Gilded Glamour

Demetria McKinney brings the sparkle of old Hollywood to her Atlanta digs.

- Theo Daniels

FANS EASILY RECALL DEMETRIA MCKINNEY from her roles on sitcoms such as TBS’ Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and TV One’s The Rickey Smiley Show. Currently, McKinney is starring on Bounce TV’s Saints & Sinners (Sundays at 9 p.m. EST), and she appeared on the Syfy network’s Superstition last fall.

The veteran actress and singer allowed us access to her Atlanta home, which is replete with regal tones and old-school Hollywood glam. With touches of gold and glittery details, McKinney rolled out the red carpet and walked EBONY through her place of refuge, which reflects her girly spirit and invokes screen sirens of the past. When she’s not traveling for her various projects, which in addition to TV work has included the role of Deena in Dreamgirls alongside Jennifer Holliday on the stage and an album (last year’s Officially Yours), McKinney enjoys spending quality time with her 19-year-old son.

EBONY: How did you make the transition from acting to music?

DM: Well, music has always been first. Ever since the first time I heard Whitney Houston, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. [I got into] acting because I’ve always kind of been in tune with my emotions. And I’ve always been kind of silly [laughs]. It just took off. So it’s a combination of God knowing what was best at the time, then just pursuing what the original love was.

EBONY: How long have you lived in your home?

DM: I bought my home a good six years ago and built it from the ground up. I love this place.

EBONY: Did you decorate it yourself?