Taylour Paige on Connecting With the Real Zola, Training at a Strip Club and What Convinced Her to Do the Film

Taylour Paige was not familiar with A’Ziah “Zola” King when she auditioned to play her in “Zola,” the film based on King’s October 2015 viral Twitter thread, but she has since corresponded with her on social media.

The thread (and film) tells the tale of a crazy weekend during which Zola, an exotic dancer, embarks on a road trip to strip in Florida with new friend Stefani (Riley Keough) and Stefani’s cohorts — a clueless boyfriend (Nicolas Braun) and a temperamental pimp (Colman Domingo).

“Zola” premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, receiving rave reviews for the performances and for co-writer/director Janicza Bravo.

It premieres in theaters on June 30.Paige came to the role with plenty of dance experience: At age 12 she was touring with Debbie Allen, and she previously starred in the scripted VH1 show “Hit the Floor,” about dance cheerleaders for a fictional L.A.

basketball team.

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