If you don’t know the name Simone Joy Jones now, you will soon. Starring in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, a remake of the 1991 cult classic, the actor and musician is carving out careers across creative industries in en exhilarating manner to watch. With a degree from Carnegie Mellon’s musical theatre program and a resume that includes a Tony Award-winning Broadway production, Billy Porter’s directorial debut, and Peacock’s Bel-Air, she steps into the role of Tanya in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead — a 17-year-old recent high school grad on the precipice of what was meant to be the summer of her life. As the story unfolds, however, her carefree trip to Spain is cancelled, her babysitter dies, and she gets thrust into the responsibilities of adulthood.
As her character is thrown into new waters, Jones is exploring new realms as well. Releasing music under the name S!MONE, she lets people into her own life and stories alongside those she portrays. We talk with the star about balancing the two facets of her career, opening for Coco Jones, and what’s to come.
Watch the trailer for Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead…
Read the interview…
Hi Simone! How are you? What are your currently up to?
Hi I’m fantastic. I’m so blessed right now. I am writing music in the studio, filming Bel-Air, and writing a short!
Congratulations on your role as Tanya Crandell in the remake of Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead! Talk to us a bit about how this opportunity came your way and your reaction to securing the role.
Absolutely, this role came in like every other audition and I just loved the script so much that I wanted to be a part of something so funny and so wholesome. I was so excited when I got the role because of how the story touched me.
Can you share any insights into the message and mission behind the remake?
The mission behind the remake is to tell a story about a family who finally sees each other. It’s a feel-good film that makes you laugh and cry and root for these characters. I’m so honoured to be part of it.
What was it like working with director Wade Allain-Marcus and the rest of the cast on set?
Wade Allain-Marcus is such a genius and he’s so specific in his vision but not in the way that hurts the creative process. He is such a malleable director and he’s an actor as well so he knows how to communicate his vision. He’s also just super dope. Working with the rest of the cast is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I mean Nicole Richie is a hilarious and genuine person and Carter Young, Ayaamii Sledge, and Donielle Hansley are so funny and cool and they have this light inside of them that lights up everyone else in the room.
How did you initially get into acting in both theatre and film?
Wow I initially started acting when I was five years old. I did a church play and I played King Darius in the story of Daniel in the Lions Den and I didn’t let anyone help me. I told my parents: I got this and I’m gonna memorise the script. I loved it. It just felt like breathing to me. I was like oh yeah of course that’s what I do. My first professional job was The Miracle Worker on Broadway when I was nine years old and it was such a beautiful opportunity and I just felt so in my element. Such a big thank you to my parents and my immediate family who supported me without question in those early years.
Speaking on your other projects, you are reprising the character Lisa in Peacock’s Bel-Air” how did you navigate portraying a more contemporary version of such an iconic show?
Honestly, I’m so thankful I have the experience with Bel-Air because it’s another treasured iconic universe that we have to be very mindful with, and take care of but also not at all duplicate. It’s been a blast. It has been very easy to step into somebody who is cool, and as lovely as Nia Long’s character, even though Lisa and Bel-Air are completely different, but even to have the namesake is an honour.
Alongside acting, your music career as S!MONE has gained a lot of attention too! How do you balance your acting and music pursuits, and do they influence each other creatively?
I am such a storyteller and through acting, you have other peoples stories to take care of. In my music I have my own and so to be in the driver seat to be the producer and director of my own story and the way I get to tell it is very friendly and very therapeutic. I’m very very happy that I have that other avenue that speaks to me and loves me right back. It is so cool to have people who listen to my music and going on tour with Coco Jones was eye-opening to how many people actually listen and resonate with my sound, so it gave me the courage and fuelled more of a drive to keep going.
Can you share any other exciting upcoming projects you will be working on?
Absolutely! I’m going to be releasing music this summer and I’ve been lucky enough to take my time and curate a sound that speaks to me authentically with musicians, who I really respect and adore and I’m excited for people to hear.
Who would be a dream collaborator for you to work alongside?
Oh my gosh I have so many dream collaborators! I mean Beyoncé is the artist of my life so absolutely her, but also Willow Smith, Jacob Collier, Kehlani, Donald Glover, Lucky Day, Erykah Badu, Alex Isley, Jordan Ward and Tierra Whack. I have such a reverence for music and I can’t wait to collaborate with people who love it too.
With such a diverse range of projects in your filmography, from theatre to film to music, what kind of roles or projects do you hope to experience in the future?
I say all the time I want to play a superhero and a spy, something dark and bad. I would also like to work on a really cool sketch comedy show, something like – I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson or Black Lady Sketch Show. I also really want to go on tour with this new music coming out this summer and the music and I am making in the future. I am also a budding director so look out for the film that gets made through my lens. That’s some thing I’m also very excited about. I hope to experience love magnified through art in every medium of art that is honest and raw and jagged. Those are the projects that interest me, however they manifest is what I’m signing up for 100%.