After that first show, we looked her up on the Internet and found that 26-year-old Felicia is new to the acting game, "discovered" on the streets of Baltimore, where the series is shot. But tomorrow's New York Times reveals she's had a lot of training for the role-- and not from community theatre or acting classes.
Tough girl Michelle Rodriguez has got nothing on Felicia.
"I was a crack baby," Felicia tells The Times. "I was, like, three pounds, and I had to get fed with an eyedropper."
Born to two drug addicted, incarcerated parents, raised in foster homes, "she added that she had so many drugs in her system when she was born that she was cross-eyed as a child. 'Kids would tease me, saying that I'm cross-eyed and don't have a real mother, and all those kids who said those mean things, I beat the hell out of them.'"
There's more: selling drugs at 10, jailed at 14 for more than seven years after shooting a woman.
Felicia tells The Times her life turned around at 18, when a local drug dealer who looked out for her, nicknamed her "Snoop" and sent her money in prison, was shot and killed. Felicia earned her G.E.D. in prison, and was released in 2000. She got the Wire gig after meeting Michael K. Williams, who plays Omar the gay gangster.
The Times makes mention of Felicia's often-unintelligible accent, and refers us to a fan who watches her scenes with closed-captioning.
Not a bad idea.
Finally, Felicia is taking acting classes, at the Baltimore School for the Arts. She should bstart memorizing and acceptance speech or two. And apparently you don't have to be afraid to meet her. "I did what I did when I was younger, but I am a changed person," she tells The Times. "I hope and pray that someone reads my story, or hears me talk about my story and will be, like, 'She did it, I will see what my chances are.' "
Now you have a reason to check out The New York Times and The Wire.
Comments (10)
Right on Tabloid Baby. One of the best actresses on the best show on TV. Closed captioning will save me a lot of time referencing the Urban Dictionary.
1 of 10 | Posted by Ozone Dude | Posted on October 20, 2006 9:06 PM
The Wire has definitely gotten off to a good start this season. I miss the hell out of Stringer Bell (Idris Elba is a sexy Brit) but those bad a$$ middle school kids and Snoop more than fill the void.
On another note, I'd like to thank the TVGasm staff for keeping me in the loop. I am in the Dominican Republic for the next 3 months and this site is the only way I keep up with what's going on with my favorite shows. My brother sends me recorded DVDR's but I only get those like once every couple of weeks...thanks TVGasm!
2 of 10 | Posted by Yanaja | Posted on October 20, 2006 9:31 PM
Her character is great, but the closed captioning definitely helps.
3 of 10 | Posted by brilliantmistake | Posted on October 20, 2006 9:38 PM
It would be great if there were recaps on this show. I never used to watch this show but the kids and the mayoral election got me hooked!
4 of 10 | Posted by joslyn | Posted on October 21, 2006 10:55 AM
This show is insanely great! I never watched an episode b4 the current season premiere, but I was instantly hooked.
5 of 10 | Posted by nate | Posted on October 21, 2006 1:56 PM
I swear I thought this person was a boy whose voice hadn't changed yet. This is why I love this site. I can find all kinds of good-to-know-yet-useless info on here. And I'm with you Yanaja, I miss Stringer too. But those middle school kids don't really make up for the loss. It's still early in the season, but so far they have mostly gotten on my nerves. That could have a little something to do with the fact that I don't like children, or it could be that they are all irritating mouthy little hoodlums. Although I do kind of feel sorry for the one who's the hanger on and has to come to school in order to bathe and brush his teeth.
The storyline that's gripped me the most so far is the mayoral race. I can't wait to see how long it takes Carcetti (sp?) to sink to the very bottom. Since he's already halfway there, I'm guessing only another episode or two.
6 of 10 | Posted by Aries | Posted on October 21, 2006 3:50 PM
I'm sorry to nit pick, but doesn't "closed captioning" mean that the subtitles are off? Just saying...
7 of 10 | Posted by PixieGal | Posted on October 22, 2006 3:12 PM
Pixiegal
"I'm sorry to nit pick, but doesn't "closed captioning" mean that the subtitles are off? Just saying..."
Jeez, that is nit-picking. OK, it helps to have the captions opened. Better?
8 of 10 | Posted by brilliantmistake | Posted on October 22, 2006 3:32 PM
I just learned something from reading the comments on a TVgasm post. WOW!! Seriously, Jack. I didn't know that the man playing the deacon was the real life "avon barksdale." I LOVE this show!!! I've been hooked since season 1, episode 1!! And, as much I both loved and desired Stringer Bell...the show is still VERY good without him. I still miss him though..in all his chocolate sexy mysteriousness!!!! Who knew drug dealers went to night school before Stringer Bell??
9 of 10 | Posted by lovinit | Posted on October 23, 2006 12:35 PM
LOVE HER!!
She's definetely my fave character!!
10 of 10 | Posted by Dimen | Posted on October 28, 2006 6:47 AM