s not. You just look at it as a character, whatever character I want to play. Like, ‘oh, drama? In a movie? I don’t want to. I only want to do a half-hour comedy format,’ it’s all just work.
Finally, what are your season 4 hopes for Tamra?
XR: I hope we get a season 4! Outside that, I don’t know. Maybe see more of her and Morgan’s relationship. Maybe see them go on a date. Yeah, I would love to see her and Morgan get back together and then I’d love to see them go out on a date night.
They could double date with Danny and Mindy – or they could babysit for them!
XR: Oh my God, that’s a good idea! Yeah, babysitting for Mindy I think that’s totally something Tamra would do. That’d be hilarious.