At the tender age of 6 Memphis native SUNSET.ng moved with her family to sunny California. Growing up the eldest of 3 children she was never the class clown, but rather the overachiever, a personality trait that continues as she balances PR rituals and her family. She currently lives in south Corona, California after "doing 16 years in Compton," then "4 years in Long Beach".

She first tried her hand in real estate and did very well, but more than 7 years ago her true calling lead her to the stage and the world of standup comedy. She performed for the very first time at the Comedy Act Theatre in Los Angeles. Those 3 minutes forever changed her life. 

After a few shows here and there, she took a hiatus from comedy to give birth to her first daughter. Shortly after another daughter followed keeping her away from the stage for 3 years. After her children got a little older she and her husband agreed that she should return to the stage when she was offered a hosting job for a cable television comedy show called BENZWA's Comedy Stop.

After being on the road for 3 years doing comedy clubs and theaters comedy as it were was not what she wanted. Undisciplined comedy rooms left her disillusioned so she started putting together wholesome productions and along with partners Alton Haywood, David Demery and Preston Gant she gave birth of her brain child....NEW GROWTH ENTERTAINMENT.

I recently had the opportunity to get the low down on Sunset.ng, check it out.

Jay: When did you know you wanted to be an actor?

Sunset.ng: I kind of fell into it.

Jay: How did you get started in the biz?

Sunset.ng: I got started about 9 years ago at a comedy club call the COMEDY ACT at the REGENCY WEST, but I had to come away from it, because I got pregnant then after she was born and she was 3 mos old I got pregnant again with my second lil girl. When I

weaned them both I got a call from a producer to come and host a show that was being shot in Los Angeles, and that's how I got started.

Jay: Who are your influences?

 

Sunset.ng:  My influences include those who are not only artist but also multifaceted enough to have also become entrepreneurs i.e. producers/directors.  This would include Lucille Ball, Martin Short etc.

Jay: How much of yourself goes into the characters you play?

 

Sunset.ng:  All of myself goes into a character that I choose to play, that way the character comes off as real and as down to earth as possible to the viewers.

Jay:  What is your proudest moment professionally/personally?

Sunset.ng:  My proudest moment is when I was able to merge from artist to also producer and CEO in half the time most people do.  Its a lot harder wearing a few hats and juggling being a full time parent,  but the rewards are fulfilling.  I produce live shows under my company name NEW GROWTH ENTERTAINMENT, LLC.

Jay: Television, film, stage or comedy which would  you choose?

 

Sunset.ng:  I'd choose film over television any day. But my hard core passion lies in LIVE stage, comedy IS where I'm at.

Jay:  What type of roles will you refuse to play?

 

Sunset.ng:  I'm definitely NOT a studio hoe, no body has that type of control over me - I don't allow anyone to pimp me for 15% of anything, not when I know how to pimp myself  ...well..*(laughing)  I don't have ANYONE who tells me what I have to do regardless, I DO turn down roles a lot, because I feel that we as a people SHOULD be responsible for WHAT we choose to portray. Regardless if you want it or not, when you become public you become someone's role model, with that said,  I'd always say no to a role that will have me compromising my morals and integrity and anything that would embarrass those I represent....even though someone may say  "It's just a role" or "get money"...true happiness does not lie in JUST getting money. I'm at a point right now where I CAN pick and choose.

Jay:  How have you managed to keep working over the  years?

 

Sunset.ng:  I choose QUALITY roles and jobs.  Word of mouth has been good to me, and I have a very good strong base that responds when they know I am working on a project.

Jay:  What's on the  horizon?

 

Sunset.ng:  A wonderful series of DVD's featuring our productions will start to come out across the country and overseas in early 2005.  We have already taped in 2004. 

Jay:  Any words of  advice?

 

Sunset.ng: My words of advice to anyone would definitely be:

    A.  Always realize that YOU are the talent  not the manager or the agent....YOU

    B.  Be tenacious and don't quit...regardless if someone sees your or not vision. persevere!

    C.  Never underestimate the power of self promotion

    D.  Last but not least, do not underestimate the thought of going  INDEPENDENT, in the  end YOU will have much more control.