19 Dec Who Is Rising Actress GG Townson?!

GG Townson will be starring as the iconic hip hop artist “Salt” in the highly-anticipated biopic Salt-N-Pepa. Salt-N-Pepa details the journey of Queensborough Community College students Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton as they enter the world of rap and hip-hop after recording a song for their friend Hurby Azor.

Salt-N-Pepa made a huge impact as one of the first all-female rap groups and changed the look of hip-hop. The movie follows the group as they become the first female rap act to go platinum and experience ground-breaking success with multiple awards, including a Grammy Award,  paving the way for all female rappers to follow. The film will feature their greatest hits, including: “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “What a Man,” “Shoop” and “Push It”. The biopic is set to premiere on Lifetime on January 23rd.

Back Story – For Los Angeles native GG Townson, entertainment is the family business. Her grandfather, Ronald Townson, was a founding member of the iconic 1960’s vocal group The 5th Dimension. The group is known for their classic hit songs such as “Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” and “Up, Up and Away” among many others. Their success earned them a prestigious star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As a little girl, Townson loved to sing, dance, and play dress-up to entertain her family. Sensing that she was destined to follow in his footsteps, her grandfather got her signed with his agent and she was officially on the path to stardom. 

At the age of seven, Townson booked her first job in a Toon Disney commercial and bigger opportunities on the small screen weren’t far behind as Hollywood took notice of her talent. She landed a guest spot on Joan of Arcadia and also showcased her talent in a recurring role on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, alongside Jamie Lynn Spears. Townson was also seen as Stella in the hit Bounce TV sitcom In The Cut, opposite Dorien Wilson and John Marshall Jones. Stella is the daughter of the main character Smitty who falls in love with Kenny and endures their tragic breakup. Other memorable television appearances include Everybody Hates Chris, Cory in the House, Children’s Hospital, 30 Days 2 Life, and Like Family.

She has also ventured into the world of film. Townson starred in Major Deal, which follows an aspiring rapper who is left with an ultimatum by the mother of his child to sign a record deal or give up his dream indefinitely. However, it turns out his true love interest is Townson’s character Candy. She will next be seen as Lisa in Welcome Matt, alongside Tahj Mowry. The story follows Matt’s journey as he battles agoraphobia after a traumatic experience. While overcoming this fear with the help of his therapist Lisa, he discovers that they share an undeniable chemistry and finds himself developing feelings for her. 

Townson’s big break came when she was cast as iconic hip hop artist “Salt” in the highly-anticipated Lifetime biopic Salt-N-Pepa.

Photographer: Birdie Thompson @birds_eye_photo; Makeup artist: Anton Khachaturian @antonmakeup with Mac Cosmetics; Hairstylist: Jae Angela @jaeangela_hair

The Hype Magazine got GG to weigh in on a few things

From the outside looking in, who is GG Townson?

GG is someone who is very low maintenance, loves tacos and crabs legs. A tell it like it is  December Sagittarius that radiates love, a great shoulder, and a listening ear. She is optimistic, grounded in spirituality, and will always keep you laughing.

Was there a defining moment when you knew the entertainment industry was your path?

I wouldn’t say there was a defining moment. Even as a child, I always performed for my parents and their friends. As I got older, more focus was applied to my desire to entertain, eventually turning it into a career.

You have a new starring role as one of the most iconic entertainers in the world, Salt of Salt-N-Pepa, what does that mean for you?

Pressure! But such a blessing. Being able to tell her story with her support and guidance has been such a fun and rewarding journey. I can’t wait for the world to see all that we put into this project!

How did you prepare to handle this role?

Beyond the mental preparation, I had to prepare to become Cheryl by studying archived interviews, building a relationship with her and even taking the time to breakdown scenes and have everyday discussions. The physical aspect that was requested of me required preparation of its own, from the dancing and preforming to the 14 hour days. There were even times I found myself going through emotional rollercoasters depending on what scene I was shooting. There was nothing I could’ve done to prepare me for that part. My body shut down on me, so after a few emotional scenes I had to just cry it out for a minute. This was the hardest project I’ve shot to date, but the most rewarding. Especially when Cheryl told me she was proud of me once she saw the final cut of the movie.

What’s different with this opportunity than the others you’ve had?

The weight of this project was more than I’ve ever held for any other project.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

To continue expanding my craft and body of work. Being a series lead on a hot television show and becoming a breakout star award recipient.

Tell us about your experience as a Black woman in Hollywood!

Fortunately, I’ve had a great experience in Hollywood thus far. Nothing beyond your regular ups and downs.

What would you like to see done differently in the industry?

For more productions to give more opportunities to new faces! There are a ton a amazing fresh talent just waiting for their moment.

Outside of the entertainment industry, what are your passions?

I love spending time with my friends and family. My village is everything to me.

Any advice for up and comers in the biz?

Move with integrity in everything that you do, be true to yourself don’t compromise yourself for this business. It’s very easy to lose yourself and to start doing things that other people want you to do. What’s the point of going after any career path if you can’t be your most authentic self while doing it.

What’s been your craziest WTF experience thus far in your career?

My craziest WTF moment was the first day of shooting “Salt-N-Pepa.” We were shooting in Canada in November, and it was cold! I am an LA girl, so I didn’t know about the real cold. One day, we shot a performance scene that was. staged as Miami for spring break, and we were in our bikinis!