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EXCLUSIVE: Tamara Tunie Chats on ‘Beyond the Gates’ Anita Dupree, The Reunion Concert, and The Slap Heard Around Fairmont Crest

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CBS

Beyond the Gates matriarch Anita Dupree is played by veteran film and television actress, Tamara Tunie. Since premiering on the new CBS daytime drama, Tunie, who’s last soap role was that of Jessica Griffin on As the World Turns, has certainly had her moments to shine.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Tamara at the recent CBS Atlanta Fest event which featured several of the stars from the CBS daytime line-up of soaps including: The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless as well as Tunie’s Beyond the Gates co-stars.

Recently, Tunie’s Anita delivered the bitch-slap heard around Fairmont Crest, when she hauled off and slapped Leslie Thomas in a showdown of all showdowns. Tamara shared what it was like to play the scene opposite Trisha Mann-Grant after Leslie throws her new found wealth in Anita’s face.

Courtesy/CBS

“Oh, it’s so much fun. I love slapping the (blank) out of Leslie,” joked Tunie. “It’s really great. I mean, it’s challenging because she plays this evil woman, you know what I mean? She’s always stirring up trouble. Anita has to kind of tolerate it, but she finally was able to let her have it, and it was pleasurable.”

Prior to the slap, Anita, the former lead singer of the R&B girl group, The Articulettes, reunited with two of the original members, Sharon and Tracy, for a one-night only concert. Leading up to the big event it was fraught with drama. Tunie recalled, “The reunion concert and leading up to it was all very challenging, very emotional, and the backstory, which finally came to light was very emotional.”

“Just preparing for the concert, I drilled my sisters every single day for that choreography and those vocals,” shared Tunie. “We have a great music team: Ashley Neumeister and Chance Parker, who’s here in Atlanta, and a choreographer. We really wanted to give an authentic performance. I was so pleased that we were actually able to go out of the studio into an auditorium and really make it look like a real performance in a real concert. It was a long, hard day, but it was worth it.”

Photo: CBS

Before the concert, Anita’s long-held secret came to light. The original ‘Articulette,’ Barbara Mitchell was kicked out of the group and blamed Anita, and she eventually ended her own life. Tamara explained, “That backstory: when the Articulettes were younger and we were able to step into a more professional world, we had a manager who felt that one particular ‘Articulette’ couldn’t cut it. So we said “okay, and kept it moving.” Barbara ultimately took her own life from depression, and she wrote Anita a letter saying, ‘You know, you were my sister and you did this to me, and now I’m stepping off because of what you did to me.’ So Anita was carrying that guilt and that burden with her for decades. And so to finally have it come out into the light, and for her sisters to come, and they’d find forgiveness with each other, it was fantastic.”

Photo: CBS

As it turns out, Barbara had a daughter, none other than Anita’s nemesis, the aforementioned Leslie Thomas, who wound up getting the money from the trust fund, Anita had set up.

Playing the matriarch on the first Black-led one-hour network daytime drama series, is not something Tunie takes lightly or working with her Dupree family co-stars! “Thank God, it worked out for Clifton to play Vernon (Dupree) and working with Karla Mosley (Dani) and Daphnee (Nicole), it’s fantastic. I mean, from the moment we met, we were like family. The chemistry is right there, and we love each other. So, it’s very easy to feel. I remember one scene with Dani, and Anita was talking to her and I patted Karla’s butt, like my mother pats my butt, you know?  I was like, “Now I know we’re really a mother and daughter.”

Photo: CBS

Watch Tamara chat about the life and times of Anita Dupree and Beyond the Gates below, and make sure to subscribe to the Michael Fairman Channel for more CBS Atlanta Fest interviews.

So, did you enjoy Anita slapping Leslie? The story of the Articulettes? Tamara playing the Anita impersonator in Vegas? Let us know your favorite moments featuring Tamara Tunie since ‘Beyond the Gates’ premiered via the comment section.

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Tamara Tunie was made to play Anita. I love that she returned to American daytime and is giving true family Matriarch.

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?

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Last week, viewers of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates watched as a tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest. In its wake, people were trapped with one another or seriously injured.

For Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), she found herself stuck in an elevator with her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). And wouldn’t you know, one thing led to another, and the two gave into their unresolved feelings for one another and did the deed.

Meanwhile, Dani’s current husband, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) suffered a minor injury to his leg, and was worried sick in the ballroom because he had no idea where Dani was after the twister decimated the place. Eventually, Dani and Bill part ways go back to their families and act like nothing happened.

Photo: CBS

When Dani is reunited with Andre, he professes his love for her even more than ever. As for Bill’s current wife Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings), she could care less because she was making out with Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor, Y&R) in a closet at the country club!

THE TORNADO MAY HAVE CHANGED DANI’S HEART

For months, Beyond the Gates viewers have found themselves torn; rooting for Dani and Bill to get over themselves and get back together, or rooting for Dani and Andre, because its clear he truly loves her, even though their marriage may not have started out as the greatest love affair of all time.

Karla Mosley opened up to PEOPLE on Dani’s romance plight and who the writers of the soap might ultimately pair her with, expressing “I cannot say. I honestly have no idea.”

