EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Robin Givens Teases 'Ambitions' is Full of "Drama, Drama, Drama"

At long last, Jamey Giddens' highly anticipated primetime soap opera, Ambitions, premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on OWN, following a new episode of The Haves and the Have Nots. Ambitions explores the sexy, deceitful machinations of love, power and politics in America’s hottest urban mecca, Atlanta, Georgia. The series centers around the intense rivalry between formidable legal eagles Stephanie Lancaster (Robin Givens) and Amara Hughes (Essence Atkins), former best friends from college who find themselves adversaries in both their personal and professional lives. Full descriptions of ensemble below:

Givens plays the sophisticated Stephanie, who hails from a long line of distinguished attorneys. Stephanie desperately wants to be in charge of her family's prestigious law firm and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

We Love Soaps caught up with Givens when we visited the Ambitions set in Atlanta. Check out what she had to say in our interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your first reaction when you read the script for Ambitions? What stood out to you?
ROBIN GIVENS: It was sort of interesting because I was working on Riverdale and The Fix at the same time. With Riverdale, I worked with that character for some time so I understood her. The Fix was a pretty tough character (Julieanne Johnson) for me, and it was a lot of work. When my agent sent me the script for Ambitions, I was like, "No, I'm fine." I was already working on two shows but when I read it I was like, "Okay, no one can do this better than I can" [laughs]. So I borrowed a dress from The Fix, went in for the audition and did my thing.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Brely Evans Recommends You have a Glass of Wine and a Fan When Watching 'Ambitions'

We are only one day from the premiere the most anticipated new series of the summer, the Jamey Giddens-penned Ambitions. Brely Evans stars as Rondell Lancaster, the sister of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian J. White) and manager of the Thelma's Place restaurant. As the new face of an anti-gentrification campaign, she never thought would become a crusader for the people, but it's a badge she wears with pride – and nobody is removing it.

Check out what Evans had to say when We Love Soaps traveled to the set in Atlanta back in April.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your first reaction when you read the script for Ambitions?
BRELY EVANS: When I read the audition sides I thought to myself, “I know her,” because she’s me. She’s outspoken and not afraid to have an opinion. She really doesn’t give a f*** if someone has something opposing to say. She really stands for the people and I’m coming from the “greater good” so “I’m right.” I have that fire in me too when it comes to my love for people. I couldn’t believe how I related to her so quickly.

As we get scripts for our scenes--one day I was standing up on my kitchen counter reading and my knees got weaker and weaker to where I found myself eye level with the counter going “oh my god!” That’s how exciting it is to find out what’s happening with Bella and Evan and my character and my suitors. Yeah, it’s so friggin' juicy! You should see our table reads.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Erica Page Expects 'Ambitions' to Grab Your Attention Right Away

Ambitions premieres on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Erica Page stars as Bella (Tru) Trujillo, Atlanta's newest and trendiest fashion designer. She's the exclusive dress designer for First Lady Stephanie Lancaster (Robin Givens) but has set her sights much higher.

We Love Soaps traveled to Atlanta in April to speak with the cast about the highly-anticipated new drama. Check out what Page had to say in our exclusive interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your first reaction when you read the script for Ambitions? What stood out to you?
ERICA PAGE: I was really excited to play Bella. Brely [Evans, who plays Rondell Lancaster] and I actually worked on a show together right before this (Last Call). It was a fun and sassy role. Before that, I kept getting roles that were like the “frumpy nurse” or the “reporter.” It was the first role that I was sexy and fashionable. When I would watch my most recent roles, I would watch the scenes and think to myself “that doesn’t even look like me.” As I learned more about Bella, I relate to her in so many ways as far as her upbringing, not knowing her biological father--I didn’t in real life till I was older. So I connected with her in a lot ways.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Tell us about your character and what we can expect to see with your character as the series progresses.
ERICA PAGE: I talked to the writers so I knew Bella as a person, and then I know apart from what the writers tell us and the character choices we make as an actor. I already knew that Bella is a good person. Yes, she does some really stupid things and makes impulsive decisions that hurt people, but at the end of the day it all comes down to her baby and her company. She came from nothing and wants to make something of herself. She’s determined to make that happen and wants to be able to provide for her baby what she wasn’t able to have growing up. Bella is going to do whatever it takes to make that happen. Yes, she does hurt people along the way but especially as time goes you’re going to see that Bella does have remorse and feels bad. In the first few episodes, she seems like a savage. You’ll see that filters come off and she is a “good person” and has feelings. She’s not just doing this because she is a gold digger or all about herself. There’s meaning and depth underneath all of it for sure.

