Lovie Simone stars in the new Netflix adaptation of Judy Blume’s Forever, and while it isn’t the actor’s first role, it has the makings for it to be her breakthrough.
Before now, Simone, 26, was best known for starring in OWN’s Greenleaf and playing Selah in the critically acclaimed Selah and the Spades. In both she tackled emotionally complex roles with intensity and authenticity in a way that felt relatable to viewers.
The same can be said of Forever, which premieres May 8 on Netflix. Simone plays Keisha, a teenager who falls in love with her childhood friend, Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), now grown up and on the high school basketball team. Of course, this being a drama, both teenagers have personal challenges that lead to secrets and problems in their relationship.
“My character is moving through this big piece of trauma,” Simone tells Glamour. “And then you see her try and navigate this world. It’s true to the book, where the girl is navigating this world; it’s just a little bit more modern. It shows how reputation and all these other things could play a part in the modern day and age.”
With the leads being Black and a focus on more diverse storytelling, this new version of Forever—from acclaimed showrunner Mara Brock Akil, the mind behind Girlfriends and Being Mary Jane—takes a contemporary approach to Blume’s original book. Published in the 1970s, the story was considered groundbreaking at the time for its frank approach to teenage sex and sexuality.
As Akil told The Telegraph, “Forever...was written against a backdrop of women’s liberation—the birth-control pill had become this big new thing and, for the first time, women could explore their hearts and bodies, and know they weren’t endangering their future.”
Below, read Glamour's conversation with Lovie Simone on similarities between Judy Blume’s book and the Netflix series adaptation, her time on set in Los Angeles, and the importance of Black representation on screen.
Glamour: How did you prepare for this role? I recently watched the show, and then went back and read the novel. Did you pull from the book’s Catherine as inspiration, or did you look to any other iconic teenagers for the role?
Lovie Simone: I do know two iconic teenagers—they’re my little brother and my little sister, so I just kind of observed how they are, and then I kind of blended that with my own high school experience, and then it was just really easy once I was doing that and working with the script that was available.
As I watched it, I felt transported back to when I had my first boyfriend. In the beginning, Keisha and Justin send each other music a lot. How do they use music to communicate when they can’t find the words to?
I feel like music is a really big thing for teenagers, so for them, it’s like a form of communication. Even if they aren’t sending it to each other directly, or if it’s something that’s kind of just going with the vibe, music is a very big thing for them.
There are a lot of changes from the book, but also some similarities, like the pair meeting at a New Year’s Eve party. Are there any specific moments or details from the book that you wish were included in the show?
Honestly, I think the show is perfect the way it is. There’s nothing that I would change about Forever.
I read that the first time you got to experience living in LA for an extended period of time was when you filmed Forever. Do you have any fun memories of being on set or exploring the city?
All of the fun was on set, and all of the exploring of LA definitely happened. LA was a character in Forever, for sure. I enjoyed just being around the more home-like environments and backgrounds, because usually I want to see—let’s go see what restaurant to go to or what bar people are usually trying to go out to. But to see black families living and existing in this place brought a new perspective to LA that I never considered before.
I watched Forever with my roommate, and it so felt like the type of show to watch with your girls. Are you planning to host a watch party for the premiere?
Yeah, my sister is definitely planning a watch party. She is rounding up our friends. It’s going to be a whole big thing. I can't wait.
What’s next for you? Are there any projects that you’re looking forward to or any roles that you’re interested in playing?
I am looking forward to all of it. I’m looking forward to everything, I want to be in everything.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.