Naturi Naughton-Lewis, best known for her role as Tasha St. Patrick on Power and its spinoff Power Book II: Ghost, is finally speaking out about a behind-the-scenes struggle that left her disheartened: despite a decade on the show, she says she was never allowed to direct an episode.
During a candid conversation at the third installment of PLLRS at Soho Works in Brooklyn, Naughton-Lewis shared how her requests to direct were repeatedly denied.
“I begged to direct an episode and never got the opportunity,” she told journalist Keith Nelson Jr. “That felt very hurtful. I was showing people I can do it. I took classes. I think that was where I felt like, ‘Jesus, I want to be more than just Tasha.’”
Launching Take Two Entertainment: “We Had to Create Our Own Space”
Frustrated but undeterred, Naturi and her husband, Two Lewis—a film producer and entertainment executive—decided to take matters into their own hands. Together, they launched Take Two Entertainment, a production company committed to telling diverse stories and giving underrepresented talent a voice.
Their recent projects include:
- Short film 333, featured at the American Black Film Festival
- The Color Book, screened at the Tribeca Film Festival
- Upcoming off-Broadway play Duke & Roya, starring Insecure’s Jay Ellis
“We realized that if people won’t open the door for you, you’ve got to build your own,” Naughton-Lewis said.
“The Music Business Broke My Heart”: Reflecting on Her 3LW Past
Naughton-Lewis also opened up about her early music career with the girl group 3LW, revealing the deep exploitation she endured as a teenager.
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“I made no money. I worked my ass off and literally was broke. After selling 1.6 million records, I had $10,000,” she said. “I was on financial aid in college, and people were like, ‘Weren’t you just on TRL?’ The music business broke my heart.”
She said her experience left her emotionally drained and financially unstable, with her father having to help her buy her first car—a BMW 325i—after four years in the spotlight.
Moving Forward with Purpose
Though her journey has been filled with highs and heartbreaking lows, Naturi Naughton-Lewis is charting her own course now—one that centers her vision, voice, and value.
With Take Two Entertainment gaining momentum and her story inspiring others, she’s proving that when the industry says “no,” she can still create her own powerful “yes.”
