Meet Diane Amos the Pine-Sol lady: on inspiration, love and raising kids

Ebony, Sept, 2004

Diane Amos is best known as the spokeswoman for the national Pine-Sol[R] advertising campaign, but she's also a movie actress, comedian and winning game show contestant, Not surprising when you consider she came from a very competitive family where she says everyone was funny, Diane says much of her success today comes from the example set by her mother.

Inspiration

"My mother was a single morn who was a feminist way before the feminist thing. As head of the household, she made her own decisions and bet own money, so my introduction to being a breadwinner came very early. My mother taught me to be fearless and showed me how that can open doors--literally."

When I was 10 years old, we went to a Marian Anderson concert. My morn wanted to meet her, so we went back stage past all these doors that said 'No entrance,' 'No entrance,' 'No entrance,' and finally got to her dressing room. The bodyguard said, 'No, you cannot come in,' but Marian Anderson saw us. She was so amazed we got that far she invited us in, and we sat in her dressing room and talked for a while."

The love of a good man

For the past 13 years, Diane has been married to James Medellin, a musician, writer and voiceover professional. They met in a San Francisco bar, where he was playing music, and haven't been apart since their first date. "James is very romantic. He wrote my one-woman show 'Balancing Act,' which sold out every night for six weeks in San Francisco. He really had to give of himself, his time and his energy. It was incredibly romantic and made us closer. James is a great dad."

Raising children

They have two children, 19-year-old Kelvin, who's studying to be an electrician, and seven-year-old Cassandra Pearl or "Cassie P." for short. She was named Pearl after Diane's mother. "One of the hardest things about being a parent today is the influence of TV. As parents we need to teach our children how to watch TV and know the difference between the good and the bad. TV encourages rudeness so we really need to counter that by teaching children manners and how to be kind to people, yet at the same time effective in the business world. I also think it's important to make home a safe haven, where children can sort things out, be supported by family and have their friends over. The best thing about being a parent is seeing my daughter experience things for the first time, and having a teen is great. You always think you're so hip until you have a teenager around. I like the freshness they bring from the outside world."

Being the Pine-Sol Lady

"When kids see people who look like their relatives in the media, it's a huge boost for them. I visit schools and encourage children to follow their dreams. I tell them, 'Don't ever let your color or size or economic status alter what you think about yourself.' Being a successful actress speaks to the power of being who I am in this world and being totally cool with that."

Being famous

"Kids will recognize me, and parents will tell them to leave that lady alone. I call the kids over and give them Pine-Sol coupons, and they'll say 'Oh, my God. It really is her. I told you, I told you, Mama. I got a free coupon.'"