Rae balances busy, booked life

New York

The HBO hit "Insecure" typically airs during the summer, but series creator Issa Rae has been moving like the Energizer Bunny with a schedule so booked and busy, the show's return had to be delayed.

But for good reason.

She filmed two movies ("The Photograph," "The Lovebirds"). She executive produced and appeared in HBO's "A Black Lady Sketch Show." The actress who breaks out in raps to cope with life on "Insecure" launched her own record label. And Rae is writing, producing and starring in a new movie called "Perfect Strangers" and producing another HBO series, "Rap (expletive)," about a female rap group trying to find a breakthrough.

"I was just relieved to not be doing the show and to be working on other things so much so that I was finally grateful to come back when I was done with those projects,'" Rae said of "Insecure," which returns Sunday. "I love this show. I love the people on it. I love creating it and making it. It just made me more appreciative of what we were doing."

"Insecure" finds Rae's character Issa Dee on a search to find herself — professionally and personally. The show also stars Yvonne Orji (Molly), Jay Ellis (Lawrence), Amanda Seales (Tiffany) and Natasha Rothwell (Kelli), who also writes and produces the show.

In an interview with The Associated Press, 35-year-old Rae spoke about her Emmy-nominated series and the show within the show, which this season is a docuseries about a missing black woman. Rae also discusses her film "The Lovebirds," which moved from its theater release to Netflix because of the coronavirus pandemic.

AP: What can we expect from season four?

Rae: This season is really about whether the people in your life are there for a reason or a season. It really is about that transitional period when you go from your...