When True Whitaker was within the third grade, she had a college biography mission. The task was to select a well-known individual, do a little analysis, and write a bit bit about their life. Fairly regular stuff for an 8-year-old, and, one would assume, a moderately easy process for a child whose dad is Forest Whitaker.
“It was across the time my dad was capturing ‘The Final King of Scotland,’” True, now 23, instructed The Publish. “My mother, my sisters, my brother and I flew out to go to him in Uganda.”
Now for the plot twist: “He was having a gathering with Nelson Mandela.
“So I bought to sit down and discuss to Nelson Mandela, and I used to be in a position to interview Winnie Mandela, who was his spouse on the time. There’s a photograph of me and Nelson Mandela holding palms and speaking, and I’m, like, eight years outdated,” she laughed. “I want I used to be older so I might have actually understood the significance — how insane and iconic that second was. These forms of experiences I’ll cherish endlessly.”
Such is the lifetime of a star scion, and a refreshingly self-aware one at that. True, the youngest of 4 kids, was raised in Los Angeles by her mom, actress Keisha Nash-Whitaker, and her actor/director/screenwriter/producer dad, who has co-starred in “Panic Room,” “Black Panther,” “The Butler” and numerous different movies.
“I really feel like I’m half my mother and half my dad. My mother has put a variety of her power into me. She’s very outgoing, very humorous … I really feel just like the comedic aspect of me has been perpetuated by my mother,” stated True of Keisha, who break up from Forest final yr. “My dad is humorous too, however he’s a bit extra quiet in public areas. My mother is all the time on 10, in a great way.”
True has inherited a variety of traits from her father, too: “My wit and my empathy. I really feel like he’s taught me and my brother and sisters to method life with a way of understanding and openness to various kinds of folks on this world — to embrace various kinds of folks, with totally different energies and from totally different walks of life.
“I’ve all the time been actually shut with each of my dad and mom. Generally a bit too shut, perhaps—I really feel like I share all the things with them. Even when it’s like, ‘Oh, Dad, I adopted a cute man [on social media] immediately!’” added True, who’s single. “It’s actually simply something and all the things. However I really like that I really feel like I can simply be myself and never be fearful of being judged by my dad and mom. I’m actually grateful for the shut relationship we’ve all the time had.”
One other factor that runs within the household is a penchant for movie and tv. At 18, True moved from LA to New York Metropolis to pursue a level in artistic writing from NYU’s Gallatin College of Individualized Research.
“I really feel like I took each artistic writing course they needed to provide, to determine what a part of writing I actually needed to hone in on.” She graduated final yr, and lives in New York.
“Writing has all the time been an emotional factor for me. At any time when I felt overwhelmed with pleasure or unhappiness or some other kind of emotion, I’ve all the time turned to writing. I really feel like generally once I converse I’m not as concise as I may very well be once I’m writing. It offers me a special sense of energy, so I’ve all the time liked it.”
And sure, she’s additionally all in favour of performing.
“I acted within the final season of ‘Godfather of Harlem,’ starring my dad. I had a personality named Sandra. She was positively a problem, however I liked each second of it and, hopefully, as a result of it’s capturing proper now, she’ll come again,” she stated of the Epix collection.
Though she didn’t have any scenes along with her father, True recalled the primary time she noticed him on set — which was additionally her very first day of filming.
“I didn’t even know he was there at first. However after we wrapped, I walked off the set, and a man got here as much as me and was like, ‘Oh, you simply missed your dad.’ I used to be like, ‘What?’ I suppose he was secretly watching with a bit monitor someplace.
“He’s very supportive,” she laughed. “After I went again as much as my dressing room, I discovered him in there with balloons and a bottle of Champagne, congratulating me. It was actually particular, after all, to have the ability to try this with my dad.”
In the end, True hopes to proceed each performing and writing professionally. The truth is, since graduating from NYU, she’s been engaged on a remedy for a TV collection with playwright, screenwriter and director (“Virtually Christmas,” “First Sunday”) David Talbert, who can also be one among her mentors.
“I’m a trillion drafts into my collection. I’m hoping within the subsequent few years you guys will see and be capable of really feel and listen to my voice and perceive the issues that I care about,” she stated. “Something I work on can be one thing which means one thing to me.”
Whereas it stays to be seen whether or not she’ll star within the present if it will get made, she plans to proceed pursuing different performing alternatives.
“I’ve been doing a variety of auditions. I’m signed at William Morris [Agency], and I really like my agent — he’s been giving me a variety of alternatives,” she stated. “So hopefully that’ll choose up quickly, as a result of I’m actually enthusiastic about performing.”
Whitaker can also be enthusiastic about social activism, as is her father. (Forest is an official advocate for the UN’s Sustainable Improvement Objectives, UNESCO Particular Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation, and the founding father of Whitaker Peace and Improvement Initiative.)
“Regardless of who I’m, what household I got here from, what my dad does, or what success he has, anyplace I am going, I’m a Black girl. So I’ll face the challenges that this nation presents us resulting from its horrible historical past. As a really tall, dark-skinned Black girl, I really feel my Blackness in all places I am going. Even once I go right into a retailer, generally I really feel like I’ve to both purchase one thing or maintain my palms in plain view,” she defined. “I’m all the time gonna really feel the bizarre microaggressions. However I even have a way of energy, after all, being a Black girl. I would like it to be recognized that we deserve such a recognition and success, to have the ability to stay in the best way that I’ve lived. I’m so proud that my dad, as a Black man, has been in a position to give this life and this legacy to us, a Black household.”
True’s Instagram bio reads “Black Lives Matter / Shield Black Ladies!,” and in between household images and selfies, you’ll discover images from marches and protests.
“I arise once I see issues on the earth occurring that I believe are improper,” she stated. “We have to put a bit peace into the world, put some love and care into it.”
True’s Instagram additionally options images and movies from essentially the most glamorous aspect of her life — like debutante balls, purple carpets, and celeb-studded nights out — however she insists that her day-to-day actuality is fairly regular.
“I simply attempt to work on my writing, and I spend time with the folks that I really like. Clearly, if there’s an occasion that I’m invited to, it’s sick to go and I like to be included. I all the time like to be considered! However I wouldn’t say I’m doing it that usually.”
The truth is, you’re extra more likely to run into her at a karaoke bar.
“My sister and I, really. In our personal time, we, like, follow. We’ll good a track, after which we’ll simply hop right into a karaoke bar. We’ll be harmonizing, doing method an excessive amount of, displaying off our abilities. We actually did it the opposite day—it was a lot enjoyable,” True stated.
Their present track of selection is an oldie however goodie, from 2007: “‘Potential Breakup Tune’ by Aly and AJ. They’re form of having a resurgence, so we’re embracing that.”
Photographs: Tamara Beckwith/NY Publish; Stylist: Heather Blair; Hair: T. Cooper/crowdMGMT utilizing Cricket Firm; Make-up: Markphong Tram/ABTP utilizing Maybeline; Location: PHD Rooftop at Dream Downtown.
