Tracee Ellis Ross Almost Gave Up on Hollywood Tracee Ellis Ross is on the cover of Essence magazine hair issue. During the Essence interview, she discussed almost giving up on Hollywood. She said there was a period after the tv series, Girlfriend ended in 2008 that she wasn’t sure that she would make it in Hollywood. She said that time period helped make her the person she is today. It allowed me to continue to grow as a person and to realize I was deserving and worthy. I could own my success but I could also own what might look like failure. Can you remember a down time or dark time in your life that helped mold you for the better?