LeToya Luckett, a Grammy-winning artist and seasoned actress, is considering more roles in thrillers, starring recently in the upcoming Lifetime original film Line Sisters.
“It definitely cracked the window, not necessarily opened the door. I had fun with this, but I was terrified,” Luckett tells Rated R&B.
Not a fan of the genre in any capacity prior to portraying Valerie, a member of Alpha Beta Omega Sorority Inc., Luckett felt as though this Tailiah Breon-directed film not only helped her fulfill other dreams but peel back a layer of herself she hadn’t addressed until now.
“When I was introduced to the film, and after reading the script, I felt the desire to finally get my chance to be a part of a sorority, I had to take this big chance and take this big leap,” Luckett notes.
“There were so many different layers to this film. I felt that the scary part was yes, a big layer, but not one that I should turn away from the film. There was fun, sadness, and so many things that I could relate to. I was like, ‘Let’s do this. Let’s have fun with this.’ I’m glad I did.”
Joining Luckett in the film are Drew Sidora, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and Ta’Rhonda Jones, who crossed in a no-longer sanctioned manner, leaving the dean of pledges dead after a mysterious drowning accident.
In our interview with LeToya, she talks more about Line Sisters, shares her definition of sisterhood, and why she’s on the fence about recording another album.
I got a chance to see the film early, and I must say, there were a lot of things I wouldn’t be able to do like the snake and the worms. What was the most challenging scene for you?
I think for me walking in the dark woods chanting. That was like, “What are we saying?” (laughs). I think there were some changes to that and edits from the first script. Just being in the dark has always been [a no for me], but to be in the dark in the woods, one, two in the morning, swimming in murky waters, I think that was probably the most challenging piece of this.
Line Sisters is the first time we see you on screen with the other women — Drew Sidora, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, and Ta’Rhonda Jones. How did you bond and develop a sisterhood when filming?
When I tell you, the bond you see on screen is the same bond carried over off-screen. It was an immediate connection between the four of us. We would find ourselves going to eat and the beach together. Ta’Rhonda ended up getting us these really cool lanterns where we would write down our intentions, and we send them off into the sky. It was so many beautiful moments like that. We had such great chemistry, and I couldn’t believe how quickly it happened. You don’t find that on set all the time. But I think we found our niche and kept going with it. We still are cool [and] still close, and I’m glad that it was able to translate on-screen as well.

Sisterhood is a common theme in Line Sisters. How do you each view or define community among women in the entertainment industry and in your circle? How do you maintain its integrity?
First of all, sisterhood is so important to me. I’ve been blessed to have so many awesome women in my life. My tribe is incredible. They’re the women in my life who hold me accountable. They’re the shoulders that I can lean on. They’re the people I can be transparent with. They’re the people who love me unconditionally. When you find that, you hold onto it. You cherish it. You love it.
I’m just glad I’m around a group of women, including Drew, Kierra, and Ta’Rhonda, who we have a love and respect for each other. We’re not jealous of each other. Today, that’s so important, especially to teach the generation coming up with social media and all of these things. It’s so easy to be distracted and desire what someone else has and be jealous and feel like you’re not doing enough and all these different things.
It’s wonderful to have people, especially women, who can remind you you’re enough, you’re good, you’re magic. Not be crabs in the barrel trying to pull each other down. I find that a lot in this industry because there aren’t a lot of roles for Black women — we’re getting better at that — but it’s not where I feel it should be.
So we do find ourselves, whether we know it or not, sometimes being crabs in a barrel of fighting for that glory and that role and fighting for that number one spot. Everything is a competition. I think we’re getting better at it. I think we’re more aware of the shadiness that lived beneath the surface of this industry. We want to see change, and I feel change.
Back 2 Life celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. The opening track, “I’m Ready,” is my favorite. Can you share a special memory from that era?
First of all, I love that “I’m Ready” is your favorite. It’s, honestly, probably my favorite on the album. That’s why I made it the opener. When I tell you I listen to that song like it ain’t mine (laughs). I love that record. It feels good. I wish that album would have garnered more ears than it did. I was going through a transition in my life and felt myself growing.
I wanted to share it on an album, and I felt like that was that album. It was kind of the closest to being an independent album for me. Instead of being with a major label, I had so much control of this album.
I was booking the studio [sessions]. I was creating all of my visuals. I literally created the Back 2 Life series. I wanted to incorporate my acting with my singing, and I did that with that album.
I kind of have in my mind to bury the pain a little bit of it not doing as well as I wanted it to do. I’ve kind of put it to the side, but I shouldn’t. It deserves more. So it’s so wonderful to hear you say that you had a favorite from that album and that it spoke to you because it still speaks to me.
Are you interested in recording a fourth album?
I think I’m kinda traumatized from album three, but we’re gonna get over that. We’re in therapy (laughs). As far as creating new music, we’re gonna see. I did write it on my little vision board for this year. It was one of my goals. If it happens, you’ll be one of the first to know.
Don’t miss the premiere of Line Sisters on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. EST on Lifetime.