HER FAMILY TIES
‘Greenleaf’ star breaks down the sibling dynamics on popular OWN series
J
ENNIFER Sears has put a charge into “Greenleaf,” the OWN drama series about a family-owned Southern megachurch.
Sears — joining the show in its fifth and final season — plays Tara, the sister of Rochelle Cross (LeToya Luckett). She will impact the family’s ultimate fate when a long-buried secret is revealed.
The veteran actress, who was raised in Paterson, NJ, made her debut in “Madea’s Family Reunion” and has also appeared in “Bessie,” “The Best of Enemies” and “Daytime Divas.”
Sears, 38, talked to The Post about her role in “Greenleaf ” and her acting journey.
How would you describe Tara, and how will she affect the “Greenleaf” plotline?
Tara is a humble young woman whose primary focus is to serve God through her mission ministry, New Revelations, where she tends to the needs of the downtrodden and outcasts of the community.
She’s the polar opposite of her fiery, fashionable sister Rochelle and her smooth-talking, audacious brother Basie, in the sense that she’s not at all flamboyant and much more meek. In this final season, Tara brings her family’s past to the Green leafs’ doorstep ... literally.
Were you familiar with the series before you landed the role?
I was already a fan, but I definitely did some deep-dive binging to accumulate all of the facts from earlier seasons as preparation so that I could add the “flesh and blood” to the bones of Tara James by studying her siblings.
What is it about “Greenleaf” that you think resonates with viewers?
I think, because the viewers have shared in the many highs and lows of the Greenleaf family individually and as a whole throughout the seasons, they’ve embraced them as their own family, flaws and all. The Green leafs are very relatable, maybe not so much with their estate staff, but in challenging times, their frail humanity shines through the cracks of their polished semblance of perfection.
What are your interests outside of the acting arena?
I like to take things slow. I’m a bit of a homebody. Give me a good book, a cup of hot tea, and a candle and I’m one happy camper. I also like to meditate and practice yoga daily. Even in my down time, I try to always create space and opportunity to serve in the Atlanta community, particularly providing food and supplies to the homeless as well as participating in mentoring and outreach programs for at-risk youth. I typically travel to Haiti during the summer (taking a break this year, of course) with the non-profit organization Restore Haiti to rebuild the communities of Jacmel and Carrefour and to visit the precious children I’ve sponsored for the past seven years. I’m overwhelmed by the love I receive from them. —