The enduring friendship between Tracee Ellis Ross and Rashida Jones shines both on and off-screen as the duo reunites for Black Mirror season 7, marking their first project together since Jones’ Black-ish guest appearances. The actresses, whose bond extends beyond Hollywood sets, recently opened up about their cherished friendship rituals – particularly Jones’ legendary “Pajama Jam” birthday parties.
“The only rules are: there’s only pizza, candy and cereal. No phones and don’t talk to each other,” Jones explains of her dance-intensive gatherings. Ross enthusiastically adds, “Rashida loves music… Dance hard. No drama. Just dancing.” This playful dynamic translates seamlessly to their professional collaboration, with Ross joking they now exclusively work on projects containing “black” in the title – from Black-ish to their new Black Mirror episode “Common People.”
In the dystopian installment, Jones delivers what she calls “the most acting I’ve ever done” as Amanda, a schoolteacher whose life is upended by experimental brain technology, with Ross playing the corporate representative facilitating her transformation. “I had to play a lot of notes in quick succession,” Jones reflects on her emotionally demanding role, while Ross praises her friend’s “exceptional” performance that showcases new dimensions of her talent.
Their on-set chemistry stems from an authentic connection that blurs the line between work and friendship. “There’s no distinction,” Jones notes about collaborating with Ross. “We stop chatting just long enough to film.” For Ross, these creative partnerships offer “one of my favorite parts about being an actor” – the opportunity to deepen relationships during production’s “quarantined bubbles.”
Now streaming on Netflix, their Black Mirror episode represents more than just another credit for the longtime friends. It’s a testament to artistic growth and the joy of working with someone who knows you as well off-camera as on. As Ross observes, watching Jones’ powerful performance left her “proud” to witness her friend’s dramatic range in this “beautiful, beautiful job” that pushes both beyond their comedic roots.
