Instagram/@lenawaithe
The interview series created by Lena Waithe with Lela Rochon has been released and centres around the cultural expanse and contributions of Lela’s brief but memorable role as Sunshine in the 1989 film ‘Harlem Nights.’ The conversation comments on how the movie, directed by Murphy, has cultural value and on the intergenerational lasting impact that came from Lela’s seemingly short yet memorable contribution. It is available on the Hillman Grad YouTube channel.
Advertisement
Waithe attempts to elaborate on those moments in Black cinema. In the new episode of her interview series, Waithe sits with actress Lela Rochon to unpack the legacy of the 1989 comedy Harlem Nights. This is a blockbuster film directed by Eddie Murphy, who also starred alongside the best of Black comedy including Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, and Arsenio Hall. The talk, of course, returns immediately to Rochon’s character in Sunshine, who, despite her limited screen time, has achieved immediate icon status.
The clip starts with Waithe painting luminous pictures of the movie saying it was “a very special movie” that “means so much to black people.” She explains the seemingly miraculous nature of Lela’s entrance into that movie, pointing out: “She’s in that yellow dress a very short period of time, but her presence is unforgettable.” Discussion turned as we talked about “small roles.” Rochon dismissed the phrase immediately: “It was huge. It was big.”
Rochon reminisced about an extensive audition process for the part of Sunshine, Murphy’s love interest. She talked about how important it was for her after she didn’t audition for Coming to America. Since Robbie Reed, a person of color, was doing casting, she had a shot. She read three times and tested with two different actors before Murphy finally selected her. “It was a big, big deal,” said Rochon, “Everybody wanted the sunshine role.”
The character breakdown called Sunshine a “real life Jessica Rabbit,” a term that Rochon found brilliant. The intention was to combine innocence and manipulation with a Marilyn Monroe-type energy-a character sweet and sexy on the surface but secretly pulling the strings. It was this subtle and layered acting that took Sunshine far away from the more overtly larger-than-life personalities in the movie.
The cheering post that accompanied the deep-dive immediately struck a chord and the comment section erupted with echoes of the film and affirmation for the status of a classic. One user was quick to drop a line from the movie: “Yeah, Barbara, it’s Richie. Yeah lookit,I aint never coming home, no more. Take it easy.” The comment is a reference to a famous line from the film, further illustrating how ingrained the dialogues of the film have become in cultural consciousness.
Another user brought up one of the most raunchy moments in the film: “Della said,” I gotta girl whose 😻 is soooo good that if you through it in the air it’ll turn into SUNSHINE☀️””. This line perfectly encapsulates the unapologetic hilarious tone of the movie. A third user sparked a comeback after another classic Richie quote: “That’s some mean 😼 to make a man change gods!” commencing a mini-thread of fans finishing the scene’s dialogue. This engagement is a testament that this film’s humor remains robust 35 years onwards.
The rest of the comments express the appreciation for Lela Rochon’s work and, by association, the film. “That short role was Biggg,” said one user, echoing the sentiment of Rochon’s own statement regarding the importance of the role. Another declared, “Sunshine ☀️🌼✨✨✨💛 Lela Rochon Ate her role Down‼️,” celebrating an ’80s performance in today’s lingo. The adoration for this film transcends time as the comment section is flooded with comments like “All time favorite comedy. Number 1,” and “Harlem Nights is my favorite movie of all time.”
One viewer declared that they “absolutely love watching [Waithe’s] interviews. It’s like our favorite people are getting a chance to have a conversation with their number one fan.” Encyclopedic statements testify to the intimate nature Waithe has broached with these interviews allowing industry legends like Lela Rochon to divulge behind-the-scenes gossip heretics have long awaited for. This format has been compared to the discussions in Hollywood Shuffle.
Advertisement
The back-and-forth between Waithe and Rochon is yet another way of saying that if a role matters, then it is not measured in minutes but in cultural impact. Harlem Nights was far from a motion picture; it was a statement. And in that yellow dress, Lela Rochon’s Sunshine was an integral part of that statement still shining today. Her career trajectory since then is a testament to her talent, much like the powerful work highlighted in The Labor of Justice exhibition. This level of achievement is worthy of recognition, such as the Voice for Change Award.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
