Jill Marie Jones is best known for her iconic portrayal of Toni Childs in the hit television series Girlfriends, a role that made her a household name and a staple in Black culture. Her presence on screen has always exuded beauty, charisma, depth, and undeniable style. Now, Jones is stepping into a new light with her role in Je’Caryous Johnson’s latest stage play Games Women Play, where she stars as Paisley Terrell—a woman caught between ambition, love, and emotional turmoil.

In this exclusive interview for MadameNoire, Jones, 50, opens up about returning to the stage, her love of complex characters, and the deeper layers behind her character Paisley’s persona in the play.

MadameNoire: You’ve had a highly successful career on both the small and big screens. What inspired this transition back to the stage?

Jill Marie Jones: Je’Caryous Johnson—this is his play. I actually did another play with him about 10 years ago. That was my first time back on stage since high school when I did The Music Man. I was terrified, but I love running toward fear. I think it brings something different out of you. When Je’Caryous called and asked me to do this, I said, “Let’s go.”

The play is really funny, dramatic, and sassy. If you have a soul, you might cry a little. We have an incredible cast, and the beauty is that we genuinely love each other. We’ve been eating our way through every city [as we discover new restaurants], and I think that connection shows on stage. The audience talks back to us—it’s interactive and fun for everyone.

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The post Jill Marie Jones On Marriage, ‘Playing Complex Characters’ & Returning To The Stage In ‘Games Women Play’ [Exclusive] appeared first on MadameNoire.