After having a five-minute conversation with Jill Marie Jones it’s painfully obvious that she’s very different from her sassy, feisty and quick-witted onscreen persona of Toni Childs. Off camera this blossoming star is sweet, down to earth, charming and cheerful, one can only assume that it’s her awesome acting abilities that allow her to transform and make the character on UPN’s hit series “Girlfriends” so believable. Recently nominated for a BET Comedy Award for her role as Toni Childs, this Texas native and former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader is more than what meets the eye. A lover of poetry, dance and writing this is only the beginning of what Jill Marie Jones has to offer the world. MahoganyGirl chats with our favorite girlfriend about her life on and off the set and how she spends her well-deserved downtime.

MahoganyGirl: Hey Jill. How are you doing?
Jill Marie Jones: I’m doing well.

MG: Enjoying this lovely Southern California weather we’re having? [It’s been pouring rain in Los Angeles for the past 4 days]
JMJ: (Laughs) Well I have to say, I love seasons. So it’s really nice to have a little change.

MG: You were a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and dancing is your first love.
What else did you do before you were Toni Childs on Girlfriends?
JMJ: I’ve been a dancer all my life. It is my first real love and passion. I’ve also modeled in Chicago, Miami and Orlando. When I wanted to act, I planned to just do it locally. But then I realized that I really needed to be where I would have more opportunity. So one day I just got off the bench and played in the game and I moved to LA. And with God guiding me I got Girlfriends a year later.

MG: How does it make you feel when people say you lucked out to get a series regular role
on a hit sitcom after shortly arriving to Los Angeles?
JMJ: It doesn’t make me feel any particular way. I am blessed. God has always had a plan for me. I don’t like to use that word luck. Silly people say luck. I know I was a part of something bigger and greater. It’s very important for me to say, especially to young people that I was studying, I didn’t just come out and say I want to be an actress let me just roll the dice. I made sure I was prepared when I got into the audition room. I studied with acting coaches and took classes. When I was in front of the casting director I made sure I was prepared beforehand.

MG: What if any similarities are there between you and Toni?
JMJ: We’re both black women. (Laughs) Just kidding we’re human. We all have insecurities. Toni’s are just a bit more magnified. One of the things I love about her is how human she is. If you really sit back and go beyond the funny, you’ll see characters that are so developed that they actually do remind you of people that you know…. or even yourself. I think it’s a huge compliment to Mara Brock Akil (Executive Producer and Creator of Girlfriends) and also to our writers when someone can come up to you and say I’m really Toni or I’m really Joan. It’s a huge compliment because I think of all the other shows that I love and I can’t identify with any of those characters. And it’s beyond race they are just characters you can identify with. So to answer your question, her human side, her insecurities.

MG: You also have an interest in writing? What types of material do you write?
JMJ: Yes I’ve been writing all of my life. I write poetry and screenplays as well. But right now it’s just a creative outlet for me. Maybe one day I’ll try and sell something but right now it’s kinda all for me.

MG: Do you contribute to the scripts or to the story line on Girlfriends?
JMJ: We definitely have an open door policy. Our writers are brilliant and I’m able to talk to them and to the producers and state my case. My character is pretty sharp tongued and most times she can be a bit abrasive. But there may have been a couple of times when I read the script and I may have been like ‘ouch’ but because of our open door policy I am able to come to them and say ‘I have a problem with that line, it makes me feel this way and maybe we should do x, y, z. instead’ most of the times it does change but sometimes it doesn’t but it’s OK because I give them their respect.

MG: What is a typical week like for you on Girlfriends?
JMJ: 1 table read day, 2 rehearsal days, and 1 pre-shoot day and then we shoot the rest of the show in front of a live audience.

MG: Does Diana Ross come by the set?
JMJ: Yeah she’s been by the set a few times. We just shot our 100th episode and she came by for that.

MG: On the show Toni is married to a white man. In real life what type of men do you like to date?
JMJ: You know- I’m attracted to men - period. The package even from short/tall big/thin may look different but the quality is usually pretty similar. I’m pretty clear on the type of man that I like to spend my time with. I’m more interested in the qualities that he has such as his moral background. Certain things like someone who can make me laugh. Those things are the through lines

MG: What kind of music are you into?
JMJ: Girl I’m all over the place. I love it all. The only thing I don’t really like is heavy metal. But I like Rock-n-Roll. I love Hip Hop, I love R&B, I love classical, and I love country.

MG: What! You love country?
JMJ: Yes I don’t just like country, like I LOVE it! I have a very eclectic taste in music.

MG: You are quite the fashion plate on the show. What designers do you like to wear in real life?
JMJ: I’ll be honest I can throw out a couple of names but it probably wouldn’t really be accurate. Because I’m the type of person that I know it when I see it. But I’m not into fads. I don’t necessarily rock what is supposed to be the ‘in color’ or the ‘in look’. To me putting my clothes together is like going to Disneyland. It’s a part of my artistic-creative thing. I really enjoy doing that which is why I don’t really work with stylists. Sometimes I do, but it’s a lot fun and it’s very important for me to represent who I truly am. Especially since I play a character like Toni. And wardrobe is one of the ways I do that. But I like Casa Dei shoes I discovered them about a year ago and I love Yves Saint Laurent. But overall it’s not uncommon for me to not know what I’m wearing.

MG: Do you see yourself choreographing or dancing professionally in your future?
JMJ: I don’t know how I would feel making a living with something that I love. It brings me such joy to still dance recreationally but to actually go out and choreograph something to make money, I don’t know, maybe I’m silly but I feel that it would change that and take away from the joy. Who knows what’s going to happen in the future but like the writing, right now it’s totally a creative outlet for me.

MG: OK I have to ask you how do you stay so calm? A lot of actors are worried about their next move, trying to parlay what they’re doing into something else, getting publicity for this that and the other. What’s your secret?
JMJ: I have to say God has always made a way for me. I have been blessed with many things in my life but one of the things is being able to live in the moment. It’s hard so I do see it as a blessing. Because people often pass through life and aren’t able to actually enjoy it in the moment so I’m blessed in that way. I’m enjoying Girlfriends right now.

On the other side of it as a black person in this industry I definitely understand the urgency. In some cases if you don’t act now it could be gone tomorrow but for me I gotta enjoy my moment. Another thing is that I have an amazing mom, I’m about to meet her at the airport right now. I’m taking her to Hawaii. My mother has never been to a beach. Since I love to travel and see different cultures and I’ve been almost everywhere I decided to take her to someplace she’s never been.

MG: Well since it’s been nasty out here you picked a great time to get away. When do you leave?
JMJ: Oh the car will be here in 30 minutes.

MG: What! So you really squeezed me in this morning. Well I appreciate you taking the time out.
JMJ: Oh no problem. I’m just packing my last couple of things while I’m talking. It has been so lovely talking with you.

MG: Same here. And have a safe trip and I hope your mom enjoys her time at the beach.
JMJ: Girl yes. She is so very excited.

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