Lela Rochon Returns to the Spotlight with Exciting New Film and Career Milestones

After years of keeping a lower profile, Rochon is stepping back into the limelight with a major new film project and a refreshed outlook on her career.

Rochon, best known for her role as Robin in the classic 1995 film “Waiting to Exhale,” is reuniting with some of her former cast and crew for a new Lifetime movie, “Tempted by Love.”

The film is presented by acclaimed author Terry McMillan, who penned the original “Waiting to Exhale” novel, and features fellow “Exhale” star Loretta Devine. The project is executive produced by actress Garcelle Beauvais and is set to premiere on Lifetime on August 17th.

The announcement, which Rochon first teased in May before officially sharing the release date on Instagram in June, has sparked widespread excitement. Fans flooded her social media with messages of support, celebrating what many are calling a “mini Waiting to Exhale reunion.”

Comments like “Lea and Auntie Loretta, yes!” and “Gloria and Robin back together again!” reflect the enthusiasm for seeing these beloved actresses share the screen once more.

Rochon’s impressive career spans more than three decades, with notable roles in films such as “Harlem Nights” alongside Eddie Murphy, “Boomerang,” “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” and “Any Given Sunday.” She also appeared in the TV series “21 Jump Street” and “The Wayans Bros.”

However, “Tempted by Love” marks her first major movie role since she revealed a stunning transformation for her 60th birthday in April, showcasing a slimmed-down figure and renewed confidence.

Reflecting on her career in a 2016 episode of OWN’s “Where Are They Now,” Rochon admitted that she sometimes turned down roles that could have kept her in the public eye.

Notably, she passed on reading the script for “The Help,” which went on to star Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, as well as “The Matrix,” simply because she couldn’t see the vision for those projects at the time. Despite these missed opportunities, Rochon’s legacy in Hollywood remains strong.

A sequel to “Waiting to Exhale” was once in the works, but plans were halted following the tragic passing of Whitney Houston in 2012.

Rochon recalled how she and Loretta Devine were adamant that Houston remain part of the sequel, underscoring the deep bond between the original cast members.

Off-screen, Rochon has been married to director Antoine Fuqua for 25 years, and together they share two children. Despite facing public scrutiny in 2019 after Fuqua was photographed with Nicole Murphy, the couple has kept their family life private and resilient.

Currently, Rochon is filming the New Orleans spin-off of “The Family Business” for BET Plus, where she stars as Big Shirley Duncan, co-owner of the Midnight Blues nightclub.

The new series is highly anticipated and marks yet another chapter in Rochon’s enduring career.

With her latest film and ongoing projects, Lela Rochon is truly reclaiming her place in Hollywood, proving that her talent and spirit remain as vibrant as ever.