For the past decade, all I have wanted was to see Taylour Paige in everything. The Santa Monica-born, Inglewood-bred actor caught the attention of many as the lead in Stella Meghie’s feature-length directorial debut, Jean of the Joneses. Paige shined bright in the family drama, and that performance led to her appearing in 2018’s White Boy Rick before taking on the lead role of Zola in 2020’s Twitter thread-turnt-A24 film Zola. We’ve seen Paige act opposite Kendrick Lamar in “We Cry Together” and Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, and most recently saw her grace HBO’s It: Welcome to Derry, where she portrayed Charlotte Hanlon in the horrific town that Stephen King built. It’s her latest role(s) that have been most intriguing, though.
In theaters now is Boots Riley’s highly anticipated I Love Boosters, which finds Paige playing Mariah, a member of a group of boosters at the heart of the film. It’s a bold, bright, and unique film, delivering an empowering message addressing today's issues. It’s also the project that she was working on while pregnant with her first child. “I really feel, since having my son, [like I’m] living inside of my own life now, finally,” Paige told Complex on the eve of the release of I Love Boosters. “I feel like I've been initiated into my life.”
Paige further discusses her life as a mother, working on I Love Boosters, and the love she has received since her work on It: Welcome to Derry.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I imagine you're busy; this is the calm before the film's official release. How's this press run been for you?
Oh, it's been such a delight. I love the film so much. I have so much fun making it, so it's actually been the easiest press as far as talking about [the film] because it's a fun, good, joyful memory with the artists I love, human beings that I love, the directors I love. It was just all joy.
I didn't realize that until watching you on the Boosters press run that you were pregnant during the production of Boosters. Can you describe that process of acting at five, six months pregnant? What was that experience like for you?
You know what? I keep saying it, but I was really just enjoying myself. Keke's a mother, and Poppy's a mother, and they were pouring into me, and I was seeing how they were balancing. I don't think there's ever really balance as a mother. I think you find rhythm.
It was just a good time. I really feel, since having my son, [like I’m] living inside of my own life now, finally. I feel like I've been initiated into my life. I think Boosters was kind of marking the... I was in this liminal kind of ending a cycle and entering a new one, and [now] it's just only up.
What was your experience interacting with Boots? How did you first get involved with the project?
My agent at the time sent it, and they said, "Boots is doing his next film. There might be a role for you." I'm like, "Oh my God, send the script immediately." I was already down before I even read it. [Boots said] “This is the smaller of the three in the Velvet Gang,” and I was like, "I don't care. I want to work with you."
I wanted to talk about what it was like being on set, because there's so much going on in this film. Was there a lot of time on set to play around with different ideas?
We were pretty rushed, actually, but when we met each other, [Boots] let us all talk. I remember he was just quiet and watching us interact and laugh and giggle, and I think he knew, he was brilliant, knowing, “this is the rehearsal.”
What was it like on that set? You talk about being rushed, but I imagine some of those days are long. How were you feeling physically at that time? Drained?
18-hour days. It was crazy. I've never been more tired in my life than then, but now I'm so tired. [laughs]
You’ve mentioned in the past that Welcome to Derry happened during a particular time in your life. It sounded like that was something you really needed at the time. It feels like you're stepping into a new chapter of your life now. What's your outlook for the next phase of your career?
You know what? I'm feeling my way through it, but I love being an actress. I continue to work. I want my son to see me work and be in the joy and expand. Becoming a mother has only deepened my capacity to what I feel I can offer the world. Really, I'm just interested now in “what does it look like to be being a mother is an artist,” finding my rhythm. I also want to be in things my son one day can watch.
What was the response you got from the Welcome to Derry audience after Season 1? Stephen King has so much content, was there ever an uptick in responses you’d receive after the show started airing?
Yes. I mean, Steven King is so beloved by the horror community. So I did feel like I was connected to a whole other universe of people. I'm not a horror watcher, so it was amazing. I think horror is so fascinating in that it's the only kind of genre that was the true style, like death, things that we’re obviously very afrai ofd, and what could be more horrific than 1962 in America?
Seriously.
I was actually walking down the street today in New York City, and there was a truck that was celebrating Ragtime, and one of the marketing guys was kind of out and about and was like, "I just love your work in Welcome to Derry." It's just been really loving, really loving. I feel the love.
If the opportunity ever hit, would you want to go back to Derry?
Yeah. I mean, yeah, if the situation was right; this season is going to be 27 years back. I would love to. I think Charlotte's got a lot more to say and do, for sure.
What are some of your other aspirations? Do you ever want to write or direct?
Oh my gosh. I love, I'm always, when I'm on set, I’m like, "Okay, what lens are we on? Tell me about this lighting." I love filmmaking. I really do. I love it. I'm interested in design, furniture. I mean, there's so much. I'm interested in children. How do we call out what's already in them?
I will say, it'll be interesting to see how you tackle that; you're the one who was creating life on a Boots Riley film set. I don't know what that child's going to be doing, but it's a very interesting start of life.
I know. He's just incredible, joyful and so strong-willed and just. He's looking at me now, scrunching his face.
I'm just here to protect his light and shepherd him into whatever he wants to do.
