Terri Vaughn has revealed that, even though being pregnant created some challenges, Girlfriends’ Getaway has been her best filming experience to date. She told Black Bride, having written the film with her producer, “[it] is my most proud baby, something that we created and were able to bring to life.”
The comedy, which premiered on TV One on August 30th, follows four friends who set off for Trinidad looking for a vacation of fun and bonding, but quickly find themselves in for a whole lot more adventure than predicted when one of the girls is kidnapped. Unable to turn to the police for help, the remaining girls have to work together to save their friend. The kidnapped, played by Terri, was not meant to be pregnant, but by the time filming commenced the actress was five months along, and it simply had to be worked into the script.
Terri explained, “It added more comedy to it, and it was different. It’s like we don’t usually see that, where one of the lead actresses is actually pregnant and its incorporated in the story, it gave us so much more to play off of.” But of course, filming on location in Trinidad for 30 days while pregnant can present some challenges. She told Madame Noir, “I was nervous about going out of the country for 30 days and being away from my doctors and everything. I had a serious talk with God and this baby in my stomach before I left… And everything was just fine. I had no problems at all.”
Due in October, this will be Terri’s third child, and first daughter with husband Karon Riley. “We have two boys already so this is our first girl and final child. This is it.” The actress is now 44 years old, but said that the pregnancy has been just as easy as her first two. “I’ve been very blessed because I have very easy pregnancies and this one is no different as far as no morning sickness, none of that. It’s just that my energy dies down fast.” On set, Terri admitted she would sometimes forget she was pregnant and be told to pull back. “I’m so used to being up and going and on the move and doing what I want to do. And you know, I have to slow down,” she explained.
The long days of shooting didn’t help, but ultimately Terri and her co-stars, Garcelle Beauvais, Essence Atkins, and Malinda Williams, had a great time. “It was definitely like a working vacation” Terri said.
