The impetus behind going to graduate school was a year after graduating from college spent in Dallas working at the dog food factory and Bank America and not having met success in my chosen field, which at that point was being an actress.
Then I went off to Southern Methodist University in Dallas. They had a really wonderful theatre department.
I was the first black director on 'Dallas.' I drove my car into the studio lot and the guard asked me who I was delivering to.
The decision-making process was very difficult: is this how I want my career to start, with playing Jodie Dallas on this show?
I'm thrilled, I'm grateful, I'm blessed. I played for the world's greatest professional sports team in history. Once a Dallas Cowboy, always a Dallas Cowboy.
I love Dallas, Austin and Houston. Why? Because some of the best comedians, like Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, started their careers in Texas, and because the crowds there are comedy-educated.
Obviously, I was fortunate enough in my first WWE experience was to be at WrestleMania in Dallas. That itself was pretty incredible, just to meet everybody and to get familiar with the NXT guys.
From the beginning of my career, when I first started on the independent circuit, when I went to Global Wrestling Federation in Dallas and then to WCW, all the way through it seems like titles have been around my waist for some reason, and I always give credit to the fans.
I saw a production of 'The Seagull' at Dallas Theatre Center when I was in high school, and it really did a number on me.
My favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets.
