(Episode 296) "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Actor: Daphne Maxwell Reid.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 296."The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"Actor: Daphne Maxwell Reid.You wouldn’t blame someone with a lifetime of success as a performer to take it easy in their later years, restricting their efforts to the occasional fun gig or reunion appearance.  But that’s not Daphne Maxwell Reid, who continues to thrive as a creative entrepreneur and artist, continuing to dazzle anyone who knows her with her bold spirit, grace, and work ethic. One of the first African-American women to make the cover of Glamour magazine and one of television history’s most beloved sitcom moms, Reid now balances her acting gigs with her work as a photographic artist, clothing designer, and education activist, demonstrating that it’s never too late to pursue new passions and find new opportunities. When she attended Northwestern University a half-century ago, Daphne Maxwell became the prestigious school’s first African-American homecoming queen; but that was just the first of many barriers that Maxwell broke in her career, arriving into the industry at just the right moment as a new perspective on race was emerging in the wake of thecivil rights movement.  “Being among the first of a few black women to work in popular television reminds me that one doesn’t choose to be a pioneer,” she says today.  “One does what comes next in their journey, and sometimes you happen to be the first to do it.  I just happened to land in that slot of being first for some things – but being the firstdoesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t seed the growth of a lot more.  I’m pleased that my seed bore fruit, and now there are so many more black homecoming queens and cover models and actresses in popular entertainment.”Best known as being "Aunt Viv" from The Fresh Prince of Bell-Air from Seasons 3-6, You will come to see she is so much more than that.Welcome, Daphne Maxwell Reid.Instagram: Monday Morning Critic Podcast.Facebook: Monday Morning Critic Podcast.Twitter:@mdmcriticwww.mmcpodcast.comEmail: [email protected]: Monday Morning Critic PodcastSupport the show