As it seems now, this triangle of Andre/Dani/Bill is about to heat up even more following Dani’s elevator exploits. However, according to Mosley, the popularity of Dani and Andre came as surprise to the writers, which has led to the romantic drama. “The writers did not think Dani and Andre were gonna pop off the way that they did,” explained Karla. “Originally, they thought Bill and Dani would be back together by the end of season one. And then it was like, ‘wait, what is happening?’”

Photo: CBS

WRITERS ARE TAKING THE PULSE OF THE FANS

The decision to not have Dani and Bill reunite within season 1 or half-way though season 2, Mosley shares is a sign of the times: “The old soap trope is the torn woman who goes back to her man. But I think there are enough women now who are like, I want to see her win.”

In the end, Karla believes that in this case, fans speaking up, can also translate to the writers room and influence their potential decision of who should be the ultimate man for Dani. She tells Beyond the Gates viewers,  “Keep talking about it, y’all.”

Meanwhile, questions remain: Could Dani and Bill’s elevator sex find her pregnant with his child, which would make this whole situation more messy? Stay tuned.

Now, let us know, who do you want to see Dani ultimately with … Bill Hamilton or Andre Richardson? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

Phillip Boyd Makes His Debut on ‘Beyond the Gates’ in Recurring Role of Dr. Miles Arnold

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A new face emerged on today’s episode of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when actor, Phillip Boyd made his debut in the recurring role of Dr. Miles Arnold.

In story, Dr Arnold is a doctor and surgeon and on the June 16 episode, Miles had to sadly deliver some disappointing new. Neither of Eva’s (Ambyr Michelle) parents, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) or Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is a donor match for the life-saving transplant surgery Eva desperately needs.

Eva, among others, was injured in the tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and its devastating aftermath. She sustained critical injuries during the storm and was trapped with her half-sister, Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon).

Courtesy/CBS

Phillip Boyd recently appeared on The McCord List, where he talked about his career between working in Los Angeles and Atlanta and said about his latest acting gig, “Dr, Miles Arnold works in the hospital. There’s something that happens, a natural disaster and a lot of the characters on the show are at this event and something tragic happens and they’re rushed to the hospital.”

The actor is also appearing in the final season of Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black where he shows up in 7 episodes. Boyd previously appeared in short term roles on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. In primetime, he also played the role of Mitch on 90210 and played Oscar in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots for five-seasons.

So, so you think Beyond the Gates might make Phillip Boyd’s role bigger over time on the soap? Will Kat be the match that Eva needs? If not, who? Many people were ruled out on today’s episode. Drop you thoughts and picks for the donor via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Dani Tries to Deal with Her Guilt Over Betraying Andre; Who Will be the Donor Match for Eva?

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After the tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest last week, as all-new episodes begin on the Monday June 15th episode of Beyond the Gates, lives are on the line, and guilt is the order of the day.

First, Eva (Ambyr Michelle) has been rushed to Garland Memorial Hospital, and from  CBS promo for this week’s Beyond the Gates, Ted (Keith D. Robinson) is sick with worry about his daughter, and goes to his other daughter Kat (Colby Nixon) to consider to be tested to see if she can be a donor match for her sister, but she seems to be refusing. Will she change her mind? And, what will viewers learned happen to Eva? Her boyfriend, Isaiah Hawthorne (Lami) is shown in tears!

Meanwhile, Martin (Brandon Claybon) lies unconscious back at Fairmont Crest after collapsing when he was on his way home with Smitty (Mike Manning). Will he be OK, or also rushed to the hospital? If so, will he need surgery or be the match Eva needs?

Courtesy/CBS

Elsewhere, both Dani (Karla Mosley) and Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) are with their spouses reflecting on being stuck with each other in an elevator, which ultimately led to them having sex! Andre (Sean Freeman) is continuing to profess how deeply he loves Dani, and the thought of anything happening to her he says would destroy him.

However, Hayley (Marquita Goings) is questioning Bill about his whereabouts when viewers know she was making out with Genoa City’s Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) in a closet! So both husband and wife, have been cheating’ behind each other’s backs!

SPOILERS

Take a look at the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for the week of June 15-19 below.

Monday, June 15 
In the wake of the tornado, Shanice, Ashley and Jacob rush into action when someone collapses. Meanwhile, emergency surgery is required to save a life. Nicole’s update worries Samantha and Tyrell. Vanessa is frantic when she can’t get in touch with Donnell or Deanna.

Tuesday, June 16 
Dani battles a guilty conscience. Joey’s sister pays him a visit. Ted reassures Kat while the Richardson-Smiths receive devastating news. The tornado displaces Bill and Hayley.

Wednesday, June 17
Kat rages at Izaiah. Shanice offers Leslie an olive branch. Kial is there for Nicole while Jan comforts Ashley. Ted begs his daughter to do something for him.

Thursday, June 18 
Time is running out for someone in critical condition. Dani confronts Bill. Chelsea is a sounding board for her cousin. Carlton tips Nicole off to an urgent matter. Andre offers Izaiah support.

Friday, June 19
Anita advises her granddaughter. Andre and Bill lock horns. Kat receives life-altering information. Leslie’s good news quickly gets snatched away. The Hawthornes come together for one of their own. Hayley and Naomi find common ground.

Check out the drama coming up on Beyond the Gates in the video teaser below

Now let us know, do you think Dani and Bill will begin a secret affair, or realize they should be together, or will they go back to their current spouses? Who do you think will be the donor match for Eva? Isaiah? Martin? Kat? Someone else? Make your picks via the comment section.

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