When it comes to Regina Hall’s career, she’s built a legacy rooted in authenticity, range, and undeniable charm. Somehow, in every role — from comedic to dramatic —she brings audiences in and makes them feel like they know each character. Her talent, versatility, and relatability make her a standout in every project she touches. But off-screen? She’s just as funny, grounded, and refreshingly real. The kind of star who knows the power of a good playlist, a great paper towel, and the perfect electric slide moment. Case in point: her latest partnership with Bounty.

“I love paper towels, we love paper towels,” Hall told me with a laugh. “And my mom always used Bounty just because it was thicker. It’s funny because I feel like I'm saying that in an ad, but it's all true.” She’s not kidding. Hall’s partnership with Bounty feels like less of a celebrity-brand deal and more of a natural alignment, especially for anyone who grew up in a Black household where using too many paper towels could get you the look. “You know how your mom always tells you ‘don’t waste paper towels and because she used Bounty, we didn’t… You dried your hands, you could wipe up something [all with one]. So the partnership actually made sense. Because it was very authentic to me, and to us.”

And she’s right — the timing is perfect with it being the start of cookout season. “You know people are going to need to clean up behind you,” Hall joked. “So you got to get the good stuff.”

Naturally, the conversation turned to music — the key to any good summer function. Hall lit up when I asked her to give me her cookout playlist must-haves. “You gotta have a little Frankie Beverly and Maze,” she said, without skipping a beat. “I’ll take it back and go [with] a Patrice Rushen song too. I’ll go back to Will Smith’s Summertime... and I actually like Childish Gambino’s Summertime Magic.”

The key to the perfect cookout playlist, she added, is balance. “It can’t just be for the aunties. You gotta sneak it in between songs so they don’t notice right away,” she laughed. “You want to have what she likes. You want to have it be something for everybody.”

That mix— classic, but current and fun — feels like a perfect metaphor for Hall’s career. She's built a legacy of roles that stick with you: from belly-laughing comedies to heart-tugging dramas, her characters are etched in audiences’ memories.

And sometimes, the music takes her back too. “Anytime I hear Candy, I go back to that [final Best Man] scene,” she said, recalling her role as Candace in the beloved 1999 film. “It makes me think of that [time], and then it takes you to the “Electric Slide,” which takes you back to cookouts. Always doing the Electric Slide at cookouts.”

NINA SIMONE