Anzzia: You're spreading the knowledge which thank you so much for that! You're not just like, holding it all in. No, you're spreading it and teaching into others and holding others up and I absolutely love that! What is something that you have learned as an actress working in the industry and really getting your hands dirty and growing as a person and an actress? What are some lessons that you've learned to this point?
Valeka: Oh my goodness! There is so many. Hmm. Don’t trust anybody. /laughs
Anzzia: /laughs Okay.
Valeka: You think you have friends and you really don't. You know, keep it professional. When you're at rehearsal. Keep. It. Professional. It will get back to ears that you don't want it to get back to. Go home and vent to your real homegirl. Who you know has your back. Go home and vent to your significant other. Don't vent to the people in your cast baby. Don't vent with people in the crew. You might think they're your friends. They're not. Another one is this really like, authentically being is you, like, straight up. Standing firm on who you are. It doesn't matter the circumstances, anything. Knowing who you are and just walking with that. Don't be enticed. If you're someone who is not promiscuous, don't think that you need to be promiscuous to get into the inside. If you don't do drugs, don't do that. I've seen it and be okay with it being a marathon and not a sprint.
Anzzia: Yes.
Valeka: It’s okay. Look at someone else career and be like, “Oh my God! But, there, there.” First of all, you don’t know what they did and this is not even anything negative. You don’t know what that person has gone through to be sitting in their glory right now. You know what I mean? Just looking at your life and knowing what you’re doing and not feeling intimidated.
Because I’ve seen it so much. Especially with the young actors that I mentor. I had a young man and he was like, “ You mean if you were in a big Hollywood party you just wouldn’t be smoking weed with them.” I was like, “I don’t even know if they laced my weed.” No, I actually want to be so in control of what in the Hell is going on right now. I don’t want to be drunk. But, that’s not me. Because I like to be like, what the Hell is really going on?
Anzzia: Exactly.
Valeka: The fact that he needed to be in the "in" crowd, I'm like no. Do you think we're not going to get hired? I'm cool as Hell. Why wouldn't anyone want to work with me? I'm cool. Because I'm not sitting there doing cocaine with you doesn't mean I'm not cool. You can do your cocaine boo! I can care less. You can do your cocaine and I can handle my wine spritzer and kick it and whatever but, I don't have to do what you do and I don't feel like I have to do that, you know what I'm saying? Do you. Don't feel intimated by other people. Don't let anybody disrespect you either. Don't let anybody disrespect you. I don't care who they are.
Anzzia: That’s a big one.
Valeka: You check somebody. You are human, they are human. You have nobody disrespecting you. I would rather have my respect. Valeka don’t play. Damn straight I don’t! Don’t come over here with that bullshit. Because I’m going to respect you.
Anzzia: Do you do any public speaking?
Valeka: You know that is what I am manifesting right now. That is what I am manifesting right now. Especially with all of the IBF with my husband and I. Like, the foundation that we are affiliated with. We are literally building that platform right now. Because there are some things that I know God is literally calling right now on not only me but, my husband to do as well. That is in the making. That is something that I want to do.
Anzzia: Okay so, let's talk current projects. I've heard talks of a one-woman show you mentioned before. A number of other things, what have you got on your plate? What's going on?
Valeka: My one-woman show, that I love so much is