Of course, Countess Vaughn is best-known for her role as Kim Parker on both “Moesha” and “The Parkers,” as she played the part for eight years. Though the UPN network that housed these programs was short-lived within itself, Kim Parker was the longest-running character on the network. But, life moves on and it has done so for Countess Vaughn, as she finds herself in a different state of mind and position than she was in during her UPN days.
Over the past twenty-four years, Countess Vaughn has been in the television business. Vaughn has had roles in many of the most-known urban sitcoms in addition to her most-popular role of Kim. Along the way, Countess Vaughn built a major and supportive fan base that has been with her every step of the way. Aside from a recurring role on BET’s “Let’s Stay Together” in 2011, Countess Vaughn has been relatively absent from the scene.
Hip Hop Vibe has had an incredible week and we are fortunate to have been able to close it with an interview with Countess Vaughn. A lot has taken place over the past few years and we had to hear her take on this. Countess Vaughn shared her thoughts on her time in the spotlight, her cast members who have passed away, her life outside of show business, and what she has planned for the future, as she is still hard at work.
Read the entire interview below:
Although you are known for one role on two shows, particularly, you have a history that goes deeper than that, so can you briefly discuss your history in show business? Well, I started out singing on “Star Search.” Music was my first love, but after singing, I discovered I wanted to be an actress. I auditioned and I got the role of ‘Alexandria’ on “227,” which turned into recurring roles on “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper,” “Thea,” “Roc,” and then I landed “Moesha,” then “The Parkers,” and then my film debut, Trippin, and now I have done my second film, More to Love, with Tichina Arnold. I have been in six films, so I am happy about it. It feels good to take a break and come back. In 2011, I also did BET’s “Let’s Stay Together,” I have been in and out, doing my thing and taking time off to chill with my family. I feel it is a blessing to be able to leave and I come back, but I do not want to oversaturate and have people begging me to leave. But, it feels good to come back. I have also done “Celebrity Fit Club” and I also did “Celebrity Rap Superstar” on VH1.
Over the years, you have played a lot of roles, which one was your favorite and why? I would say playing Kimberly Parker was my favorite role. Everyone loves that role, she was fun, she allowed me to do me. The producers and writers trusted me to do me and it was fun to go in there and play dress up every day.
We do not intend to darken the mood here, but had to acknowledge this. It is almost a year ago to the date that Yvette Wilson passed away, if it is not asking too much, can you talk about your final conversation with her? What people need to know is when you are going through a disease like that, you stay to your family. During her final days, I was not able to talk to my sister, but I know she loved me. The last time I talked to her was when I was doing the rap show on VH1 in 2007 and that was the last time we spoke, due to the illness and her wanting to be with herself. I reached out, but I understand why she did not respond, she did not feel good and she wanted to spend her time with her family.
With the exception of your role on “Let’s Stay Together,” we haven’t seen much of you on our TV screens, what have you been doing in the off time? Working on me and also working on projects behind the scenes. It is cute to be in front of the cameras, but I want to learn more about my craft behind the scenes. I have been writing with my friends, writing scripts, and working on new shows. I want a different kind of check this time around and when they see me away from the scene, it is not that I am gone, it is just me playing a different role. I have also been working on my hair line and I did a movie a few months ago, plus I am being a mother of my two kids. I was on the cover of the Midwest Black Hair Magazine and I spoke on hair, I love hair, I am such a hair freak, very passionate. My hair care line is going to be so fantastic. It was a big honor to be on both the front and back covers of that magazine.
You have such a beautiful voice, have you been working on any new music in between time? YES! It is a matter of somebody really just taking the time to want to do something with me. I love to collaborate, a lot of people praise my voice, we exchange numbers, but nothing happens. Schedules and changes in plans happen, but I am open to working on more music.
What is your favorite activity outside of acting? I love to cook, I am a really good cook.
Other than the obvious, not being on television every day, is the biggest difference in being in the business and living a regular life? That is my life, it’s my job. I have walked outside to my mailbox and I cannot go outside without being made up because somebody has their phone out ready to snap a photo. It is a lot of pressure to keep yourself up, I cannot take my weave out and put my hair in rollers to go to the store, then I am sick. That is a reason why I am a homebody, if it ain’t right, then don’t do it. When I want to come out, I come out, when I do not, I just don’t. That is the downside of being a celebrity and there are people who are going to be insensitive at sensitive times. I got into it with a fan when my grandmother had just passed and she wanted an autograph, but I was not in that mood. She said I owed her because she watches my shows, so that is a major reason why I have been so slow about getting active on Twitter and such, I just want to keep to myself, so I have kept a low profile since 2004. My reruns are great PR, BET airs my shows right before “106 & Park,” so I get this new young audience, so it helps. I thank God for reruns keeping my relevant, I walk down the street with my son and then people are like “your mom is Kim.” I am really short, I am 4’10, so I am mistaken for a child until they realize I am Kim from “The Parkers.”
Will we be seeing you on any upcoming television shows or movies in the near future? Like I said, I finished filming More to Love and I am working on a reality show that is in development, fingers crossed on that one. But, the More to Love film is coming this summer. But, my focuses are also on my hair care product line and I want to do music with a lot of different producers, up-and-coming producers can send their sounds over to [email protected]. There is a lot going on and the reality show will be called “The Ratchet Celebration,” people who have ratchet weddings, birthdays, and more, I think everybody would love to see that. A lot of different networks want to be part of it. My sister and I are working on the project and the networks are really excited about getting involved in it. A lot of stuff makes the TV networks anyway, why not show the ratchet stuff? There is a market for it because people are really doing this, we just want to spotlight it. People are really getting Taco Bell to cater their weddings, true comedy, that is what we are working on.
What are some of the other things that you have going on that fans should be on the lookout for? No, that’s enough on my plate, because I also juggle being a mother, so that is it for my activities. I am a mother of two as it is, so I don’t want to go crazy, so I am focused on completing the projects on my plate right now, that is where I am at with it.
So fans can connect with you, can you leave us your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Cool. Definitely. Twitter is @CountessDVaughn, Facebook fans can find her at Countess Vaughn, and her booking is @Virtue2Luv on Twitter
