By Dennis J. Freeman
Actress Suzette Tomlinson’s deep-throated, hearty laugher can make doves sing. Her Chinese-Jamaican inheritance engulfs her exotic beauty. She is as warm and engaging as a pair of winter mittens.
She’s a savvy business woman who built a small fortune when the Internet craze took off. She’s also a throwback to the days when loyalty, kindness and having good people around mattered more than money.
“I love life,” said Tomlinson in a one-on-one interview with news4usonline.com. “I really do love life. I love meeting people. They are the best.”
That synergy about meeting new people has given Tomlinson an unveiled look into what she wants to accomplish as a Hollywood actress. So far, it’s been all good. Tomlinson came to Los Angeles to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry.
She’s beginning to do that. Like many newcomers to the business, Tomlinson has had her share of ups and downs, moving from one audition to another as she sought to land gigs. For the last couple of years, Tomlinson has been honing her acting craft through a myriad of avenues, including taking to the stage and jumping into a couple of specialized acting classes.
The hard work, tireless dedication, preparation and patience have now begun to pay dividends for Tomlinson.
With two films making their debut and a third being shopped around and playing in a couple of independent film festivals, including the San Diego Black Film Festival later this month, this could be Tomlinson’s breakthrough year as an actress.
The Chicago-born Tomlinson certainly has the equipment to back up those ambitious goals. A model at 14, Tomlinson has appeared in numerous national print ads for the likes of McDonald’s and Luster. She’s done the video thing.
She’s the front person of a new athletic wear for women. Among some of her early acting credits include having a part in the film, “Biker Boyz” and playing a role in Oxygen Channel’s “Girls Behaving Badly.”
After securing minor roles in other films the last couple of years, Tomlinson is about to see her career shoot upward with her first starring role in the comedy “Ocean Front Property” and landing a supporting part in the drama, “The Preacher’s Family,” starring Tommy “Tiny“ Lister. Both films are expected to be released sometime in the spring.
In “The Preacher’s Family,” Tomlinson plays an around the way chic rolling around the screen with a bad attitude. In “Ocean Front Property,” a light-hearted romantic comedy, Tomlinson stars as a down-on-her-luck actress who returns home after an affair make the tabloids and nearly ruins her.
Both movies gave Tomlinson an opportunity to showcase her versatility as an actress. Both roles also presented its own unique challenges as well. As the lone black cast member in “Oceanfront Property,” Tomlinson’s character is at the center of attention after an affair with a white movie director.
In “The Preacher’s Family,” Tomlinson bustles on the screen as an audacious, stereotypical character. Tomlinson said she enjoyed playing both roles because they didn’t box her in as an actress.
“I like playing the bad roles. I don’t like playing the nice roles,” said Tomlinson. “It’s boring. I want to tear it up. I want to get outside of the box.”
One thing that Tomlinson do want to put a limit on is her acting because of her looks. Tomlinson said she don’t want to known as just another stunning Hollywood beauty. That’s simply not how she rolls, she said.
“The way I was raised, you’re not going to get by on just good looks,” said Tomlinson. “There are so many beautiful girls in this town. Everybody is beautiful. Everybody has long hair. Everybody is working out. It’s very important to me to be seen more than just being an attractive girl. Ultimately, you want to be respected for your work. This year (2010), I finally felt like I was finally getting that. You want to be taken seriously.”
The best way for her to be taken seriously as a professional actress is to try to not be like anyone else. You just have to put your best foot forward and believe in your abilities, Tomlinson said.
“You can go to an audition where there are 50 different girls and they’re going to hear it 50 different ways,” Tomlinson said. “I don’t model myself after anyone. I’m just Suzette.”
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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