*By Samantha Errico*
Actress Samira Wiley has a promise for fans of her character Moira in "The Handmaid's Tale:" She's both in season three and alive. At least for now.
"We should just be happy that's a thing," she told Cheddar Thursday.
The same can't be said for her beloved "Orange Is the New Black" character Poussey, who died during the show's fourth season.
"It was one of the innovators," Wiley told Cheddar of the wildly popular Netflix series that launched her career. When "Orange Is the New Black" premiered on the streaming service, "it was one of the first shows that really showed women \[differently\]," she said, adding that the show dramatically shifted the conversation about diversity on the small screen.
Now Wiley is participating in a related conversation off screen ー body diversity. She, alongside model Iskra Lawrence and actresses Busy Philipps and Jameela Jamil, will be featured in American Eagle's #AerieREAL Role Model campaign to challenge unrealistic beauty standards.
"It's about representing women of all shapes and sizes and colors," Wiley said. "I'm just excited to be part of the conversation."
To Wiley, it's a privilege she doesn't take lightly ー on camera and off.
"I do think that everyone has a path, and I do think I am somehow walking down the path has been laid out for me. And to know that includes being able to portray all these wonderful, strong women for the next generation ー that's awesome," Wiley said.
What's next for the actress? Fans would never say no to a Poussey spin-off ー even one that takes place in the afterlife.
"Poussey and Taystee, I don't know why that hasn't happened yet," Wiley said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/actress-samira-wiley-on-why-she-loves-playing-strong-women).
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Revenue operations platform Clari recently raised $225 million in a Series F financing round led by Blackstone, bringing the company's valuation to more than $2.6 billion. Calri says more than 450 companies from around the world use its A.I.-powered platform to make their revenue operations more connected, efficient, and predictable. Clari CEO Andy Byrne joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
With so many nutrition apps, social media influencers, and diet trends, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to getting healthy. Christina Jax, registered dietitian, nutritionist and health advisor, at the nutrition app LifeSum, says diets shouldn't be just about weight management. She joined Cheddar to give some tips on how to approach health and wellness in a holistic way.
Like countless cities, Las Vegas turned into a ghost town when Covid hit, shutting down casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, and everything else that keeps its economy running. But Sin City has surged back to life, as many bachelorettes and bachelors flock there to celebrate their last months as singles. Travel expert Lee Abbamonte gives an update on the state of the travel industry two years into the pandemic, including how Vegas has lured tourists back to the crowded city.
As controversy dogs the run-up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, China is hiring TikTokers and other social media influencers to promote the nation's history, culture, diplomatic efforts, and current trends.
Talent Resources Sports is partnering with ABG Entertainment to host Sports Illustrated The Party during the weekend of Super Bowl LVI, featuring musical performances by Kygo, Jack Harlow, and other guests. David Spencer and Mike Heller, co-CEOs and founders of Talent Resources Sports, joined Cheddar to discuss the details behind putting on the event. “We’re just really pumped that after all of the things that got canceled people will finally have a place to let some steam off in such an exciting moment, such a charged moment with the Super Bowl,” Mike Heller said about putting on the live event after previous COVID-related cancellations.
Coming off of a horrible week for Peloton on the stock market, another character from a TV series died after riding the stationary bike. Mike Wagner on "Billions" was the latest fictional tragedy, just a month after "Mr. Big" suffered a similar fate on the "Sex and the City" reboot "And Just Like That." Peloton tweeted it had not worked with the Showtime series on the episode.
