From Woman's World · Bonnie Siegler · · 3m
Jasmine Guy on joy, faith and finding herself at 64
The 'A Different World' star opens up about her identity beyond acting, her three stress-busting Cs, and what's next.
In brief
The 'A Different World' star opens up about her identity beyond acting, her three stress-busting Cs, and what's next. At 64, Jasmine Guy realized she'd lost sight of her own dreams while building a career and family, and is now reclaiming her identity through a memoir and new projects. Originally reported by Woman's…
A Different World returns to Netflix
Jasmine Guy is reprising her role as Whitley Gilbert in a Netflix reboot of the beloved 1987 sitcom, with original cast members joining her as the character enters a new life chapter.
Guy hit a personal crossroads at 64
After decades building a career and raising a family, Guy realized she'd abandoned her own dreams and goals. She told Woman's World, 'There is something missing.'
“There is something missing.”
From dancer to Broadway to acting
Guy started her career as a dancer on the TV show Fame under choreographer Debbie Allen, then moved into acting, singing, and Broadway before becoming famous as Whitley.
Memoir coming early 2027
Guy is releasing 'A Different Girl,' co-written with her daughter Imani Guy Duckette, to share her story and the person she was before motherhood.
She's always played someone else
Guy says she's spent her life pretending to be somebody else on screen, but her real life isn't defined by her TV and film roles. She values candid conversations with strangers who don't know her.
“My life as a human being is not predicated on what I do on TV or film.”
Faith guides her spiritually
Guy's faith is personal and non-denominational, drawing from many sources including Kahlil Gibran's 'The Prophet.' She maintains a direct relationship with God or consciousness before performing.
“This is how I think.”
Pilates and accepting physical changes
Guy does Pilates with a longtime coach but avoids weights and cardio. She's noticing her body shrinking with age, like her relatives did, and is altering her clothes to fit.
Beauty philosophy at 64
Guy has stopped getting Botox since she became immune to it, and now accepts her appearance. She's ditched tanning booths and focuses on skincare routines and makeup removal.
“I'm okay, I'm good.”
The three Cs for stress relief
Guy manages stress through coloring in coloring books, doing crossword puzzles, and cleaning her home. All three activities calm her mind and create the peaceful space she craves.
“Everything I do to alleviate stress starts with a 'C.'”
Dancing brings her the most joy
Guy's favorite joy comes from having all her loved ones together. She also loves putting on her favorite songs on YouTube and dancing, mixing Earth Wind and Fire, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar.
She rejected others' limits on her
The dance world told Guy she didn't fit the typical height requirement, but she refused to let others dictate who she could become. She learned nobody can really control your emotional destiny.
“I don't adhere to you telling me who I'm going to be because you're not a God.”
She wasted years criticizing herself
Guy spent her teens and twenties beating herself down and comparing herself to others, missing her own accomplishments like being on Broadway. Therapy helped her move past this pattern.
“But you ARE on Broadway!”
She has hope in younger generations
Guy believes in young people today, despite worrying about information overload. She sees that access to information they never had will make them stronger and more resilient.
The main idea
At 64, Jasmine Guy realized she'd lost sight of her own dreams while building a career and family, and is now reclaiming her identity through a memoir and new projects.
