NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� , reaping rewards from the hard work she鈥檚 sowed throughout her three-decade career. For the 鈥淗arlem鈥� star, gratitude is her mantra.
鈥淎s crazy as, not even just this last year, the last few years have been for me, this is the happiest I鈥檝e been in a long time. And it鈥檚 pretty wonderful,鈥� said Good last week with tears welling in her eyes, emotions heightened as she thought of her relationship with Jonathan Majors, her time on 鈥淗arlem鈥� and the Los Angeles wildfires.鈥淚鈥檓 just thankful for the journey and I鈥檓 thankful to be loved.鈥�
Much of that love has been provided by , and the fluctuating journey includes their scrutinized relationship, leading Tyler Perry鈥檚 鈥淒ivorce in the Black鈥� film and starring in the third and final season of 鈥淗arlem,鈥� premiering Thursday on Prime Video.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible that the people who have supported us and have watched the show have waited on us like 鈥楪ame of Thrones,鈥欌�� said Good, who plays Camille, a Columbia University professor of sex and love. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool to be a part of something so amazing that people love.鈥�
The resilience of 鈥楬arlem鈥�
鈥淗arlem鈥� has been a survivor, emerging from the coronavirus pandemic and the Hollywood actors and writers strikes. The Tracy Oliver dramedy follows four women in their 30s (Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson and Shoniqua Shandai) living in Manhattan鈥檚 historic Black neighborhood as they navigate love, friendships and careers. While the series didn鈥檛 reach the it earned a staunch fan base.
鈥淚f you really think about shows about New York, it鈥檚 almost like purposefully excluding Black people ... so when we reflect on shows like 鈥楩riends鈥� or even 鈥楽ex and The City,鈥� I probably can count on one hand how many Black people I鈥檝e seen in those shows. But in New York, it鈥檚 unavoidable because Black people have created the culture here, specifically in Harlem,鈥� said Johnson, who plays Tye, a queer dating app designer for LBGTQ+ people of color.
and that鈥檚 why we loved it because we love seeing these women meeting in this small little apartment to commune with each other ... that鈥檚 why we have such a cult following because there was a hole in the market that Tracy brilliantly filled.鈥�
Good, 43, said the relationship she shares with her cast, crew and streaming platform is one she hadn鈥檛 experienced. 鈥淭his definitely has been the best professional experience I鈥檝e had in my entire career in terms of emotionally, mentally, professionally, spiritually.鈥�
It鈥檚 an emphatic declaration by the former child star whose first major film appearance came in Ice Cube鈥檚 1995 classic 鈥淔riday,鈥� and became a household name to kids on .
Good on her relationship with Jonathan Majors and the cost of fame
Adored for beauty throughout her relatively drama-free career, many fans questioned her relationship with Majors, the and 鈥淎nt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.鈥� It began toward the end of 2023 following the 35-year-old鈥檚 arrest for allegations of escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse toward ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.
But the 鈥淭hink Like a Man鈥� and 鈥淪hazam! Fury of the Gods鈥� actor said her Christian faith and life lessons prepared her for the backlash.
鈥淚 think about being in my 20s and you see the Media Take Outs and it鈥檚 a hundred nice things and there鈥檚 like one or two bad things. And I would just internalize it and I would cry and it would hurt my feelings so much,鈥� said Good, who also cited criticism from fellow Christians about her attire and film choices, false skin-bleaching allegations, and the end of her near decade-long marriage with pastor and Hollywood executive DeVon Franklin as perseverance-builders. 鈥淚 had been praying for maybe like five or six years, 鈥橪ord, please deliver me from what people think about me. 鈥� But I will say the part of it that is still hard for me is to see them drag people I love.鈥�
and a harassment violation. but was ordered to complete a yearlong counseling program. He also settled a civil suit with Jabbari, but the ordeal nearly extinguished his career.
Good, who was by Majors鈥� side at court dates and became in engaged to him in November, is optimistic his career will regenerate. (Ironically, in which he proposes scenarios to a potential girlfriend to see if she鈥檇 stand by him, including incarceration.)
鈥淭he idea that people are like, 鈥橶ell, she got paid,鈥� said Good, rolling her eyes at suggestions it鈥檚 a publicity stunt 鈥� 鈥渋t could be hurtful, but I just don鈥檛 care anymore. And that鈥檚 a good feeling.鈥�
What鈥檚 next for Good
Good, who aspires to star in an action film, has been open about her desire to have children and is focusing on her future with Majors, including launching a health and wellness brand together.
Admirers and industry colleagues believe Good deserves much more recognition.
鈥淧eople have tried to pigeonhole her in a certain area that now she鈥檚 breaking free. I always tell her that this is her phoenix moment ... the ashes actually being a metaphor for people鈥檚 expectations of her,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淎bout 75% of my favorite movies that shaped my upbringing have Meagan Good in them ... I鈥檝e learned so much about transitioning into womanhood and adulthood through the characters that she鈥檚 played.鈥�
Good, however, stresses her focus is not on recognition or major awards, but reaching the hearts of people. She circles back to gratitude for a career that has defied Hollywood odds.
鈥淭o have any appreciation is a gift,鈥� said Good. 鈥淚 feel like my best is yet to come. And I feel like even now, I鈥檓 kind of just getting started.鈥�
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Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
