Tisha Campbell almost walked away from the role that would define her career on Martin. The actress recently recalled how Martin Lawrence personally convinced her to join the sitcom. Campbell said Lawrence refused to take no for an answer, even when she had another show lined up.
Tisha Campbell recalls Martin Lawrence persuading her to take the role of Gina
Campbell shared the story during an appearance on Taboo’s Comics & Kicks. She said she initially turned Lawrence down because another pilot she filmed had already received a 13-episode order. At that point, Martin remained only a pilot, so Campbell had a guaranteed opportunity elsewhere. Lawrence still wanted Campbell for Gina and decided to make his case himself.
“He was like, ‘Nah, nah, I’m coming over your house. Where do you live?’” Campbell recalled. She told him, “I live with my mom,” and Lawrence eventually showed up at the house. He continued his pitch in person and told her, “I really want you to play this role.” Campbell then faced a difficult choice because accepting the role meant giving up guaranteed money.
Campbell said there was a stronger push into Lawrence’s show that she felt. “God kept telling me, ‘You got to go with Martin,’” she recalled. Still, she knew the decision meant losing “a lot of money.” After weighing the choice, Campbell finally told Lawrence, “All right, Martin, I’m going to go with you.” That decision gave her the chance to play Gina throughout the sitcom’s five-season run.
Campbell played Gina Waters on Martin, later becoming Gina Waters-Payne after she married Lawrence’s character in season three. The show aired for five seasons, from 1992 to 1997. Campbell’s choice came after Lawrence personally visited her and pushed her to take the part. Her story shows how strongly Lawrence wanted her to become Gina from the start.
