Christina Anthony Talks ‘Mixed-ish’ and Stepping Back into the ’80s [Video]

After about eight years of trying to make the jump from theater to television, Christina Anthony was just about ready to pack her bags and leave LA when she decided to go in for just one more audition — for the role of Aunt Denise on the black-ish spinoff series mixed-ish. 

The timing couldn’t have been better. 

I recently spoke with Anthony about that audition, what it’s like working on mixed-ish, and the fun of stepping back into the ’80s.  

“I wanted to be a regular star on a TV show and it just wasn’t happening,” Anthony said. She told everyone she was going to head back to Chicago, but she was convinced to try just one more time.

“My manager and my boyfriend convinced me to go on just one more audition, and it was for this small role on what they call a backdoor pilot on black-ish for a new show where Tracee Ellis Ross would be a little girl,” she said.

“Sure enough, two days later, I got it. I was so shocked that I got it, I just hung up on the phone. I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t know what to do, so I just hung up!” Anthony laughed.

“It’s just been an amazing experience and for me, it’s just a true testament to like, if you can just hang on, there is a plan for your life. You just have to hold on and be ready when they call you.”

Watch the full interview with Christina Anthony:

Of course, mixed-ish takes place in the ’80s, which makes for a unique experience for the actors on the show.

Anthony recalled a time when she had to give Arica [Himmel] a cassette tape. “Then she needed to put it in a boombox to play for her friends, and she just was like, ‘What is this? Where do I put it?'” 

Anthony also shared one thing she’s excited about when it comes to her character specifically this season.

“My character is going to get to have a crossroads about her career. She’s working at Pan Am, and maybe I’ve already kind of given it away if you know what happened to Pan Am. It’s not around much anymore. She definitely has a moment where she’s going to think about what she really wants to do with her life, and I love that for her just because she’s not a super young woman. And I think this idea of reinventing yourself mid-way through life is something that a lot of people can relate to.”

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*Featured image credit: Diana Ragland

mixed-ish airs Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on ABC.

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