Exclusive: Five Questions With Actor, Producer, Dancer and Fitness Maven Elise Neal
Elise Neal (Publicity Photo)
Backstory: Born to entertain, Elise Neal begged her mother to put her in dance class at age six! Now of course an actress known worldwide — Either from seven TV shows: The Hughleys, All of Us, and Belle’s (as a series regular), or one of her thirty films. Her last film, Logan, marked her third film as number one at the box office and has grossed over $400 million dollars worldwide. Elise also broke the Internet for how she looks for her age, Elise is executive producing a fitness show, teaming up with Loud TV, who produced The Biggest Loser, and is pitching many TV and film projects!
Recently, Elise was honored during the WEtv AND BOSSIP HOSTED BEST-DRESSED EVENT CELEBRATING THE MOST FASHIONABLE PEOPLE IN ENTERTAINMENT, earning the Ageless Ab Award, Fit & Fine Award. Other honorees included Honorees included: GooGoo Atkins, Terrell Owens, Vanessa Simmons, Scott Evans, Kenny Latimore, DJ Kiss, Apryl Jones, Angel Brinks, Lola Monroe, Somaya Reece, Tankia Ray, Tonya Banks, Tamala Jones, Juju C., Jade Novah, Sasha Gates, La’Miya Good, Eric Bellinger, Michele Weaver, Laura Govan and Veronica Vega.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 31: Elise Neal attends Bossip Best Dressed List Event on July 31, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/Getty Images for WE tv )
Elise’s latest project, is BET’s epic thriller “We Belong Together” starring with Draya Michele and Charles Malik Whitfield which premiered July 28th and set the industry on fire with the intensity of the plot, leading some media outlets to query if it was possibly based on a real life story! Veterans Neal and Whitfield delivered as expected and beyond while Draya definitely made her mark…if you haven’t watched you should! 4/5 for me!
The Hype Magazine got Elise to weigh in on a few things despite her incredibly packed calendar:
Tell us about your latest project, BET’s “We Belong Together” and where you feel it places in your extensive body of work?
My latest project “We Belong Together ” which just aired on Bet Networks, fits in perfectly with other projects, because my goal is to be able create characters in all genre’s, and I had not done a thriller yet. This film reminded me of elements of “Fatal Attraction ” and “Sleeping with the Enemy ” and the film’s fight scene with Draya Michelle was epic.
Aside from being the face and BODY for women over 50, what is most important to you that we learn about the amazing Elise Neal?
What’s important for people to know about me? Aside from my dedication to inspiring people to embrace fitness and be their best as they age, is aside from having a good body, I have a creative and intelligent brain as well. I’ve been developing and writing television and film projects, and my voice in this space is being heard and respected in Hollywood. It’s only a matter of time before the world sees my vision and passions come to life.
In writing for Hollywood, in this day and age, how does your experience growing up in the South determine the path of your pen as it were?
I’m glad you asked if my southern roots influence my writing. In fact, my 1st screenplay is loosely based on my life balancing relationships and a growing business with my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee as a backdrop.
Your boot camp and fitness regimen made a huge splash during Super Bowl 2017, what’s the update on your system and will there be a national tour run with it?
My mission to help get the world fit by creating ELISE BODY BOOTCAMP was a successful. I really enjoyed meeting people and working out along side of them. (PLUS for any one who didn’t believe I really put in that much sweat it put that to rest. Since then, I’ve actually been developing several fitness ideas: From apparel to DVDs… and I like the 5 city tour idea! Sounds like a partnership with Hype magazine to me! [We are SOOO DOWN…YUP!]
Above: Black Fitness Today cover shoot with multi-talented actress, dancer and gym lover Elise Neal! Get the full cover story and find out about Elise’s role in Wolverine 3 (Logan) and more on the Elise Neal Body Boot Camp on blackfitnesstoday.com.
The Work (Photo: elise-neal.com)
More Work (Photo: elise-neal.com)
RESULTS (Photo: Todd Westphal Photography @IShootAmerica)
Last but not least, The Hype Magazine wants to know: What’s been your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?! Or “WTF?!” moment thus far in your career?
What’s the craziest thing?That I’ve experienced? Well this is HOLLYWOOD RIGHT? HA! I’ve seen a lot, from being told I’m hired for the job to find out they went with local talent to be cheaper, to women hating on me so I don’t get the job. But one that stuck was getting a call from the choreographer of the Austin POWERS films (she saw my head shot on the CAST.) I jumped for joy, only to find out 2 days later the role went to Beyonce. But hey… number 2 to QUEEN B means I’m definitely amazing.
Hey Elise…when they are talking about you across the globe, that’s beyond amazing! ~ JD
IG: @eliseneal
Twitter: @EliseNeal
TweetAbout the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
Related Posts
Usher Opens Up to Zane Lowe About His Journey and New Album “Coming Home” →
Big Homiie G – Blowing Money Fast →
J. Anthony Brown Weighs in with our China Doll – Live Session →
