For years now we've listened in wonder about all the crazy stories Tamra has shared about her adventures with Cousin Sheena. And now, thanks to Tuesday night's episode of The Mindy Project , "What To Expect When You're Expanding," we'll finally get to see this character in the flesh. What could possibly be better than that? Perhaps if I told you she'll also come in the form of Orange Is the New Black star, Laverne Cox, who will be making her Mindy Project debut. And according to a recent chat that I had with Xosha Roquemore, who plays Tamra, Cox's appearance promises to be a highlight of the season.
"Personality-wise, she’s pretty much everything you would imagine if people have been watching and heard all the references to Cousin Sheena and the crazy things I say about her," Roquemore says. "But when you see her embodied by Laverne, it’s pretty much everything you’d expect: adventurous, fun, larger than life, basically." Though, of course, would we expect anything less from Cox, especially when her character shares such strong family ties to someone as hilarious and dynamic as Tamra? Because if you think Tamra is wild and sassy, who do you think she learned it from?
And it's exactly that kind of spunk and confidence that Mindy needs as she continues to become more of more self conscious about her body image due to her expanding pregnancy belly. In fact, it's what prompts Tamra to enlist her cousin Sheena's help in the first place.
But does her assistance prove to be a success? (That was a trick question because of course it does!) "I think in her efforts to make Dr. L. more comfortable physically through clothes and what she has on the outside, I think she helps her feel comfortable with what she has on the inside," Roquemore states. Then again, when you put three amazing actors such as this in a room together, how could the results be anything but phenomenal? And given everything we know about Tamra and Sheena's close relationship, you can expect these two to produce quite a bit of comedic gold.
"We had a really good time," Roquemore says. "She’s really funny and we had a lot of fun stuff to do." Consider me officially intrigued. And given the amazing ensembles these two are rocking in these photos above, I have a feeling they're about to take this show (and New York City in general) by storm, which I, for one, could not be more excited to see played out.
To see Laverne Cox's Mindy Project debut first hand, tune in on March 17 at 9:30 p.m. (ET) on FOX.
Images: Jennifer Clasen/FOX (3)
