Cassie Ventura and Dascha Polanco are two of the stars of new ensemble romantic comedy The Perfect Match.

Cassie & Dascha Polanco Video Interview

In The Perfect Match, Cassie plays Eva, a young woman with no immediate plans to settle down who winds up in a casual relationship with Terrence J.‘s playboy character Charlie that may or may not take a turn for the more serious. Orange Is the New Black‘s Polanco, meanwhile, plays a member in their group of friends who has already settled down and is looking to have a baby with her husband Rick (Donald Faison).

Both Cassie and Polanco had to deal with a bit of nerves acting alongside The Perfect Match‘s all-star cast, which also includes Paula Patton, Lauren London and Brandy Norwood. For Cassie, it was the first day on set that was the most difficult.

“I was so nervous, and every time I see that one particular scene, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I was like dying right then,’” Cassie told uInterview in an exclusive video interview. “But I overcame it. And then, as the days went on, it just got more and more comfortable.”

As for Polanco, she was less nervous about filming scenes, but more wary about the people that she would be filming the scenes with. Fortunately for her, they turned out to be some pretty good people.

“I did not know anyone,” Polanco said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I hope they’re not stank or stuck up or obnoxious or entitled.’ But, for the most part, they were total opposite of what I expected. I felt at home. I felt like there’s a connection. You know the rumor of LA that everyone is very superficial, you know? For the most part the cast, crew, everyone was very [embracing].”

For Cassie, it was most important for her to build a connection with Terrence J., which, fortunately for the pair, came easily. “When we read together, the chemistry was just really good,” she said. “We wanted it to be as natural as possible, which I think we achieved for the most part, and we’re comfortable with each other and are actually friends so, it was cool.”

Both Cassie and Polanco also enjoyed their time on set with Faison, who is best known for playing Turk on Scrubs. “We had so many fun moments because it’s timing, and it just causes you to be very reactive to his comedic timing,” Polanco said of Faison, adding of herself. “Like, I’m super corny, like I’m just corny, corny.”

While Cassie and Polanco can agree on Faison’s comedic skills, they differ on whether or not perfect matches, as the title of their film suggests, actually exist.

Polanco, the more skeptical of the two, mused, “I think there’s an imperfect match that you just tolerate and accept and can compromise with.” As for Cassie, she thinks it’s possible to find one – or more than one perfect match – throughout one’s lifetime.

“There can be a perfect match for you,” said the “Me & U” singer. “There can be somebody that you just, you don’t see anybody else when you’re with them. But, I think that you can also have more than one perfect match in your life cause you change and you grow.”

The Perfect Match hit theaters March 11.

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Q: Where are your characters at the start of the film? -

CassieVentura: My character at the start of The Perfect Match, she’s kind of just – not a guy, she’s not a guy – but she’s open to having a relationship that’s just physical with Charlie. So, just a physical relationship and having fun, no strings. That’s kind of where she comes in.

Polanco: Pressie is in a relationship where she’s married with Donald Faison, which is Rick. And for the most part, she’s trying to get pregnant. She’s also dealing with the supporting of Charlie’s transition from where he’s at in his life into entering the stage where they’re at, so there’s a lot of turbulence going on.

Q: Cassie, how did you and Terrence J. build your chemistry? -

Ventura: Well, actually, I went in and auditioned for the film after I read the script. I really loved the script and Eva as a character. So, when we read together, the chemistry was just really good. And before we started filming, we went in and we just really went through every scene and rehearsed together and just went hard on it. We wanted it to be as natural as possible, which I think we achieved for the most part, and we’re comfortable with each other and are actually friends so, it was cool.

Q: Were you friends before starting the project? -

Ventura: No, we just, we met on the project.

Polanco: For me, I did not know anyone. I was just raw. I was a little nervous at first. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I hope they’re not stank or stuck up or obnoxious or entitled.’ But, for the most part, they were total opposite of what I expected. I felt at home. I felt like there’s a connection. You know the rumor of LA that everyone is very superficial, you know? For the most part the cast, crew, everyone was very [embracing].

Q: Cassie, do you have any plans for your music in the future? -

Ventura: Yeah, I just finished another film with Billie Woodruff in Cape Town, South Africa for like two and a half months at the end of last year. Right before that, I was just working in studio and writing, just getting it all out. So, after we finish promo for this, I’m definitely going to get back in the studio.

Q: What are your favorite memories from the set? -

Polanco: For you, what was it? Because we didn’t have any scenes together.

Ventura: Yeah, we didn’t have any scenes together, so we would be so excited when we got the days when we would be on set together. But, for the most part, my character doesn’t even really interact with Charlie’s friends. So um, stand out moment. I would have to say my first day. I was so nervous, and every time I see that one particular scene, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I was like dying right then.’ But I overcame it. And then, as the days went on, it just got more and more comfortable, so that first day… Those jitters I will never have again cause that was just a moment, and actually, it was a favorite moment for me.

Polanco: Yeah, that’s awesome.

Q: Who was the most fun to work with? -

Ventura: I guess Donald. He keeps you laughing.
Polanco: Donald, yeah. I had a great time with Donald. I mean, when I had that scene where I’m in the bathroom…

Ventura: So funny.

Polanco: We had so many fun moments because it’s timing, and it just causes you to be very reactive to his comedic timing. Like, I’m super corny, like I’m just corny, corny.

Ventura: He goes off the grid with it.

Polanco: Yeah, so he like brings it out of you, so he’s definitely fun to work with.

Q: Do you think there is such a thing as a ‘perfect match’? -

Ventura: So, we realized that we have two different views, but they’re kind of one and the same. I think they’re… Depending on the time that you are in your life, everybody has different stages, as we talked about. There can be a perfect match for you. There can be somebody that you just, you don’t see anybody else when you’re with them. But, I think that you can also have more than one perfect match in your life cause you change and you grow.

Polanco: Yes, and I agree with her. Definitely, it’s all an evolution. But I don’t think there’s a perfect match. I think there’s an imperfect match that you just tolerate and accept and can compromise with.