Regina Hall Reflects on Going 'From the Pole to the Oscars' After 'The Best Man' Debut (Exclusive)

The actress looks back on her career with ET ahead of the December premiere of 'The Best Man: The Final Chapters.'

Regina Hall has come a long way since she made her theatrical debut in 1999's The Best Man.

The award-winning actress became a breakout star thanks to her portrayal of Candace "Candy" Sparks, a stripper that catches the eye of Julian "Murch" Murchison (Harold Perrineau) at his friend's bachelor party. Hall's role made such an impression on fans and production, she returned for the film's 2013 sequel, The Best Man Holidayand now, its spinoff series.

"This was my very first movie [and] it was so exciting for me to be able to play opposite people that I loved and have been watching," Hall recounted for ET. "To be able to go and be part of a real movie, like a feature film? And, you know, this is before streaming, this is when a movie was an event."

"So it was really special and it still is special," she added. "That's why when it happened the first time, it was amazing. And then 15 years later...it's great!"

The shine hasn't dulled for Hall, whose rising star flourished into a career of scene-stealing roles, including Brenda Meeks in the Scary Movie film franchise, Ryan Pierce in 2017's Girls Trip and Lisa Conroy in 2018's Support the Girls. Her work in the Andrew Bujalski-directed comedy received critical acclaim and Hall made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress.

More recently, the actress served as the host for the 94th annual Academy Awards alongside co-hosts Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes

As Hall's co-star, Morris Chesnut, cheekily put it, she's gone "from the pole to the Oscars!"

And now Hall, Chestnut, Taye DiggsSanaa LathanNia Long, Melissa De Sousa, Terrence Howard and Harold Perrineau have reunited to reprise their iconic roles for Peacock's limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. Based on the Universal movies by writer-director Malcolm D. Lee, The Final Chapters follows Harper (Diggs), Robyn (Lathan), Jordan (Long), Lance (Chestnut), Quentin (Howard), Shelby (De Sousa), Candace (Hall) and Murch (Perrineau) as their relationships evolve and past grievances resurface in the unpredictable stages of midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance.

Peacock

The limited series brings several recurring guest stars together with our favorite dysfunctional friend group as Harper is given the opportunity to turn his debut novel that kicked off the wild ride over 20 years ago, Unfinished Business, into a movie. And, according to the cast, the series will be the official end of their journey altogether. 

"We've had a ball and, who knows, but I know we definitely feel a sense of a rightful circle," Hall said when asked whether the series will really serve as the end of the eightsome's journey. 

"Without a doubt," Chestnut agreed with his co-star, noting that although most people never even expected the film to have a sequel (2013's The Best Man Holiday), let alone a spinoff series, there's a finality to the show. "I think one of the differences here is instead of getting two hours, the audience is getting basically...eight hours and eight episodes. So, I think everything comes full circle and you put a bow on it. I think they will be satisfied."

The Best Man: Final Chapters premieres on Dec. 22.

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