Diggs wants to break down stereotypes

David Neil

Friday, July 16, 1999 | 9:53 a.m.

For those who may have missed Angela Bassett taking a tropical vacation to Jamaica in 1998's sexy drama, "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," the answer to the title was in 28 year-old Taye Diggs. The young, good-looking actor, who caught every girl's eye last year in his feature debut, went on to co-star in the highly anticipated follow-up film from "Swingers" director Doug Liman, the adrenaline-fueled comedy "Go."

Raised in Rochester, N.Y., Diggs received a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater from Syracuse University. He made his show business debut in the ensemble cast of the five-time Tony Award-winning play "Carousel." Finally he ended up on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Rent," in the role of Benny the landlord.

His latest film, "The Wood," has him reliving childhood memories with his boyhood friends hours before he is to tie the knot and forever change their lives. The Sun had the chance to sit down with him to discuss his starring role in "The Wood," and Diggs quickly expressed his true passion for the stage.

Question: What appealed to you about making "The Wood"?

Answer: I guess it would be the fact that I could relate to the younger storyline -- what all these characters were doing, because I went through it all myself. So I was reading the script that Rick (Famuyima) had written, laughing out loud, and I knew then I had to be a part of it.

Q: Were you satisified with the final version of the film?

A: Oh, absolutely. I love the flick. I laughed even more than when I first read it, which reminded me how funny I sincerely thought it was the very first time. I was very pleased.

Q: You and your co-stars, Omar Epps and Richard T. Jones, shared a genuine chemistry. At times your friendship even seemed more natural than most films portray. Were there any scenes where you guys simply strayed away from the script?

A: (Laughing) Oh, yeah. In the film, my character is introduced to the audience drunk. So as I'm slowly sobering up, there is the scene where, after I throw up, Richard is outside beating me with his coat, talking about his shoes, that was all improvised. (Still laughing) Yeah, that was surely improvised. Rick allowed us to stick loosely to the script. Credit goes to him for trusting us to do so.

Q: What would you like audiences to walk away with after seeing "The Wood?"

A: I honestly want them to have a good time. I want them to take a trip down memory lane and laugh. I want them to see that this is a universal movie and not solely a black film. All the positive aspects of the movie make a statement and that this is a positive African-American movie. I hate that it has to be like that, that people can't see this movie and comment on the fact that it is just a movie. But that is not the world we're living in now. When Rick wrote this movie he wasn't trying to make any statements. But, because the characters happen to be black, its going to be seen as making a statement.

Q: How did you make your transition from stage into film?

A: Well, luckily the producers for "Stella" were looking for a no-name actor, so had that been different, I would have had no job. So thank God they were looking for someone who wasn't known and took that chance on me. As far as the acting side, that was a trip because I had grown up doing plays since high school. When you work on a film it is a completely different technique, completely different structure, and a whole different vibe. So that took some serious adjusting. But hands- down, I prefer theater. This is cliche, but if I could get paid as much for doing theater, then I don't know if I would even mess with film. Since I started acting in movies my view has broadened as what defines an actor. But I'm realizing that I feel more comfortable doing theater.

Q: Well, since you've come out of nowhere, so to speak, and now your career has begun to take off, do you take what is first offered to you or are you finding yourself particular as to what roles to play next?

A: A little bit of both. I mean, I'm in a business where I really don't have much control over ... anything. So the little -- and I mean little -- control I do have I try and utilize as far as what I chose to do. After that, you just throw your hands up into the air and hope that people go see your movies so you can ride the wave as long as you possibly can.

Q: There has already been a lot made about your good looks as opposed to your talent as an actor. Is there maybe a role you would like to play that would catch critics and audiences alike off guard?

A: Right now I get that question often. I really don't have as much concern about my perception as I am concerned with what a particular role will do for me. If I found a role that appealed to me and (would) catch those people off guard, then I would take it. But I'm not like some of these other actors who are beautiful and go out looking for roles to make them look ugly so they can prove in some way how good an actor they are. I'm not about that at this point. Certainly cliche characters I stay away from.

Q: Such as stereotypes?

A: Well, I believe there are a lot of stereotypical roles that can be acted out that would break down the stereotype. That is a challenge. There was this one role that I didn't end up taking. It was some Marine movie where there was only one black character in it and he was like the cook, you know, and everyone was talking down to him. At first it really didn't appeal to me ... it was a cliche role. But then I realized that I could have possibly taken that and switched it. I could have had conferences with the director to discuss changing the dialogue and the way the character was originally written. It's those stereotypes we need to break -- all stereotypes.