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Jenifer Lewis, whose decades-long career spans TV, Hollywood, theater, and music, used her passion for performing to fuel her fıght for mental health.
Triple-Threat Jenifer Lewis on Finding Balance and Mental Health Paquita Hughes's journey into the fılm industry is a lesson in perseverance. The road to earning a college degree isn’t easy for anyone, but Hughes’s journey to The Los Angeles Film School is an inspiring tale of believing in yourself against all odds. As a child of the foster care system and a college dropout, her path into the entertainment industry is a true success story. “I grew up in Mississippi, but I was born in Puerto Rico and came to Mississippi by way of New Jersey,” Hughes explained. “I had a very rough child@MEDIAPLANETUSA
Lewis has met life’s challenges head-on. Known as the “Mother of Black Hollywood,” she’s been the star of countless Broadway hits, fılms, and TV shows, as well as a tireless activist. However, her biggest challenge had nothing to do with acting or activism. “Being diagnosed with bipolar disorder was my biggest challenge,” she said. “When I was on stage and had all those delusions of grandeur, I was in heaven! Everybody said, ‘She’s fabulous’ —
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and I was. I had no idea I was manic.” Initially, her undiagnosed bipolar disorder was an asset. “When I walked into a room to audition, I knew they needed the triple threat. That grandiosity came from my bipolar disorder, the mania that comes with that. I was a locomotive with talent!” Shining her light It took Lewis a long time to realize that the very thing that gave her that edge came at a cost. “I came out of 30 years of depression before I was diagnosed,” she said. “I slept under the covers in dark rooms.” Lewis has now been in treatment for 20 years, but it took
Spotlight on Independent Producer, Writer, and Location Manager Paquita Hughes hood, so escapism is what drew me into the fılmmaking industry. I was a heavy reader, and I still am. Reading used to give me an escape. As a kid, during those harsh Mississippi summers, my mom would
give us two options: ‘Either take a nap or read a book.’ I always read. It was my way of escaping.” Hughes’s vivid imagination and love of reading stayed with her into adulthood. After
serving in the military as an air traffıc controller, Hughes enrolled in The L.A. Film School using her GI Bill benefıts to study fılm production. “The major thing was transitioning from military to civilian
fıve years of persistence for her therapist to convince her to take medication. “I was afraid that the edge would go away,” she said. Today, Lewis focuses on activism, traveling the world to address racism, economic inequality, and climate change. She also advocates for those suffering from mental health issues. “Leave the curtains open,” she advised. “Let the sun come into the room. If you need help getting out of bed, call on the ancestors. Call on the people that you know got up when they didn’t have to. Call on the greats who didn’t take any shortcuts. Call on me. You just have to get up.” ■ Jeff Somers
lifestyle,” Hughes said. “I got out and I came right to Los Angeles. I was also diagnosed with an invisible wound, and it was a really interesting phase of my diagnosis. I was fıguring out who I am once again.” She discovered her talents for producing and eventually landed on the sets of major productions, including HBO’s “Perry Mason,” Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere,” and Peacock’s “Bel-Air.” Hughes is currently a location scout/ manager and resides in Los Angeles with her daughter. ■ This article has been paid for by The L.A. Film School. Jourdan Arnaud Thompson
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Publisher Aaron Palmer Business Developer Joanna Tronina Managing Director Julia Colavecchia Lead Designer Kayla Mendez Designer Keziah Makoundou Lead Editor Dustin Brennan Copy Editor Taylor Rice Digital Success & Production Manager Taylor Daniels Cover Photo Maria Soledad Recatume All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve LA Times.
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