Ja'Net DuBois had big love for her small role on Good Times
Ja’Net DuBois played the role of Good Times’ lovely neighbor, Willona Woods. While her role as Willona wasn’t the biggest in the series, it was an important one for the Evans family.
Her character was a strong, independent woman who was stylish and outspoken, and it turns out the character and the actress weren’t so different.
Despite having a smaller role on a show as big as Good Times, she worked with the best of the best, including co-stars Ralph Carter, Esther Rolle and John Amos, among others. See Also
According to a 1977 interview with Public Opinion, DuBois said she was happy with her role and accepted that her character probably wouldn’t get any more screen time as the show went on.
Her only issue with the series was the writers. In the interview, DuBois said the writers had a hard time finding something funny for her to say because there wasn’t enough time in the half-hour episodes to develop her character.
"It’s quite obvious that they can’t develop Willona’s personality in 22 minutes of Good Times each week when there are five other main characters to focus on," DuBois said. "The family story has to be told, and, well, somebody’s got to get the small part."
According to the interview, in many ways, she was happy with a role so small. It still gave her plenty of experience, exposure, and a paycheck while allowing her to explore other roles.
She would go on to have guest spots on The Love Boat, The Facts of Life, and even a Janet Jackson music video in 1986. Perhaps the most important part of having a small role for her was being introduced to viewers at home.
"I haven’t been locked into the character so that the audience won’t accept me in other roles," DuBois said. "As long as I can play roles that say what I feel, everything is all right. I’m using the industry as much as I can to introduce myself as a person who says there is nothing like the power of love. There is no good intention that doesn’t blossom."
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