Kendrick Cross on Playing His 'Ambitions' Character: "Suddenly It Was Perfect"

Ambitions premieres Tuesday, June 18 at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Kendrick Cross stars as Titus Hughes, a passionate attorney and dedicated husband to Amara (Essence Atkins). Titus has accepted the challenge of being in-house counsel for a big pharma company run by Hunter Purifoy (Brian Bosworth) to fight a class action suit brought by the powerful Carlisle family.

Cross explained how he eased into the role when We Love Soaps visited the Ambitions set in April.

"Initially, when I first got the audition all they gave me was the scene," he said. "I didn’t know the backstory or anything else. I developed that character. When I got on set, I had eleven different people telling me 'no, he's this" or “no, he’s that.' I was a little confused for the first two episodes."

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Brian J. White Loves Shooting 'Ambitions' in Atlanta

We are only four days away from the premiere of the Jamey Giddens-penned and Will Packer-produced primetime soap opera Ambitions, which debuts on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Ambitions is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city. Brian J. White stars as Evan Lancaster, the Mayor of Atlanta who is married to attorney Stephanie Carlisle (Robin Givens). Evan's dream is to be the first African-American governor of Georgia and there's no line he won't cross to get there.

The all-star cast also includes Essence Atkins as Amara Hughes, a lawyer in the U.S. Attorney's Office who has newly arrived in Atlanta with her husband, Titus (Kendrick Cross); Brely Evans as Rondell, Evan's sister, who runs a not-quite-profitable restaurant called Thelma's Place; and Erica Page as Bella, a fashion designer in Atlanta who designs all of Stephanie's dresses for her.

Prior to taking on the role of Evan in Ambitions, White starred in numerous television series and films including Ray Donovan, Bronx SIU, Chicago Fire, Scandal, Hostages, Beauty and the Beast, Mistresses, Man of a Certain Age, and many more.

We Love Soaps caught up with White when we traveled to Atlanta in April to speak with the Ambitions cast. Check out what she had to say in our exclusive interview below.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Essence Atkins Thinks You'll Become Addicted to 'Ambitions'

Essence Atkins stars as Amara Hughes in Ambitions.

Anticipation is building for the premiere of the Jamey Giddens-penned and Will Packer-produced primetime soap opera Ambitions, which debuts on Tuesday, June 18 at 10 p.m. ET on OWN. Ambitions is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city. Essence Atkins stars as Amara Hughes, a lawyer in the U.S. Attorney's Office who has newly arrived in Atlanta with her husband, Titus (Kendrick Cross). Originally from Texas, she is quickly gaining attention from the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a diligent investigator and prosecutor.

The all-star cast also includes Robin Givens as Stephanie Carlisle, the wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian J. White), whose true loyalty is to her own family's prestigious law firm where she is the latest in a long line of distinguished lawyers; Brely Evans as Rondell, Evan's sister, who runs a not-quite-profitable restaurant called Thelma's Place; and Erica Page as Bella, a fashion designer in Atlanta who designs all of Stephanie's dresses for her.

Prior to taking on the role of Amara in Ambitions, Atkins starred in numerous television series and films including Half & Half, Smart Guy, Mr. Box Office, Marlon, Are We There Yet?, Girlfriends' Getaway, Deliver Us from Eva, A Haunted House, Dance Flick, and many more.

We Love Soaps caught up with Atkins when we traveled to Atlanta in April to speak with the Ambitions cast. Check out what she had to say in our exclusive interview below.

