EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH 'OUR FAMILY WEDDING' STAR LANCE GROSS

UBC is proud to present our interview with "Our Family Wedding" star Lance Gross.

Tyler Perry has introduced us to many up and coming actors. Lance Gross is one of those shining stars. “I love working with Tyler Perry. He is the one that gave me my start. So, if he comes to me with a project that is good I won’t turn it down,” says Gross. So that’s why when Tyler came to Lance with “The Meet the Browns” project he jumped at the chance to have his big screen debut. “It’s kind of like working with family, almost. So there is a certain level of comfort there,” explained Gross. This comfort level is clearly one of the many factors which lead to a performance that garnered two NAACP awards for his role as Calvin Payne.

Along with his television work, Gross will next be seen this month on the big screen in “Our Family Wedding.” The movie also stars Academy Award winner Forrest Whitaker, Emmy Award winner America Ferrara, Regina King and Carlos Mencia. “It’s a romantic comedy,” explained Gross. “My character and America’s character are getting married and going back to meet each other’s families. It is the clash of the families.”

We love the concept but working with Forrest Whitaker on his second film must have been nerve racking! “That was a dream come true! I was very nervous about working with Forrest being that he is an Oscar winner and I just know his body of work,” explained Gross. “But he happened to be the coolest guy you could ever meet. I think the first day I met him he asked me if I wanted to go to one of the Lakers’ finals games with him. So, I mean, that just shows how cool he is."

From small screen to big screen to winning two NAACP awards, the best way to sum up Lance is humble, serious about his craft and strikingly handsome! All great assets for an up and coming actor. So we had to know how his amazing sense of style came about. “I think it snuck up on me. I remember when Karl Kani was hot and the whole baggy jeans era was in. The baggier the better,” Gross reminisces. “It really took my father sitting me down and talking to me. Telling me, I’m becoming a man and need to watch the way I dress because people will be looking at me in a certain way. I took his advice and put on slimmer jeans. I did notice a difference.”

Lance was able to step up and change his style game without losing who he is. “I just like to be comfortable in what I wear. If I’m going to wear a suit then I like Tom Ford suits. If it’s not Tom Ford, then I’d probably do Dolce & Gabbana," he states. I just like suits to have a nice fit and I think Tom Ford is one of the best for that.”

Lance's message for young men trying to step up their style game is simple. "Do whatever you feel comfortable in. Not every person is the same and not everyone’s style is the same. Don’t step outside the box if you are not comfortable with it. Just do you. It’s all about character,” advises Gross.

"Our Family Wedding" hits theaters this Friday March 12th.

Make sure to tune-into to “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” on TBS every Wednesday at 8/7c.