Drew Sidora dug deep throughout Season 2 of the Bounce TV hit comedy Thoughts Your Enterprise. Significantly, whereas taking pictures the current episode “Tick Tock” that sees The Actual Housewives of Atlanta star’s character Aaliyah instructed she had endometriosis, a situation that may mimic being pregnant signs but in addition probably trigger fertility points in ladies. It’s an emotional blow for the 40-year-old divorcee and expertise impressed by author Staci Harris’s personal struggles.
“I was recognized about 10 years in the past,” she mentioned. “I needed to have a laparoscopy the place I needed to have constant scar tissue eliminated. Making private points I’ve had, although, a part of my work has been necessary to me. Drew dove proper in. She didn’t make it about herself. She took the story and pulled it from her personal. I didn’t even know she had struggles. It’s only a nice episode. I used to be happy with the work the characters did and the way everybody got here collectively.”
One of many causes Sidora feels the present strikes a chord is its willingness to deal with powerful matters. Right here, the singer and actress opens as much as TV Insider about her connection and parallels to the position. Plus, she displays on RHOA drama and Step Up’s main milestone.
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How a lot of your self do you see in Aaliyah?
Drew Sidora: That’s the wonderful thing about artwork in that generally it does imitate life. Kudos to the community and writing group who work arduous to have our storylines actually join with the viewers. We spend time speaking about numerous issues we’ve gone by. Me being from Chicago, which is the place the present takes place, there are such a lot of similarities. With Aaliyah going by a divorce, in actual life and my private life, I’m going by one as properly. When it got here time to debate the episode the place Aaliyah discovered herself with the endometriosis analysis, it actually hit residence. You may see within the episode it’s actually emotional to me.
Speak a bit about the way you associated to what Aaliyah was going by.
I delivered three stunning infants. After my daughter, who’s now 7, I found I used to be struggling some signs of adenomyosis. I do know all too properly my private story and journey coping with that analysis. Coping with the ache. Not understanding what it was as a result of it’s not one thing actually talked about in my household and group of mates or neighborhood. I went by a sequence of pure cures and totally different surgical procedures. Finally, I needed to have a hysterectomy in 2021. I went by this journey over time and actually turned an advocate even on my actuality present The Actual Housewives of Atlanta. We have been speaking about it as a result of there have been ladies who have been making enjoyable of my physique form and didn’t perceive what I used to be coping with. Taking pictures this episode hit residence and one which I felt keen about. I’m excited concerning the work Staci, myself, and Brely Evans are doing with the Endometriosis Basis, elevating consciousness on a nationwide stage. We’re going to do some activations in Atlanta. We wish to actually deliver consciousness as a result of it does have an effect on ladies internationally.
What sort of response have you ever gotten for the reason that episode aired?
Folks all the time attain out how a lot they love the present. For this episode, I’ve acquired over 50 on social media. I’m attempting to get by all these DMs as a result of I do personally reply. Ladies simply being grateful for the episode and asking me questions on what they need to do, the medicines, and who they join with. I’m glad we’re getting the phrase out. It was a really well timed and necessary episode, so I’m grateful to open this dialog concerning the subject and normalize it.
There’s a deep dialog Aaliyah shares together with her sister-in-law Kimberly (Caryn Ward Ross) as she explores surrogacy. If there’s a Season 3, how do you wish to see this story proceed past the one episode?
It’s the unknown as a result of coping with this analysis, there are alternatives fortunately that Aaliyah discovers. It’s not you could’t bear kids. There are alternatives for surrogacy and even adoption. She requested Kimberly if she and her brother could be open to carrying her youngster. It’s an actual dialog. It’s a tough dialog. It’s a troublesome dialog, however it’s not all unhealthy information on the subject of wanting to begin a household. I’m hoping in Season 3, fingers crossed, that we do go down this highway of seeing Aaliyah hopefully get married once more and begin a household. It’s actually thrilling to consider. I do hope we expertise that.
THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA — Season:16 — Pictured: Drew Sidora — (Photograph by: Parrish Lewis/Bravo)
You constructed an performing profession earlier than the juggernaut generally known as the Actual Housewives franchise. Do you discover it a problem being a actuality star, which might generally be thought of a unfavorable connotation, and securing sure roles you need?
