Angela Lewis, from the Detroit’s east side, is now one of the stars of a new TV show Snowfall, and it is all because of the city she loves.
“I am who I am because of Detroit,” she says.
The new FX show Snowfall, which premiered July 5, is a retro Breaking Bad type show that focuses on the early days of the crack epidemic in South Central LA. Lewis plays Aunt Louie, a former party girl who has pretty much left her wild days behind and settled into a relatively quiet life, until she starts helping a young street entrepreneur.
Born and raised in Detroit, Lewis’ ambition has always been to “be a movie star,” she says channeling her three- year-old self. That youngster had the good fortune of being raised in a home that appreciated the arts, and that knew how to use Detroit’s resources to further her passion.
Her family would take to the Detroit Institute of Arts and shows of every kind across the city, from dance to opera, in every venue imaginable. Among the most memorable shows she saw were “Your Arm is Too Short To Be a Box with God” and “Dreamgirls,” the latter of which had a special impact.
It didn’t take her too long to start performing on her own. She started off in school and church plays, and at the age of 12 began to take dance classes. She later attended Cass Tech and chose the performing arts as her focus of study. After that she studied theatre at the University of Michigan.
Lewis has had a recurring role on TNT’s The Last Ship, a supporting role in Chris Rock’s comedy feature Top Five and an Ariel Castro-inspired role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Some of her guest star credits include CBS’s Code Black, Showtime’s The Big C and CBS’s The Good Wife.
She also has an extensive theatrical background including The Public Theater’s The Brother/Sister Plays, Yale Repertory Theater’s Good Goods and MCC Theater’s Don’t Go Gentle. Her role as “Annie” in La Jolla Playhouse and Playwrights Horizons’ Milk Like Sugar, earned her an AUDELCO Award nomination. Entertainment Weekly said that role was a “definite showcase” for her.
Still, with all the roles and laurels, Lewis is still a hometown girl who misses many of the things in Detroit that still mean something to her. One of the things she most misses is the greenery, which she says is different than any place she has ever been.
Whether it is the plants in full bloom or the changing of the leaves in autumn, Lewis swears there is nothing else quite like it, anywhere.
While there certainly are things from the past she misses, she is pleased to see all the positive changes that have happened in the city from improvements downtown to new restaurants. Since she left Detroit, Lewis has become a vegan, and when she comes home to visit her sister takes her to the downtown restaurants that have sprung up more in recent years that support her diet.
While most of her visits are, unsurprisingly, to visit her family, her recent return on a press tour for Snowfall has had her family coming to her. While she still has made time in her hectic schedule for her family, she has used the opportunity to share Detroit’s cultural wealth with her co-stars.
One co-star is taking her son to the city’s cultural landmarks. After some counsel with her family, Lewis suggested visits to Charles H. Wright African American History Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Science Center, Second Baptist Church (for the Underground Railroad tour), Detroit RiverWalk, and Hitsville.
The attempts to entertain and educate the youngster had an interesting effect on Lewis. Like many people where she grew up was just that – “where she grew up,” not some place to explore. The reminder of Detroit’s points of interest made her want to visit them again … when there is more time.
“I’m just really glad to be home,” Lewis says, “and I am proud to be from Detroit.”
That pride is evident. She believes the mere fact of being from Detroit is an important part of her career. In all her performances she draws from the community and her family.
Lewis says many people have commented on how different she is from her character on Snowfall. Similarly, her life in Detroit was a far cry from the ravages the crack epidemic the show depicts.
However, her time and experience in Detroit, both in and out of formal education and training, allowed her to gravitate to a project like Snowfall and she is proud of her work.
Most depictions of the crack epidemic show only the devastation it caused, and not the origins, as Snowfall does. Lewis hopes the show will dispel some rumors and start a conversation that she believes our society needs to have.
While the show is still new to the airwaves, both critical and viewer response have been positive. But, no matter what happens with the show, Lewis will always have a home in Detroit.
“(The city) embraces what Detroit has always been,” she says, “and no matter what negative things happen, it is still where I get the most love.”
https://youtu.be/0yCoLNmhJWM
Snowfall actress attributes her success to her Detroit roots added by M Lapham on
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