'He projected an admirable dignity and confidence that made his fans feel they were watching greatness in action. And what he represented as a Black artist who was so highly respected — who was truly Hollywood royalty — was immeasurable to me.'
Interviewing larger-than-life figures has always been daunting for me. At times it can be disorienting, at others a letdown.exploring his groundbreaking career, and a more informal encounter at a book signing a few years later.Both times I was short of breath. My awe of him was fueled by the impression he had made on me as a youngster watching “Lilies of the Field” on my parents’ black-and-white TV.
So it’s probably not surprising that I was so nervous in the days leading up to our 2000 interview. Even two decades later, I still remember it vividly.Sidney Poitier, who made history as the first Black man to win an Oscar for lead actor and who starred in ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,’ has died. My nerves were calmed by his quiet dignity. Although he was aware of his status as a screen icon, he was more personable — and down to Earth — than many celebrities I’d met before, or have since. His smile and his voice were electric. He could not have been more polite.
It was that aversion to celebrity that made it so difficult for Grant to convince Poitier to participate in the project. She pleaded with him for years, and he politely but consistently resisted. But she finally wore him down. As he spoke, I resisted the temptation to look to see if my tape recorder was working. I silently prayed that it wasn’t malfunctioning.
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