For me, fortunately, I used to be in scripted earlier than I transitioned into unscripted. The transition for me to return was essential to me. It wasn’t as difficult as I believed. There are a selection of issues that patrons need the place they wish to rent actuality stars. We’re seeing lots of actuality stars like Nene Leakes and now Porsha Williams which might be in a position to come over to the scripted world. I feel the business has modified a lot whereas earlier than, they needed you to have coaching and expertise. Now it’s extra of a numbers sport the place I discover myself going up towards YouTube stars and TikTok personalities. Shoutout to Bryce Xavier, who performs my nephew, who’s a giant TikTok star. I feel it’s necessary as a result of numbers deliver viewership. It’s truthful sport for folks to specific themselves artistically, which I feel is so wonderful.
I actually hope the integrity of the artwork stays. I’m continuously in performing courses and continuously pushing myself as a result of I do assume there’s a house for roles I wish to take to place myself able to win an Oscar or Emmy. I nonetheless assume it’s a singular house for folks from all genres of leisure to interrupt into performing, which I feel is nice. It might come all the way down to followers. I’ve truthfully, transparently, misplaced a task or two to somebody who had extra Instagram followers than me. For me, to be in actuality TV has helped me be extra aggressive within the shopping for house. Nonetheless, if you go for these movement image roles, it’s extra aggressive the place they take a look at coaching and expertise. I’ve a film dropping in theaters on August 29 known as Run, an alien motion thriller. For me to get again into that house, I’m tremendous grateful and enthusiastic about it.
Talking of flicks, will probably be 20 years since Step Up first premiered. How do you replicate on that upcoming milestone and the movie’s endurance?
It’s loopy. It’s a phenomenon and has such a cult following. Step Up was this little engine that would. Disney needed to do a dance film and didn’t know the way properly it might do. We have been all newcomers on set, excited to be working and hoping it might be successful. When it hit theaters, it was like a takeover. I feel it shocked Disney, too, the success of it. Now you see 20 years later, they’re nonetheless speaking about it. I see it on a regular basis. I hope they do one thing on a bigger scale to rejoice as a result of we have now seen everybody have wonderful careers from Channing Tatum to Jenna Dewan. All of us have nice careers, however it began with Step Up. I feel all of us needed to return again for an extra one. We had it in our contracts. I feel it might be enjoyable to return and get collectively. I’m undecided it should ever occur, however that will be thrilling.
HOLLYWOOD – AUGUST 07: (L-R) Drew Sidora, Director Anne Fletcher, Alyson Stoner, Jenna Dewan, Channing Tatum and De’Shawn Washington arrive on the Touchstone Photos premiere of “Step Up” held at Arclight Cinemas on August 7, 2006 in Hollywood, California. (Photograph by Michael Buckner/Getty Pictures)
What’s one position you want you bought to play longer?
In addition to Step Up, I’d say White Chicks would have been one other. I not too long ago noticed Marlon Wayans and requested what’s up with White Chicks 2. He mentioned it was coming quickly. Fingers crossed for that. We had a lot enjoyable filming that. I might additionally say The Sport on The CW. That had a lifetime of its personal and have become a fan favourite. The TLC biopic too with Keke Palmer and Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, we had such nice chemistry and created such an ideal friendship. I want we had a sequence from that or a component 2 or 3. Thoughts Your Enterprise, I all the time stay up for having one more reason. We actually do really feel like household and hope to do extra. It’s such an necessary present with all of the feels, with social and political matters we’re diving into.
Between working by divorce and a brand new dynamic of women, how do you look again on what unfolded throughout Season 16 of The Actual Housewives of Atlanta?
Candy 16 was undoubtedly candy and somewhat bitter and bitter. It was all these issues. I really feel it was my rawest season but. We had lots of contemporary faces, new power. I used to be actually appreciative to inform my story authentically. It was extra of me settling in, as since I began, it has been a brand new forged seemingly each season. I really feel with this group of women, there was a distinct connection I used to be in a position to kind. Not all good, however I used to be in a position to be extra grounded. Audiences related to that extra. I used to be actually proud this season as I used to be in a position to stand my floor. I really feel just like the followers related to me and all of the challenges and arguments and disagreements I used to be having, seeing my perspective. I used to be grateful for that. We’re gearing up for subsequent season and looking out ahead to persevering with my journey by motherhood, finalizing my divorce, and constructing new friendships on this circle. It’s actually nearly figuring it out. I hope to indicate extra of what I’m doing with the Endometriosis Basis and performing profession. I wish to present the stability of all of it. Folks don’t actually see that as a result of it has been so consumed with my private life. I’m hoping to combine extra of my profession, my elements, and people elements I can rejoice subsequent season.
Thoughts Your Enterprise, Saturdays, 8/7c, Bounce TV