Condola Rashad at Sundance 2018: ‘They allowed me to find my way’

10:06 AMPARK CITY, UTAH — Sitting in a Park City condo overlooking the Main Street of the snow-covered city, Condola Rashad throws her head back and laughs — heartily. The stage and film actor is used to people asking her what her real-life mother, famed Cosby Show matriarch Phylicia Rashad, told her about navigating her own career in show business.

But as for her dad? Nah, people don’t really ask what her dad, Ahmad Rashad, says. Rashad was of course a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. “It’s funny because my dad — both my parents, really — gave me room and space to explore. My mother was talking about this the other day. She said, ‘You’ve always been very vocal. We always know where you’re at.’ They allowed me to find my way.” Rashad co-stars in Netflix’s excellent forthcoming Come Sunday, which also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover and Lakeith Stanfield. An adaptation of a 2005 episode of NPR’s This American Life, the film is about a bishop who experiences trauma. It ends up changing his ministry. “And then when I need help,” said Rashad of her parents, “they allow me to come to them.”

But it was her dad, who’s also had a successful broadcasting career for ABC and NBC, who gave her something else. “The hardest part of my career … is the politics,” Rashad said. “I’m not a politician. I’m not … I don’t know how to operate in that space. I’m not good at that. If I don’t feel genuine, I’m not going to do it. … My dad has been really good with reminding me that I have all the tools I need: ‘What are you feeling? What are you thinking? What are you going through?’ He always encouraged me and reminded me that I … should just trust myself.”