Darielle Mason is Black Girl Magic in ‘Raging Midlife’

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Raw, Relatable, and Refreshingly Funny

It feels so good just to vibe in your Black womanhood. Indeed, Darielle Mason embodies that freedom in her first lead role as unintentional love interest Tyler in “Raging Midlife”. Specifically, Darielle’s portrayal of Tyler is cool and smart. She is exactly how I want to be when a bunch of immature guys are determined to pull me into their nonsense. Instead of being the Black best friend trope or focusing on racial stereotypes as her sole characteristic, Darielle gets to enjoy a playful, well-written role that seems to be meant for her. Subsequently, Taji Mag sat down with Darielle to learn more about her life, career, and hair.

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The Interview

Shauntrice: Darielle–first of all, you’re beautiful. Plus your work was so good in Raging Midlife. I won’t lie…in the first few minutes I thought it was going to be a bad movie, but I’m glad I hung in there.

Darielle: Thank you. This was my first lead role audition. It was beautiful just to have the experience. Tyler is a light, fun character. 

Shauntrice: The audience feels that lightness too.

Darielle: I enjoyed being with the cast and crew. And of course I always had an appreciation for what crews do behind the scenes, but when we filmed Raging Midlife, I realized that crew really WORKS! I gained a new level of respect for everyone on the team who makes the magic happen. And I’m nosy so I wanted to get to know the process. Lighting, angles, sound, I want to learn. There is a lot to master  as an emerging actress and I am grateful to the team for teaching me.

Shauntrice: Yes–I would love more stories about the people who make it all happen. Ruth E. Carter’s costume design brilliance brought Wakanda to life. And Prentice Penny’s tenure as a showrunner on Insecure introduced us to incredible lighting and cinematography for dark skin. All that to say–I love hearing how you respect the craft.

Darielle: The crew makes the difference. We had an impressive crew on the set of Raging Midlife.

Do not go backwards.

Shauntrice: How can the industry take better care of Black actors?

Darielle: The Raging Midlife cast/crew was a great example! They were kind, professional, and prepared. This was my first lead role audition and the set was just right. I felt such good energy and it was a freeing experience. And when else would I get to pet a pig?

Shauntrice: Speaking to the larger film culture, what concrete improvements could be made in the way they care for Black actors?

Darielle: Support for Black MUAs so more of them can be unionized. The hair/makeup team tends to give Black actors anxiety when there isn’t a director who understands dark skin and thick hair–especially the newer & upcoming actors. We never know what to expect. Like a lot of us, I remember having a perm. That hot comb trauma is real.

Shauntrice: I remember those days. I think my last relaxer was 20 years ago.

Darielle: It can be a lot. And that hot comb trauma! I should have listened to my momma. She didn’t want me to get a perm. That pressure to get a perm growing up is similar to the pressure for Black actors to fit a certain image. And on set we can get nervous as actors when it comes to our hair. We don’t want to be “difficult”. I feel like I sometimes have to give disclaimers.

Shauntrice: What was your most memorable hair experience on a set?

Darielle: I remember being in the rain for a scene in a different movie. We were all wet, then the team cut and expected me to film a scene where my hair was supposed to be ready to go.

Shauntrice: This seems like a common experience.

Darielle: It’s like…you want to focus on the work, but then you have to worry about your hair in a space where you may not have an advocate. You know…Black hair is not always understood or respected. So you have to advocate for yourself. And I had to advocate for myself in a situation where I wasn’t number one on the call sheet. That can be scary. Thankfully, the set for “Half Sisters” understood and valued me as an actress enough to get it right.

Shauntrice: I’m thinking back to when a Black model on the TODAY Show named Malyia McNaughton got her hair jacked up on live TV. I’m sure it must be challenging to navigate. What advice has stayed with you?

Darielle: Take care of yourself and listen to your momma. My mother didn’t want me to get a perm, but I didn’t believe my hair was curly. I didn’t believe it was what people wanted to see. I liked being more comfortable with my styling on Raging Midlife.

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The Art of Authenticity: Darielle’s Passion

Shauntrice: It sounds like Raging Midlife might offer the industry a great example for how to treat people. Let’s shift and talk about something that seemed to impact all actors: the writers and actors strikes. I remember following Franchesca Ramsey during the strike and seeing just how poorly people were being treated. What was the impact of the strike for you?

Darielle: I left my corporate job to pursue acting. Once my daughter was old enough, I pursued what I loved. So the actor and writer strikes disrupted everything. I started to wonder whether I made a mistake and should call my old boss for a recommendation letter. I knew the strike was important and it needed to happen, but it was still hard and scary at times.

Shauntrice: That’s major.

Darielle: When it comes to acting, there is not one other thing I’ve ever wanted to do more than this. So even though the strike was scary, I pushed forward. A part of me panicked, but I had to light my incense, get grounded, and remind myself why the strike mattered. I told myself: ‘do not go backwards’.

Shauntrice: Do not go backwards. That’s a powerful sentiment to fall back on. What helped you keep up that mindset?

Darielle: I stayed involved. The strike had the potential to be a very isolating experience, but I kept myself occupied by coaching, taking classes, and being with other actors. Plus I was gentle with myself and my skin. I had to be mindful–morning working, face cleanse, time with my daughter.

Shauntrice: I love that. 

One of the heavier moments in Raging Midlife was the Viking funeral scene. Darielle’s character has a notable emotional shift. In real life Darielle was also dealing with planning homegoing services for an uncle who she was close to. Once I learned about her uncle, it became clear that she has the talent to pull from a deep well of emotions and bring the audience deeper into the film. The range I saw between her first first more jovial scenes and the funeral scene was more than enough to convince me that she could play Storm.

Shauntrice: Ok, so I know the internet has their own list in mind for who should play Storm next, but I am putting your name in the mix! No pressure, but what would you bring to a character like Storm?

Darielle: Storm is pressure. What would I bring to Storm? To play Storm, I’d bring the moments from my past where I wished I had her strength, the times I couldn’t fight for myself like she does. I would bring that depth I wished I could have understood back then.

Shauntrice: That is powerful. It makes me want to campaign for you to play Ororo even more.

Darielle: I appreciate that.

Shauntrice: Darielle, thank you for being open and allowing the Taji Mag audience to learn more about you. I know we’ll see more of your work. You definitely have a new fan.

Darielle: Thank you.

From her effortless portrayal of the cool and collected Tyler to her candid reflections on navigating the industry, Darielle Mason proved to be just as captivating off-screen as she is on. Certainly, her passion for authentic storytelling, her commitment to breaking down stereotypes, and her genuine excitement for her craft made this a powerful conversation. Her character left me craving more screen time. Her talent, grace, and undeniable charm mark her as a rising star destined for greater heights. We’re happy to witness her continued success.

Catch Darielle Mason in “Raging Midlife” on Hulu, Apple TV, and Fandango Friday March 14th. Raging Midlife is also showing in select theaters. You can also check out Darielle in “Half Sisters” and follow her on Instagram: @I.Am.Darielle. Go boost up the views on her IMDb page: Darielle Mason.