Taye Diggs Shakes His 'Groove' Thing

Newsweek
August 24, 1998
By Allison Samuels

Taye Diggs is anything but bashful. Many actors would have paused twice before agreeing to appear nude in a movie, but Diggs didn't think twice before signing on for his sultry debut in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back." "I didn't know what was going to be shown in the nude and I didn't really care," says Diggs, 26, with a laugh, sitting poolside in Hollywood. "I wanted the role so bad it didn't matter what I had to do to get it."

In "Stella," Diggs plays Winston Shakespeare, a 20-year-old who sweeps and older woman (Angela Bassett) off her feet in Jamaica. Diggs sizzles in the role: his love scene with Bassett in the show brings hoots of approval from women in the audience.

Diggs began acting while growing up in Rochester, N.Y. After graduating with a degree in theater from Syracuse University and spending a year as an understudy on Broadway, he wanted a drastic change of pace and headed to Japan. For nine months, Diggs worked at Tokyo's Disneyland, singing and dancing at Caribbeanland. Then he went back to Broadway. "I did a couple of auditions when I got back before I landed one for a little play called 'Rent'," says Diggs with a sly smile. "I had no idea it would become the hit it did, but it was a heck of an experience."

For "Rent," Diggs played the villain--the preppy landlord, Benny. The musical went on to win a Tony, and it got the actor into several Hollywood auditions, including "Stella." It was widely reported that author-producer Terry McMillan wanted the Ralph Lauren model Tyson to have the role, but Diggs prevailed after a steamy reading with Bassett.

"Stella" has gotten strong reviews and the box-office forecast looks promising. As for Diggs, he's already signed on for "Go," a black comedy about a checkout girl, a drug pusher and two aspiring actors whose paths cross in L.A. But don't expect Diggs to move away from New York any time soon. "This isn't my kind of place," says Diggs, looking very L.A. in small-rimmed black sunglasses. "I can't imagine living out here. It's not the real world." Diggs says the L.A. premiere of "Stella," a who's who of black Hollywood, felt pretty surreal. "My mother went up to everyone to introduce herself as Taye Diggs's mother." He laughs. "But the main person she went up to was Snoop Doggy Dogg. That's who impressed her the most--not any other celebrity, just Snoop." Before long, look for Diggs to be top dog.