*Sanaa Lathan stars alongside Michael Ealy and Morris Chestnut in the thriller “The Perfect Guy,” about a man (Ealy), fueled by rage and jealousy, who seeks revenge against the woman (Lathan) who ended their steamy relationship.
The film is the second Screen Gems thriller starring Blacks in the lead role. Last year, the studio released “No Good Deed,” starring Idris Elba and Taraji P. Henson.
2013 saw the release of the psychological thriller “Repentance,” starring Forest Whitaker, Anthony Mackie and Lathan. If Hollywood is beginning to reflect the world we live in by producing projects with a diverse cast, a Black thriller a year is hopeful, but as Sanaa tells The Huff Post, “Hollywood has a long way to go.”
“I think we need to come into the 21st century. And films should represent the world that we live in,” she said. “And right now when you look at Hollywood it’s not an accurate representation of the diversity of the world that we live in.”
Despite Hollywood’s perception that Black films aren’t typically a box office draw, especially overseas, Lathan notes the success of films such as “Think Like A Man” and “Straight Outta Compton” as evidence that the mainstream audience is interested in stories with black characters.
“I think Hollywood has a ways to go. Certainly in the last couple of years with “Think Like A Man” and even recently with “Straight Outta Compton” doing well,” Sanaa said. “But I think the language needs to change, the language about ‘Oh, this is an Urban film or this is a niche film.’ No, these are Hollywood films. And it’s to marginalize us because it’s like some kind of a freak thing that we’ve made all this money off this movie. That’s a problem for me.”
On August 29, Lathan and Ealy were honored by The Hollywood Confidential with awards for their contribution to the entertainment industry, as we reported. When asked whether paying on the first date is still something the ‘perfect guy’ would do, Lathan replied “absolutely!”
Lathan also explained to The Huff Post what qualities she looks for in a guy: “I always kind of liked people from the inside out. I don’t really have a physical type,” she said. “It’s about how I feel with them — that certainly has to be somebody that knows how to communicate. I love long talks and philosophizing about life and art. I need somebody definitely with a sense of humor. Somebody who doesn’t take themselves too seriously.”
“And also somebody who’s confident — confident enough to stand by me and let me shine. Cause you know, it’s not easy. People think that they would want to be with somebody who’s an actress in the public eye, but the day-to-day reality of that can be challenging. Confidence is key,” she added.
“The Perfect Guy” is in theaters now.
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