With news of the green-lighting of the second season of FX’s groundbreaking television show Pose, actress Hailie Sahar is ecstatic about the future. Having risen from the tough streets of South Central, Los Angeles, the TV star’s success is a testimonial that if you love who you are, nothing can stop you — even the worst forms of bigotry.
Congratulations, FX has renewed your television show Pose for a second season. Tell us about your character Lulu Abundance.
Thank you. Thank you so much. I am so excited. Lulu has a very quiet demeanor to her, but you do get these windows in her persona where she is snappy or saying shady things about her house members. She is the kind of character that is very incognito. You have to watch her. She is up to something, but we don’t know what that is yet. You have to keep watching the show, it will all make sense.
Lulu is second-in-command of the House of abundance. She is very creative, very into fashion. Lulu is one of the more talented members of the house. She is more like Electra’s main daughter.
When you read the first script, what was it about Lulu that made her the ideal character for you to portray on the small screen?
I like the fact that Lulu’s character wasn’t an original character. During the audition process, her character was actually written to show. Ryan Murphy liked me and he wrote me into the storyline. He created the character and made Lulu a series regular. What I like about that is there was this unchartered territory that allowed me the freedom to discover the dimensions of the character alongside the writers. We were able to create her as we went along with each episode. I like that there was room to play with her and discover her. There is this big mystery around her and out of all of the characters on Pose, Lulu is the most mysterious by far. Her appearances are spaced out so you really have to keep watching her. I enjoy that I get to play a character that keeps people guessing. That’s really fun for me.
In regards to urban culture, everyone can contribute something essential to its growth and continuity. It’s not one dimensional. What messaging do you hope your successful career conveys to not only the LGBTQ community but the culture as a whole?
For me, I am a multiracial woman. I am Black, Latin, Indian, German, and Jewish all in one. My family is like an array of colors. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I grew up in Inglewood and South Central, Los Angeles, areas like that. Navigating through a system that is formed for you not to succeed on top of being a member of the LGBTQ community, I have had to overcome so many obstacles. So, what I contribute to culture is being that voice for multiracial LBGTQ kids who don’t feel like they don’t fit anywhere because they are so many things in one. My message tells them to love themselves, they can persevere through all of that and still be successful. They can have a positive life like everyone else. That’s what I feel that I contribute.
That is commendable on every level. It’s easy to be who you are when it’s easy. But, when it’s hard to be you — when you are facing the worst forms of racism and bigotry, that’s when being who you are matters most.
One of the biggest messages I want to convey as far as race… I hate labels… I grew up not fitting in anywhere. For the Latin side of my family, I wasn’t Latin enough. The Black side of my family would look at my hair and complexion and say that I wasn’t Black enough. I never felt like I fit anywhere. I really want to convey hope and be a light for mixed kids who really don’t feel like they fit in anywhere. They face discrimination in their own communities. That has been my struggle and my story on top of being a member of the LBGT community. To get up and keep going as you said, for me that derives from self-love and God. It takes a lot of inner strength to keep going forward especially when you don’t have support.
What you said is perfectly understandable, it takes so much courage to boldly be yourself. How would you compare today’s social climate to the time period in which your television show is set?
As far as knowledge on the subject matter, I believe there is still a lot of ignorance around it. I would compare some of the experiences of members of the LGBT community today to the days of segregation in the 60’s when restaurants had signage for whites or blacks only. However, while those labels have been removed, racist still exists. Compared to the LGBT community in the 80’s, people are more knowledgeable now as far as the things that are happening in part because of shows like Pose. More people are open to learning and growing. However, the discrimination, the murders, the countless bodies of transgendered men and women are skyrocketing. It’s crazy. I think people are tuning in and they want to understand, but there is still ignorance just like there is still racism. You can’t put a blanket over it. It’s still there.
The good thing is that we are talking about it now. As members of the human race, it’s our job to learn and love each other.
In order to push the culture forward as a magazine, we have to embrace it in totality, all of its colors, tones, and hues.
That’s a beautiful thing.
You are also pursuing a career on the music side of the entertainment industry. Tell us your biggest influence.
As an artist, I can’t say that it has been one specific person. I love music and I love art as a whole. Some of the people that I have been inspired by are Michael Jackson… Janet has been one of my biggest inspirations. I would also include Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, and Erykah Badu, to name a few. I like entertainers. I love a person who digs deep into their craft. Oh, I would add Missy Elliot to the list, too.
I like each individual person for a different reason. With Janet, I like her stage presence and work ethic. I like Michael Jackson for his innovative approach to music, the same when it comes to Missy Elliot. I like Stevie Wonder because he puts me in the vibe for love.
As far as my music, I collect different styles and sounds from all over the world with different instruments and make it my own. My music is eclectic. It’s urban, but with a pop appeal to it. I definitely have some dance tracks and some ballads. I would say that I’m an artist who likes to dive deep into music, but not stay in one place. I feel that art should be free-flowing. It changes as I feel different things. At the stage in my life, I am confident that my music will feel confident. Next year, I may feel more intimate and you may get that from me in music then. It’s all about elevating where you are at in life. That’s how I approach my music.
As you transcend from acting into music, are you hoping to capitalize from the fan base you’ve gained from the televised work you have done and bring them over to your music or will you build your musical legacy on its own accord?
I started my entertainment career as a dancer. My mom has always told me to use what gifts I have and whatever doors they open, walk through them. For me, I believe that when you have die-hard fans that love what you do, they will truly support everything that you do. However the universe… I am such a universe freak. It’s really not up to me. Acting is the thing that propels me. I have done dancing and music forever, but it’s acting that opened the doors for me. Now that those doors are opened, those same fans now have access to everything that is Hailie Sahar. Hailie Sahar isn’t limited to just one thing. I am someone who is a multitude of things. That’s the beautiful part about gaining fans and admirers; you kind get to bring them along on your journey.
