VIDEO: Yolonda Ross Returns to ‘The Chi’ With Her Television Directorial Debut

Guest contributor Tarcia Bush talks to actress Yolonda Ross about returning to The Chi for its final season, this time behind the camera.

After playing Jada Washington for seven seasons on the acclaimed series from Emmy Award-winning creator Lena Waithe, Yolonda Ross makes her television directorial debut in Episode 3 of The Chi.

In an interview with The Contending guest contributor Tarcia Bush, Ross reflected on what it meant to return to a cast she has worked alongside for years.

“I have come up with a lot of these people from the beginning,” she said. “To be able to be on the other side of that and have this really full circle moment with the team means a lot.”

She also discussed helping guide younger actors she has watched grow up throughout the series, including Jacob Latimore, who played her son Emmett.

While stepping behind the camera required “using different muscles,” Ross said directing felt like a natural creative progression and gave her the opportunity to help actors push their performances in new ways.

The interview also revisited Jada’s emotional breast cancer storyline. Ross spoke candidly about using her public platform to advocate for Black women’s health issues and healthcare disparities, pointing out that Black women “get diagnosed the least” with breast cancer, but “we die the most.”

The conversation then lightened up as Ross talked about her work as a painter and visual artist before previewing several upcoming projects, including the dark comedy horror film Flowers Para Los Muertos, shot in Mexico, and the upcoming Netflix film Don’t Ever Wonder alongside Larenz Tate and Nia Long.

Watch the conversation with Ross below! The final season of The Chi is streaming now on Paramount+.