LisaRaye Says She Felt Pressured After “Player’s Club” to Be a Sex Symbol

Though she is most widely known for her iconic role as Diamond in 1998’s “Player’s Club,” LisaRaye McCoy says the character caused her to have an identity crisis.

The legendary comedy-drama followed the tale of Diamond as she navigated through life in the strip club while being a single mother and college student. The film starred some of Black Hollywood’s most loved stars, including the late Bernie Mac, Jamie Foxx, Monica Calhoun, Adele Givens, and Ice Cube, who also directed the film. The movie grossed over $23 million and solidified LisaRaye’s position in pop culture forever.

However, the 54-year-old talk show host says she felt pressured to live up to her iconic character for much of her career after the film.

“I had an identity crisis after ‘Players Club’ because I felt like I had to have the long hair and look like my character, ‘Diamond,’ in order to be recognized,” she revealed to Page Six. She says the role made her a “bona fide sex symbol,” which is a “stigma that follows you.” LisaRaye says people expected her to be sexy 24/7, as her character was.

Nevertheless, LisaRaye says she is now “an older Diamond” with much more wisdom and understanding of what it means to be sexy.

LisaRaye has secured numerous roles in many projects, including VH1’s “Single Ladies” and the CW’s “All of Us.” She is currently a host on “Cocktails with the Queens” on Fox Soul.