EXCLUSIVE: Bella Murphy and Akiley Love Talk Joining Coming 2 America

Bella Murphy and Akiley Love are making their debuts in the Coming to America series as Princess Omma Joffer, Prince Akee and Lisa’s second daughter and Princess Tinashe Joffer, Prince Akeem and Lisa’s third daughter, respectively in Coming 2 America.

The ladies opened up about their characters, when they first watched the first film, Coming to America, beating up Wesley Snipes and so much more. Check out what they had to say below.

Bella Murphy on when she was allowed to see Coming to America and her feelings on the movie:
“I saw this one kind of young, I was either 10 or 11. I don’t think there was negotiation. I just watched it. But it was really cool. It was cool to see my dad like that, because that was the first time I saw images of black royalty on stage or onscreen. It was cool and even cooler that it was my dad. I felt really empowered”.

Love on the her character and the impact her character will have on future generations:
“It was just really fun to play a character that is from Africa and she’s able to walk around and wear all of these really cool, amazing outfits. To see all this gold and to play a princess, that was really fun. I just hope that everybody who sees it that looks like me realizes that they’re like that to. The movie isn’t a fictional movie, although, yes it is. It’s actually knowing what black people are. And that’s the reasons why I’m so proud that I was able to be a part of it.”

The rest of the conversation can be found under the jump. Coming 2 America will be released in theaters and on Amazon Prime Video this coming Friday, March 5.

Murphy and Love on what was it like to beat up Blade [Wesley Snipes] in the movie:
Murphy: “That was awesome. I remember when we were doing that scene, I actually got to act out that whole stunt. I was nervous because I was flailing my stick around. I didn’t want to hit Wesley Snipes in the head because that’s not a good impression. So I was really nervous, and it actually turned out really well.”

Love: “That was tons of fun, not only training for it because I just personally pick up on things very quickly and I learned very easily. But it was really fun doing that on set. I was nervous because they wanted me to beat up this really tall, huge guy. I was like, ‘Oh, okay’ And they wanted me to hit him where the sun doesn’t shine, I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ So I was doing that. Then I was actually having lots of fun because I got to swing glasses at him, and crack a vase over his head. It was so much fun. And I think whenever you know that I’m coming in, you hear this huge battle cry, that was one of my favorite parts.

Murphy on playing a powerful character:
“I just felt so empowered and it was cool. I feel like the story shows how women can do just as much as men, and if not, they can do it even better. So it was really cool.”