WE LOVE SOAPS: What was your first reaction when you read the script for Ambitions?
ESSENCE ATKINS: I loved the idea of telling the story, especially from Amara's point of view. I auditioned for Will, and originally auditioned for the role of Stephanie. They liked what I did but wanted to see me as Amara. When I read the pilot, Amara was the character that I immediately connected with because of her earnestness when it came to keeping her marriage together. I went through a divorce in 2016 so there is a lot of "would have, could have, should have" moments that I still wrestle with a few years later, and questions that I have. I put a lot of that into Amara's character.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Jamey Giddens Hits the Big Time with 'Ambitions'

Ambitions star Robin Givens and creator/producer Jamey Giddens.

Writer and producer Jamey Giddens made a name for himself covering soap operas for Daytime Confidential for more than a decade. His hilarious and insightful podcast commentary, and fascinating interviews, set him apart in the crowded blogosphere, not to mention the fact that he broke more news than every other soap opera journalist combined. What really made it work was his genuine love for the soaps as a lifelong viewer, combined with a deep understanding of how to tell stories as a talented writer. It was no surprise when he was asked to co-write the first season of Victoria Rowell's comedy series The Rich and the Ruthless, and earned an Indie Series Award nomination for his work. It was only a matter time before an even bigger break came his way, and it happened last year when prolific hit-maker Will Packer took notice and made a deal with OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network to pick up the Giddens-penned drama Ambitions.

Ambitions is a multigenerational family saga centered around one woman who, having recently relocated and intent on revitalizing her marriage, finds herself going head to head with some of the most powerful and deceitful players in the city.

The all-star cast is led by Robin Givens, who plays Stephanie Carlisle, the wife of Atlanta Mayor Evan Lancaster (Brian J. White), whose true loyalty is to her own family's prestigious law firm where she is the latest in a long line of distinguished lawyers. Stephanie desperately wants to be in charge of the Carlisle family law firm and quietly fumes about her father Stephen's condescending assertion that she's simply not ready yet. Essence Atkins stars as Amara, a lawyer in U.S. Attorney's Office who has newly arrived in Atlanta with her husband, Titus (Kendrick Cross). Originally from Texas, she is quickly gaining attention from the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a diligent prosecutor but disappoints her supervisor by turning down the offer to run point on a major local case. Brely Evans portrays Rondell, Evan's sister, who runs a not-quite-profitable restaurant called Thelma's Place. Erica Page plays Bella, a fashion designer in Atlanta who designs all of Stephanie's dresses for her.

Kevin Arkadie is executive producer/showrunner, with Giddens and Will Packer Media's Sheila Ducksworth also serving as executive producers.

WE LOVE SOAPS: Situated in Atlanta, Giddens' award-winning writing staff includes Susan Dansby (As the World Turns, The Young and The Restless), Michele Val Jean (The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital), Trey Anthony (da Kink in my Hair, How Black Mothers Say I Love You) and Jazmen Darnell Brown (The Citizen, Saints & Sinners).

Ambitions premieres Tuesday, June 18 at 10 p.m. ET on OWN, following a new episode of The Haves and the Have Nots.

We Love Soaps traveled to Atlanta in April to speak with Giddens and the cast about the much-anticipated series. Check out what Giddens had to say in our exclusive interview below.

You found success, and received an Indie Series Award nomination, for your work on The Rich and the Ruthless, but Ambitions has taken you to a whole other level. What has this journey been like for you these past few months?
JAMEY GIDDENS: I've been in the trenches with it for so long. The work has pretty much taken over my life. Moments like this... a few weeks ago we had the first photo shoot and when we released the trailer is when I was able to go, “Oh, this is really happening" and people are reacting and responding to this.

We're here fourteen hours a day just living and breathing the production aspect of it, and working in the writers' room. I've been told once we wrap I'll really start to see everything.

It definitely has been life-changing. I've never just had one job and now I'm able to fully support myself as a writer and producer, which is an amazing opportunity for any writer. It's been a rare experience having been able to do this from development, and then being a part of the entire process to the point where it was picked up.