ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER Star Teyana Taylor Covers VANITY FAIR’s ‘Winter’ Issue

Pin

After two decades in and out of the spotlight, Teyana’s electric role in the newest Paul Thomas Anderson film, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, has earned her a breakthrough season fueled by Oscar buzz and accolades from Hollywood’s biggest players.

In her cover interview, Teyana talks to VANITY FAIR about the many chapters leading her to today’s stardom, starting with Def Jam Records; her relationships with the people who helped position her in the spotlight, including Kanye West; and balancing motherhood with fame. 

Pin

Pin

On breaking away from a stereotype after appearing in Kanye West’s 2016 “Fade” video…

“It got to a point where it was just like, I didn’t wanna be everywhere. I’m just like, the hot Black girl … It’s just like, thank you—but I wanna do this, this, this, that, and the third, there’s other things I want to do. I don’t want to be stuck in that.”

On her controversial character, Perfidia Beverly Hills, in One Battle After Another character…

“I think one thing that everybody will be able to agree on is that she’s a badass. And she’s unapologetically herself. And when you see this woman [who, after living a high-octane life of staging high-risk attacks targeting political figures and enterprises, is at home with her baby] even the things you don’t agree with, you’ll still empathize.”

On the character being oversexualized with racial dynamics at play…

“I think we don’t enjoy seeing the harsh reality, but this is what’s happening.

On co-parenting following her divorce from NBA player Iman Shumpert…

“Divorce, to me, is you’re grieving the death of a living being. I think once children are involved, you understand the importance of really still having to show up for each other. At least for the next 18 years, and being the best co-parents that we can be.”

On juggling her career, motherhood, and life as a student at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts…

“You have an assignment due on Thursday. Your premiere is on Thursday, I’m like in the car doing schoolwork, headed to my premiere in the full-blown gown, like it’s real work. And I take pride in making sure I get my shit in the same day everybody else gets their shit in, if not sooner, you know?”

On protecting her relationship with Kanye following his public turmoil…

“I don’t have to agree with everything that he do or say, but I’m not going to, like, abandon him and be like, ‘Yeah, eff that motherf*****’. My brothers do shit that I don’t agree with…. I don’t get into none of that.”

[Photo Credit: Ethan James Greene / Vanity Fair Magazine]

• Editorials
• Ethan James Greene
• Magazines
• Teyana Taylor
• Vanity Fair