Kim Wayans is a comedian, an actress, a singer, a dancer, an author, director, and one of the superbly talented Wayans siblings.
Kim Wayans was born in the projects in New York, one of 9 siblings, of which six would end up as stars in showbusiness. Kim was determined to be a performer from an early age and ended up sweeping her family into her dream.
[Kim's] brother Keenan has admitted that he considers her to be the most talented of the Wayans
Kim Wayans at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2012 in Los Angeles | Source: Getty Images
IN THE BEGINNING
The actors had to supply their own costumes, something the Wayans family couldn't afford. So Kim made her own costumes, with unexpected results. Keenen revealed that the "In Living Color" character Lil'Magic was based on Kim and her fierce though sometimes hilarious attempts to be an actress.
A DIFFERENT WORLD
Kim had her first big break into showbiz in "A Different World," a "Cosby Show" spinoff that centered on the character of Denise Huxtable, and her experiences in college where Kim played the recurring role of Allison Guisewite for two seasons.
WORKING WITH KEENEN IVORY WAYANS
KIM WAYANS DRAMATIC ACTRESS
PLAYING GOD
“The thing is, you can't look at what anyone else has done. I have to look inside Kim and find the God in there and bring it back to the audience."
The play focuses on the relationship between God and man and the misunderstanding of the deity's original intent, which has led to so much human misery. Admitting that the role affected her profoundly, Kim shared:
"I would ask God to give me what it is and why it’s necessary and have that understanding of why things happen the way they happen.”
BACK TO COMEDY
Kim has revealed that she will soon be back to comedy but is determined to try her hand at directing, and to continue working in drama, as well as writing. She confided:
“I want more interesting, non-stereotypical, fully embodied roles. I’d like more directing. I’m getting ready to get back into more sitcoms (...) I’m developing a couple of projects with a couple of different partners."
One of her partners is her life-partner, husband Kevin Knotts, who is also a writer. The couple are the co-authors of a series of children's books, "Amy Hodgepodge," which tells the story of a little girl of mixed Asian, Caucasian, and African American descent. Kim revealed that she and Knotts were inspired by their nieces and nephews:
“We have about 38 nieces and nephews, and lots of them are interracial children, and we wanted them to see images of themselves reflected back in literature in positive ways.”
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