‘Frasier’ breakout Toks Olagundoye remains unflappable after fighting cancer

As I delve deeper into the captivating world of Toks Olagundoye, I find myself thoroughly enthralled by her unique blend of intellect and eccentricity. Her love for puzzles and solitary games, coupled with her social introversion, adds an intriguing layer to her character and mirrors aspects of her real life.

Experience a tranquil feeling when, at last, you obtain something long-awaited since the start of your life.

Or at least that was the case for Toks Olagundoye.

She admits right away that she was completely open and honest about it. She shared her feelings with everyone since she knew she would have little energy, but she also believes that because it’s so common, it might need to become more accepted or usual.

The 49-year-old actress and voiceover artist, who is both Nigerian and British, wasn’t discussing her memorable role in Paramount+’s “Frasier,” the follow-up to the Emmy-winning NBC sitcom that starts its second season on Thursday. Instead, she was sharing about the breast cancer diagnosis she encountered during the casting process for the comedy series starring Kelsey Grammer.

Olagundoye was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer known as triple-negative. She emphasizes that if detected early, it can be prevented. Prior to joining “Frasier” in 2023, she underwent three lumpectomy surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. During the first season of filming “Frasier”, she also had a double mastectomy.

Given that she has several friends and a relative who had experienced a similar diagnosis, Olagundoye frequently undergoes tests. She candidly admits, “I’ve been so anxious about contracting cancer my entire life that when I finally did, I was more like, ‘Alright, let’s deal with it and move on.’

Now she says, “I sort of wish I hadn’t been so stressed out about it.”

If you prioritize self-care by regularly checking up on your health, visiting the doctor, and staying vigilant, catching potential issues early should make for a challenging but manageable experience,” she explains in our August Zoom chat, which is occasionally disrupted by her son, husband, and my cat. “I believe that if people view it similarly to minor ailments like a cold, they’ll find it less stressful. I think many of us unnecessarily worry about it.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that Olagundoye’s portrayal of Olivia Finch in “Frasier” differs significantly from her real-life persona. Although she holds the prestigious position of chair at Harvard’s psychology department, overseeing Grammer’s enchanting Freudian and his old pal, Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst), it seems she ascended to this role by outmaneuvering a colleague during an unconventional team-building exercise at the office retreat. However, contrary to her impressive professional life, Olivia often appears tense, edgy, and uneasy in her own skin. Her social life, especially romantic endeavors, was scarcely visible during the initial season. Not unlike how Frasier was initially introduced to viewers on “Cheers,” Olivia’s leisure time is predominantly spent enjoying the company of friends in a Boston pub.

The characters as envisioned by “Frasier” 2.0 creators Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli may not have initially resembled the way Olivia is portrayed now. They chuckle, recalling an early season episode where Olivia becomes intensely focused on unraveling a mystery.

At that point, Harris remarks, “It all seemed to click then – this character was more than just intelligent and authoritative; she was quirky and intellectually curious.

In the second series, Olagundoye’s recovery allows for a more active role, and since the writers have successfully built the world of the new program beyond its main character, Olivia is given more responsibilities. This is particularly evident as her nerdy traits become more prominent – for instance, she becomes deeply invested in her part at a murder mystery dinner party later in the season, even going as far as to design elaborate costumes for the event.

Cristalli remarks about Olagundoye: “She doesn’t have many peers who enjoy self-deprecation.” What she means is, Olagundoye enjoys acting, not in a foolish manner, but as someone conscious that her actions might appear strange or peculiar. She embraces this aspect, and it’s hilarious to see the contrast. Picture her wearing a formal gown fit for an art museum opening, yet discussing puzzles.

In an episode of the second season, characters named Alan (portrayed by Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Olivia (played by Toks Olagundoye) participate in a costume party themed around solving a murder mystery. (Credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+)

Indeed, Olivia holds the position of being both Alan and Frasier’s superior,” Chris Harris, one of the show creators, notes. “However, she’s not just a boss; she’s also quite quirky and intellectually curious.” (Credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+)

The character’s knack for solving riddles is inspired by Olagundoye’s personal experiences. Being an avid fan of solitary games such as crosswords, she also met her husband during a Twitter exchange while both were being socially withdrawn. He is a mechanic with no ties to the film and TV industry but was a fan of her work on ABC’s alien comedy “The Neighbors.” As a teenager, her preferred pastime was to relax by her bedroom window, listening to Simon & Garfunkel and reading Sylvia Plath.

Olagundoye clarifies that she doesn’t suffer from ‘Fear of Missing Out’. Instead, she was the one who preferred reading her book over attending parties when everyone else would invite her.

In this current season, I’m eagerly anticipating the moment when my character, Olivia, will experience her deepest insecurities and impostor syndrome squarely against my sister, Monica – a character yet to make an appearance but highly anticipated. Known only through mentions until now, she holds the prestigious position of Yale provost and is set to debut later this season. Interestingly enough, Yvette Nicole Brown, a familiar face from “Community,” has been cast for this role. In fact, I suggested her for the part as we share a close friendship off-screen.

In their relationship, it’s intriguing that whenever Olivia is physically present with her older sister, she submits to her, as stated by Olagundoye. “Yvette and I discussed continuing to explore the Black family dynamic, emphasizing the importance of respecting elders, even if they are siblings,” she added. “This is a trait that Olivia possesses. Despite having many independent qualities, when she’s with her elder sister, she remains the younger one.

Despite the fact that Olivia is highly successful, the actor points out that “it’s common knowledge that even those with remarkable lives can become fixated on a single issue. It’s as if we say, ‘Move on. You have so much, remember?’

Olagundoye could force her character to completely calm down. But what’s the fun in that?

Olagundoye mentions that she gets incredibly excited when I’m with her, making it necessary for me to stay calm,” she says. “I feel like I might explode due to her sheer craziness. However, I have to remind myself – ‘You’re in charge at Harvard. You need to keep your cool and maintain a professional demeanor.’

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2024-09-18 13:35