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Eva Marcille has solidified her status as a powerhouse in entertainment—excelling in acting, modeling, entrepreneurship, and television hosting. From winning America’s Next Top Model to starring in All the Queen’s Men, the mom of three continues to captivate audiences on and off screen. Now, she’s taking on a new challenge: starring as Lyric in Jason’s Lyric Live: The Stage Play.

In this exclusive MadameNoire interview, Marcille, 40, shares insights on her role as Lyric, the best role she’s ever played, and making history as a female trailblazer.

MadameNoire: Tell us about your role in Jason’s Lyric Live: The Stage Play.

Eva Marcille: Jason’s Lyric Live is adapted from the original film Jason’s Lyric by Jacarious Johnson and J. Kyle Manzay. They took the script and transformed it into a stage play with music. While they call it a “play with music,” I personally think it’s a full musical.

If you think back to films in the ’90s and early 2000s, the soundtrack played a huge role in storytelling. Movies like Love Jones, Belly, New Jack City, and Set It Off are remembered for their soundtracks. Jacarious and J. Kyle beautifully integrated that nostalgic music to transport the audience back to those memorable moments, creating a unique and engaging live stage experience.

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Taking on Lyric’s role is a bold move. What has this journey been like for you?

It’s been nothing short of artistic magic. Jacarious was audacious in taking on this project, which is such a beloved cult classic. Having two original cast members, Allen Payne and Treach, reprise their roles as Jason and Alonzo adds a special authenticity. Stepping into Lyric’s shoes—who is truly the heart of the story—has been an incredible experience.

Lyric is a complex character—strong yet vulnerable. How did you prepare for this role?

You captured her essence perfectly. She is both vulnerable and strong—just like many women. We have to be strong when we step into the world, but we’re still human. We feel, we desire, and we dream.

What I love about Lyric is that she never loses sight of her dreams. She refuses to settle for the status quo, despite where she comes from or what others say she can or cannot do. She resonates with me because she reminds me of my younger self—the girl who felt different, thought differently, and imagined more for herself.

So much self-discovery happens when we allow ourselves to dream beyond childhood. Society often tells us to “grow up” and stop imagining, but that’s a toxic mindset. It’s important to nurture dreams rather than suppress them. Lyric embodies that belief—she holds onto the idea that there is more to life, and that’s what makes her character so powerful.

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What is one thing you hope audiences take away from seeing you perform live on stage?

I want them to understand how much I love my art and how committed I am to creating as a daughter of the Creator. I’m excited for the audience to see me in a different light—live on stage. The biggest takeaway I want them to have from the play is the idea that change is always possible. No mistake is too big, no failure is too great, and no age is too old to dream, start over, or make a new decision.

A single decision can change the trajectory of your life in an instant. Every decision we make has a ripple effect. Choosing to go to dinner with someone—or deciding not to—could impact the next 10 years of your life. Decisions may seem small, but they are significant in the grand scheme of life. Even if you’ve made a bad choice, as long as you wake up today, you have the opportunity to do better.

You juggle many roles—actress, entrepreneur, mother. How do you find balance, and what has motherhood taught you about yourself?

Motherhood is the best thing that has ever happened to me. My daughter saved my life. It has taught me to be more gracious with myself.

As women, we tend to be critical of ourselves, but as Black women, we have even less margin for error. We often don’t get the luxury of “figuring it out” in our 20s and correcting it in our 30s. We get one mistake, and then we have to get back on track.

Motherhood has also taught me that we can do it all, but we are not meant to do it alone. Asking for help is essential. I used to be very independent, thinking, “I got this. I can do it on my own.” But in reality, I do need help. If there are five bags and I only have two hands, I need assistance. Instead of struggling, I’ve learned to simply ask for help and make things easier.

That’s a great perspective.

Yes! And another thing I’ve grown into, especially in the last 10 years of being a mother, is the importance of self-inventory. I’ve always been self-aware, but self-inventory is different. It means actively making sure I am trying to be the best version of myself. When I am my best self, I can fulfill my purpose—being a world changer and impacting lives.

Speaking of being a world changer—Happy Women’s History Month! We applaud all that you’re doing. Looking at your journey from America’s Next Top Model to now, what has been the most defining moment of your career?

It’s hard to choose just one defining moment, but if I had to, I would say my start with Tyra Lynne Banks on America’s Next Top Model.

There’s a moment you all didn’t see on TV. After winning Top Model, I went to my hotel room, crying tears of excitement and disbelief. Tyra came to my room and asked, “How are you feeling?” Through my tears, I asked her, “Why me?” And she simply responded, “Why not?”

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The post Eva Marcille On Portraying Lyric In ‘Jason’s Lyric: The Stage Play,’ Motherhood, & Making Women’s History [Exclusive] appeared first on MadameNoire.