Bellamy Young talks about the "Scandal" presidential race
Season 5 of "Scandal" might be over, but fans are undoubtedly already excited for what the next season of the drama will bring for both Olivia Pope and Melody "Mellie" Grant, who is running for president.
Bellamy Young, who plays Mellie, talked to CBS News about Mellie's new relationship with Olivia, who is helping her run her campaign, and what next season's election might look like.
You have your hands in every pot -- you're a singer and you have "Night Stalker" coming up. You do all of this while struggling with migraine headaches. How do you deal with that?
I'm so happy to have a newly found life now because I found a medicine that worked for me about one-and-a-half years ago. I found Treximet. It changed my life. I have my freedom back -- not only are you affected when migraines come on, you're affected every moment of every day you get a migraine. I've lost days at work and now I feel liberated. I want to encourage people to get to their doctors and find the medicine that's right for them.
"Scandal" fans are crazy about Mellie. Why do you think viewers connect so well with her?
Our incredible writing staff has created a character who resonates with people. Especially in the beginning of her trajectory, she had love that was not returned, and that brings out our ugliest qualities. People who can see themselves in that sad moment for Mellie can connect with that, and then they allowed her to go in surprising directions and people have gone on that journey with her.
Are you happy Mellie and Olivia are friends now?
Yes I am. There's been so much love and possibility between them because there is so much respect. Post-Fitz has allowed them to heal. Mellie is a smart woman and knows the best person to run her campaign. Love and respect and the healing came, the trust was restored and they're able to lean on each other. Kerry and I loved those scenes together. Life is complicated and women can hold those complexities and have a future in which they move forward.
Mellie and Olivia Pope are two of TV's most powerful female characters, on one show together. Of course, Kerry Washington was one of the first leading black female characters on a network drama in a very long time. How do you feel about working with Shonda Rhimes and being part of this change in the entertainment world?
Oh golly. From the get-go, even when I just had two lines and was recurring, I was so proud to be on a Rhimes show. As a viewer, she changed everything. Everyone could finally see themselves on TV, everyone could see their story. To be part of that now on "Scandal" -- I'm so proud. The filibuster episode this year, to get that material in front of a wider audience -- those lines were taken from fact, not just imagination, and that makes me quite comfortable to be a soldier in Shonda's army.
What do you think makes Mellie a great presidential candidate?
Presidential candidate or president?
Either!
I think it's been fun to see her this year. She's so often been a backseat driver so it's amazing to be driving and see how much more difficult it is to make the decisions and to watch her stumble and doubt herself and get up and move forward. Her resilience is what makes her an incredible talent. As a president, she's been preparing for this job all of her life, so to finally see her step into that power is a fish to water and I think she'll be far more decisive than Fitz ever was.
How do you feel about the real presidential race?
I think it's been incredible as an actor to be pretending to be in a race while there's a real one going on. This sort of synergy -- that's once in a lifetime but there's been many instances this spring that they've really outdone us. It's the first time I've seen life being weirder than art.
You released your first album last year. How was that for a change of pace?
It was such a dream and I'm grateful that it was at the behest of many of our gladiators. I would have felt presumptuous to just do it, but I am so grateful they encouraged me to do that because it was such a deep joy. I really hope that singing continues to be part of the conversation as I go forward. It's a humble little effort but I love it so much.
