Actress Lovie Simone stars in television adaptation of Judy Blume's novel "Forever..."
Living the Dream: A Chat with Lovie Simone on Netflix's Forever
Let's get real for a minute, because Mara Brock Akil knows when she's onto something special. During the editing process for her latest Netflix series, "Forever," Akil (the brains behind hits like "Girlfriends," "Being Mary Jane," and "The Game") took a brief pause, absolutely blown away by the captivating performance of one Lovie Simone, the show's lead actress.
"Oh my God, not only is this girl stunning, she's acting her damned socks off," Akil said, practically giddy as she watched Simone bring life to the words she'd penned.
If the title sounds familiar, it might be because it shares a name with Judy Blume's 1965 novel that faced much criticism due to its candid exploration of teen sexuality. This new version, set in 2018 and 2019, has a contemporary twist: the couple at the center, Keisha and Justin, are both Black. The series makes its debut on Netflix on Thursday.
Simone, who hadn't delved into "Forever..." before landing the part, shares Akil's sentiment, feeling the show captures the book's essence and intention beautifully.
Just like the book, the two leads—played by Simone and newcomer Michael Cooper Jr.—meet at a New Year's party, rekindling a childhood connection with romantic sparks. But the show goes beyond simply riffing on young love; it delves deep into character development, allowing Simone to flex her dramatic muscles beyond the stereotypical roles of a love interest.
"It was like, 'Wow, I am the love interest, but I also have a story to tell.' It's really nice not just to be the girlfriend," Simone said.
In the early stages of filming, Simone and Cooper consciously kept their distance off-screen to ensure the rekindled connection felt genuine.
"In the beginning of the story, they hadn't talked in so long, so we didn't want too much rapport," Simone explained. "We were like, 'OK, we're not gonna see each other too much... We still kind of want to be strangers a little bit.'"
Indeed, Keisha is far from a one-dimensional character. In her heart, she's still the girl who was betrayed by an ex who shared an intimate video of her with other students. She left her old school behind to escape the bullying, determined to make her mother proud by becoming perfect—not just in academics, but in every aspect of her life to earn a spot at Howard University.
This pressure to live up to expectations resonates deeply with many teenagers and taps into our shared understanding of how such demands can shape our lives.
Set in Los Angeles, with real-world neighborhoods lending authenticity to the backdrop, the show provides audiences with an honest portrayal of love, growth, and identity for its young leads. Characters shop in the Fairfax District, Keisha lives in Crenshaw, and Justin's family calls Park-Windsor Hills, an affluent African American neighborhood, home.
Simone, who grew up in New York and now calls Atlanta home, was unfamiliar with LA culture before filming. Coming to the city and embracing its true culture was an eye-opening experience for her.
Before landing the part on "Forever," Simone made her bones on the OWN drama "Greenleaf," portraying the rebellious teen Zora. Her transformation from a recurring character to a series regular gave her the opportunity to learn from some of the industry's heavy hitters, like Oprah Winfrey, Lynn Whitfield, Keith David, and Lamman Rucker.
Through her experiences on "Greenleaf," Simone cultivated a deep understanding of grounded acting and found herself striving to create a convincing, authentic performance that left her feeling as though "I exited myself and a new person came in." Now, she sets her sights on more complex, serious roles that challenge her and push her further as an artist.
Should "Forever" be blessed with a second season, Simone is excited to explore Keisha's future, even jumping ahead post-college to learn more about the woman she's become. Here's hoping we get to see that journey unfold.
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TL;DR: Meet Lovie Simone, the breakout star of Netflix's "Forever." The show, loosely based on the Judy Blume novel, tells the story of a Black couple in Los Angeles navigating first love amidst societal pressures. Simone offers a powerhouse performance as Keisha, a determined teen grappling with the consequences of her ex's betrayal and the pressure to live up to her mother's expectations. The show delivers an authentic portrayal of young love, self-discovery, and identity.
In the realm of entertainment, Lovie Simone, a standout actress from Netflix's "Forever," shares viewers' homes in Seattle and beyond, not just as a captivating beauty, but as an actress delivering a remarkable performance. Beyond movies-and-tv roles, Simone's life intertwines with that of her character, Keisha, as she grew up in New York and now calls Atlanta home, but found Los Angeles culture an eye-opening experience while filming "Forever."
