When you think of movie stars, your mind may go straight to Hollywood. But what about right here in the Midlands?
The Palmetto state is filled with stars, and News19 recently spoke to one about her role in Tyler Perry's "Divorce in the Black," released on Prime Video in July.
Ursula Oriana Robinson has been with South Carolina State University for 25 years and is the drama program coordinator and tenured associate professor of drama.
Robinson plays the character Linda Bertrand in the Perry film, and it's safe to say that she played a key role in the movie trending on social media, thanks to an intense opening scene set at a church during a funeral.
"I believe firmly that there's a little Linda in all of us," Robinson said when speaking about how she embodied her character.
Robinson played beside notable actors like Megan Good, Cory Hardrict, Debbi Morgan and Richard Lawson. She explains that working on set allowed her to build a strong bond with her co-stars -- so much so that they still communicate in a group chat with one another.
More specifically, Robinson shared how she grew a strong bond with Lawson, who plays Clarence, a pastor and father of the main character Ava, who's played by Megan Good.
"King Richard as I call him, King Richard turned out to be a mentor for me. And he's coming to work with our students," Robinson said.
A win for both Robinson and her students, those who plan to take her class will soon be able to learn from the seasoned actor.
When talking about how she's able to balance being both a professor and an actress, Robinson touches on how her experience impacts her teaching.
"I tell them, everything that I do while I'm away is to benefit you. Because what I bring back is the knowledge that I gain by going to work in the industry. So now you have access to current knowledge in the industry through me."
Professor Robinson's work with Tyler Perry Studios doesn't stop here. She said she is also set to star in an upcoming Netflix series by Perry called "Beauty in Black," which is expected to debut sometime this fall.